gifts

111 Carefully Selected, Unusually Special Gifts Over $200

Including an electric surfboard, a 24-carat cold vibe, and feathered Ferragamos.

Photo: Hugo Yu
Photo: Hugo Yu
Photo: Hugo Yu

Each year, in order to create the Strategist’s annual print “Gift Issue” (subscribe here!), we set out to find the newest, grooviest, most surprising and delightful things that you (very likely) won’t find on the zillions of other gift guides out there in the universe.

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Here’s how the process works: Each Strategist writer on staff submits and makes a case for the items that came out this year that they think would make for an excellent gift. Meanwhile, a smaller group of editors devote hours to just poking around and perusing our favorite shops (online and IRL), polling our coolest friends, going down numerous shopping rabbit holes that take us to Polish boutiques and Eastern Maine farmstands. And then we begin to argue. Is that button-down really that special? There’s something a little too 2023 about that cutting board. How do we really feel about tomatoes these days? We create “boards” so we can examine each item up close, then continue to whittle down till we have the perfect assemblage.

And there you have it! We’ve divided the 297 gifts that made the cut into three categories — under $50, $50 to $199, and $200 and up. Below, you’ll find our favorite inexpensive/slightly splurgy gifts/more expensive gifts. And if you haven’t found what you’re looking for, peruse the many other gift guides the staff of the Strategist has made for you here.

Filson for Her

Photo: Retailer

This drawstring backpack is from the brand’s first-ever women’s line.

Perfect Ice

Photo: Retailer

Klaris’s ice-maker produces pristinely clear two-by-two-inch cubes.

“Unhappy Meal”

$1,000
Photo: Retailer

Hand-embroidered by artist Carly Owens Weiss.

Off-Mountain Shoe

Photo: Retailer

Despite its hiking silhouette and Vibram sole, this sneaker is meant for everyday use.

Tech-Bro Vest Upgrade

Photo: Retailer

A handsome denim design with a high ribbed collar.

Dressed-Up Oxford

Photo: Retailer

The Dries Van Noten button-down is gathered in the front and clasped together with a dramatic brooch.

Murano Chandelier

Photo: Retailer

Botanic maximalism from the capital of glass art.

Quinquagenarian Chair

Photo: Retailer

Designer Cini Boeri’s Botolo high armchair turned 50. It’s available in three color combinations.

Biarritz Bedding

Photo: Retailer

A heart-stitched, down-filled comforter as seen on the beds at French hotel Villa Magnan.

Bus Bag

Photo: Retailer

In honor of the Hampton Jitney’s 50th anniversary, a collaboration with Greenport-based sailmaker Wm. J. Mills & Co.

Last Collab

Photo: Retailer

From Iris Apfel’s posthumous collection with Dr. Scholl’s, the mules are inspired by her husband’s signature slippers.

Tiny Drone

$429
Photo: Retailer

Controller free and deeply easy to use.

Very Serious Knife Sharpener

Photo: Retailer

It can get the entire bevel of the knife, not just the outer edge, for pro-level sharpening.

Puffer Pants

Photo: Retailer

From C.P. Company for street- and slopewear.

Blinged-out Tennis Bracelet

Photo: Retailer

A rainbow of gems (tanzanite, purple sapphire, tsavorite, morganite, garnet, aquamarine) from CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner L’Enchanteur.

Plumage Pumps

Photo: Hugo Yu

The toe is barely visible amid all the ostrich feathers.

Black Roses

Photo: Retailer

Adorning a leather belt.

Cableless Compression Boots

Photo: Retailer

Just as powerful as the previous model but without annoying tubes.

Special-Occasion Chopsticks

Photo: Retailer

Hand-forged from sterling silver.

Silver Spoon

Photo: Retailer

Shown at Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery, it’s made by Conie Vallese and Elhanati.

24-Karat-Gold Vibe

Photo: Retailer

On a wearable, waterproof ring.

Hermès Fly Cap

Photo: Retailer

Only the best for their show pony.

AI Binoculars

Photo: Retailer

Built-in software can ID birds and other wildlife as one spots them.

Silver Sneaker

Photo: Retailer

Kiko Kostadinov’s latest for ASICS, inspired by archival netball-competition shoes.

Superior Pillow Fort

Photo: Retailer

Superspace’s magnetic felt squares are like giant Magna-Tiles.

Status Strawberry

Photo: Retailer

From Herend, the Hungarian porcelain company founded in 1826.

Beribboned Prada

Photo: Retailer

Straight off the ready-to-wear runway and apparently made with more than 150 feet of ribbon.

Useful Seahorse

Photo: Retailer

A bottle opener plated in 24-karat gold.

Reversible British Coat

Photo: Retailer/

It has a curly interior and a smooth caramel-colored suede exterior.

Sheer Silk Pants

Photo: Retailer

With an elastic waist and ankle; from Paloma Wool.

Frilly Day Pack

Photo: Retailer

The loops have a practical purpose: attaching skiing or climbing equipment.

Teeny E-Reader

Boox Palma
$246
$246
Photo: Retailer

The Android-powered Boox can fit in their pocket.

New York Taxidermy

Photo: Retailer

A fully articulated, medical-education-quality, ethically sourced pigeon skeleton.

Silver Slip-ons

Photo: Retailer

The Shoe of the Year in a festive silver colorway.

Sapphire Ring

Photo: Retailer

Ever so slightly surrealist; handmade by designer and artist Alice Waese.

Zip Necklace

Photo: Hugo Yu

First designed in the 1950s, this adjustable 18K white-gold Van Cleef & Arpels necklace is dotted with diamonds.

Stately Snuffer

Photo: Retailer

Dinner-party drama from jewelry designer Ted Muehling.

Lisa Corti Stool

Photo: Retailer

The designer’s classic block prints have been ottomanized.

Scandi Doll Pram

Photo: Retailer

From a Copenhagen kids’ line.

Exclamation Earring

Photo: Retailer

From photographer turned lab-grown-diamond jeweler Alexei Hay’s first collection.

Mushroom House

Photo: Retailer

An all-felt embroidered creation that comes with four woodland creatures that seem very down for a tea party.

Summery Fashion Bag

Photo: Retailer

A collaboration by Lemaire and Filt, the original French manufacturer of fishing-net totes.

Wintry Fashion Bag

Photo: Retailer

A slight upgrade to this past summer’s “It” bag: The bucket design has a thicker weave and a lining.

Not UGGs

Photo: Retailer

Loewe shearling boots with a suede lining.

John Mayer’s Watch

Photo: Retailer

He designed the brand’s last limited-edition model with a self-winding perpetual calendar.

Haute Couture Bedding

Photo: Retailer

A Swiss tailored pillowcase from a hot new “bedclothes” brand.

Dessert Dior

Photo: Retailer

These plates come in the same toile that covered the walls of the first-ever Dior store.

Supersonic Sequel

Photo: Retailer

Dyson’s beloved hair dryer, now with sensor technology to reduce heat damage.

Stunning Knobs

Photo: Retailer

These anemone-shaped drawer pulls are a collaboration by jewelry designers Pamela Love and Guillaume Pajolec.

Opera Scarf

Photo: Retailer

Air Mail commissioned a line of silk scarves from Andrea Ferolla featuring notable artists as children. This one depicts a young Maria Callas.

Opera Cloak

Photo: Retailer

In orange velvet with a silk lining; designed by Colleen Allen, who used to work at The Row.

Enormous Jewelry Box

Photo: Retailer

The trunk by jewelry designer Marla Aaron is lined with a patented fabric to help prevent baubles from tarnishing.

Silver Shaker

Photo: Hugo Yu

A sterling-silver replica of Viennese silversmith Karl Sedelmayer’s 19th-century saltshaker.

1948 Frank Lloyd Wright