Some Things I Loved in 2023
Surprise! A stocking stuffer gift guide from yours truly.
HI YOU BABES. Can you believe we are 10 days away from Christmas and right at the end of Hanukkah? I mean that is the end of 2023! Is that not the most insane thing?! I was resisting doing any sort of gift guide this year because there are just SO MANY OUT THERE, but then I thought to myself—December is really zooming this year! And maybe you are scrambling for those last-minute-type gifts? The stocking stuffer/good neighbor/dinner hosts/extended family member gift category? And giving is my love language!
SO, I thought I’d throw a couple of suggestions out into the void. And also genuinely shout out some stuff I have really loved this year! I know it is not Monday, Ye Olde Holy Day Of Costume Change, but the clock, she is a-ticking! And if I waited, you’d miss some in-time-for-Christmas delivery windows. So consider this a bonus episode, sent with love from me to you.
Since we’re getting close to the day, I thought I’d specifically highlight gifts on the smaller side, under $100 (that are easy-to-pack!). The below list is like my own personal Greatest Hits collection of 2023, Small Objects Edition, with a special consideration for stuff that I think could be purchased in time for the 25th. (Disclaimer! Some things you’d need to buy TODAY, as in now.)
Fa la la la la, la here we go!
1.) Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. My favorite book I read this year. I could not put it down, and I don’t even really care about video games (lol). A beautiful story. Write a special note to the receiver in one of the front pages, and wrap it in some brown paper with a nice ribbon. Good gift for dudes!
2.) This Is The Story Of A Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett. I loved this book. I’m a huge fan of her novels, but this was the first time I’d read a book of her essays. I love anthology reading as before-bed reading; it’s like bedtime stories for adults. Good unwinding for a busy brain! There’s a lot of personal essays in here: about travel, her relationship with her father, a beloved pup, caring for her grandmother, the writing process, romantic relationships, public scrutiny. Bookmark one you think might be particularly meaningful for the receiver before you wrap this guy. (I like postcards as bookmarks, if it’s a gift.)
3.) Ilia Mini Fullest Volumizing Mascara (the Limitless Lash is also good!), Ilia Multi Stick Cream Blush (I use it in “Dreamer”), or Ilia Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm (I use “Lady”). It might be weird to buy someone makeup, but for travelers who are light packers, the no-makeup-makeup fans, and the sensitive skin girlies among us, I’m a big fan of this brand. I keep the above three products, plus a Fenty concealer, a highlighter, a brow pencil, and a brow wax in a small cloth bag, and that’s pretty much all the makeup I wear day to day. Gift a couple little things in a cute pouch with an invitation to a post-holidays girls’ night out.
4.) While I’m at it, one more plug for the Violette FR Petal Bouche in Amour Fou. The color is insane. Such a gorgeous red. Put it in a black pen box and wrap it with a black satin ribbon. Chic!
5.) For The Friend (You Know Well) Who’s Started Switching To Natural Products: At the end of 2019 I began an aluminum-free deodorant JOURNEY, and it landed here. There are a few good ones out there! But for me, Megababe’s Geo Deo is the best natural deodorant for my money—and that’s speaking as an, ahem, athletic person. I have both the regular size and the mini, which I keep in my purse. Plus the packaging is ca-ute! Gift it with a hand sanitizer (also amazing and always sold out) and maybe a body scrub so it doesn’t seem like a passive aggressive dig. Lol. (I also keep the shower wipes in my dance bag, but I don’t know how you give those as a gift!)
6.) This coin necklace from KallisteNYC on Etsy. I don’t think they’re selling my exact one anymore, but there’s a bunch of fun options on there. Cheap metals give me the itch, and I can report after much wear that I am rash-free! Victory! Give it to your friend that would appreciate a little good luck charm/woo-woo oomph from the beyond. (Buy this one today for in-time delivery if it sparks your fancy!)
7.) ALRIGHT I was fully Instagram influenced to buy this perfume so do with that what you will, but it really does smell so good, wow. The full bottle of Henry Rose in Queens and Monsters is expensive, but the travel sprays retail for $35. Fun stocking stuffer!
8.) My friend Tom gave us all a bar of this soap as an opening night gift, which I thought was very sweet but kind of a funny gift—until I tried it, used it all, and had to ask him where I could buy more. It’s gentle, French-milled bar soap that smells great but not overwhelming. A La Maison Bar Soap in Rosemary Mint. Gift it with a candle, or a gua sha and a face roller, if you need to fill this out into more of a capital G gift.
9.) Another dude option! You know I had to include a pair of socks! Two years ago, after doing some research on the best bougie socks for men, I gave a pair of these Lady White Co. socks to my husband, and he loved them so much I bought him two more pairs the next year. Extremely durable, well made socks. Socks in the stocking! So meta.
10.) FP Movement Quilted Carryall. Okay not a stocking stuffer but a good price! I got this bag last year from my sweet in-laws as a Christmas gift (thanks Sally and Mario!), and I love it so much I actually gifted one this year (Hi Robin!). It comes in a million colors (although that link leads me to believe that they are selling out of a lot of them? Try in store!). It’s super durable, has a bunch of sneaky pockets, and fits a surprising amount of stuff. The quilting on the strap keeps it from digging into my shoulder in a major way when it’s heavy. Great gym/yoga/weekender bag.
11.) Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream. I’m realizing this whole stocking-stuffer-under-$100 prompt is inspiring a lot of grooming/beauty related purchases, but I am in a serious committed relationship with this night cream and it must be included. In the winter, I sometimes use it in the morning, too. Recommended to me by a facialist before my wedding, this stuff is very delicious and not greasy. It’s admittedly expensive for a regular like me, but I feel like it could hang in a category of WAY MORE EXPENSIVE moisturizers, so worth the price tag.
12.) For the 12th Day of Christmas and/or New Years Eve: I put these in my husband’s Christmas stocking last year as a joke, and then we realized that they might actually…work? Let’s just say we breezed through a NYE wedding in New Orleans soon after. Anyways, for your Friend Who’s Old Like Us But Also A Social Butterfly (Like Us): H Proof The Anytime You Drink Vitamin.
He didn’t ask me to do this, but this time of year I like to plug my friend Wil’s incredible game, Social Alchemix. A very cool gift for that person you call when you need a cocktail and some real talk. OR a person you think could use a little nudge in that direction! Check it out my babes.
And that’s it! Good luck! I’ll see you Monday for an issue that has nothing to do with Christmas! Lol!
Costume Change is a styling newsletter (vs. a shopping newsletter). None of the above shopping links are affiliate links. As always, I hope that Costume Change first and foremost provides you with inspiration to shop your own closet, rather than tempts you to buy a bunch of new stuff. Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays!