The Best Gifts Ever Received By Editors
These Are the 15 Best Gifts Our Editors Have Ever Received
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Gift giving truly is an art form, and we're here to help find the perfect present for everyone on your list. One of the most common fears when gift giving is that the present you spent months agonizing over will end up in a box in the corner of the recipient's home, untouched. So, we asked our editors what gifts they've really loved receiving over the years. These are the presents they actually use, love, and would happily gift to someone else.
From luxury loungewear to cool kitchen gadgets and pretty beauty gifts, these 15 presents will definitely put a smile on your recipient's face. Plus, there are plenty of options here that make great stocking stuffers, including quality headphones and an avocado slicer. Keep on reading to shop our picks!
A Great Subscription Gift: Book of the Month Subscription Box
"Every year for my birthday my Dad gifts me a yearly subscription to Book of the Month ($50 — $170). It's honestly my favourite gift ever because it's like receiving a gift every single month for an entire year. I get to pick a book from a set selection, but there's always something that looks enticing." — Renee Rodriguez, staff writer and social producer
"One of the best gifts I've ever received is a Book of the Month ($50 — $170). My husband knows I love to read digitally on my Kindle, but thought that BOTM would be a fun opportunity to read new "analog books" once a month. BOTM sometimes features early releases in its boxes, which feels really exclusive and special, and each month there's a likely chance that at least one of the books will be from a debut author, giving you a chance to discover a new favourite. There's literally nothing I look forward to more than picking out my new book on the first of each month. It's such a thoughtful gift for the person in your life who loves reading!" — Alessia Santoro, senior SEO editor
A Luxury Sweatpant: Bleusalt The Sustainable Jogger
"I was not really a sweatpant person pre-pandemic, but I made an exception for these Bleusalt The Sustainable Joggers ($140). They were a holiday gift a few years back, and when I tell you they are the softest things I've ever worn, I am not exaggerating. I've gotten all my friends hooked on them, and thank my mom every day for this genius discovery. My whole family now wears them." — India Yaffe, associate editor, commerce
For the Beauty Lover: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette
"I got this Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette ($45) as a secret santa gift from one of my best friends in college, and it instantly became my go-to palette for any event or occasion. Each shade in my palette is thoroughly used and several have hit pan. It's been five years and I always turn to this palette anytime I'm getting ready. It's such a staple gift for any makeup lover if they don't already have it, and if they do they might just appreciate a backup." — Anvita Reddy, editorial assistant, commerce
A Cool Culinary Gadget: Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker
"Until my girlfriend's dad gifted us the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker ($199), cooking meat was a mystery I convinced myself I'd never solve. Between salmonella-poisoning flashbacks filling me with fear of undercooked meat and the crushing defeat of burning meat to a tasteless crisp, I'd resigned myself to pre-cooked chicken and pasta forever. This precision cooker changed that. The tool's foolproof process and user-friendly app has allowed me, a culinary doofus, to cook any and all meat to perfection every time — and it's given me a wealth of new recipes in the process. Not to mention, cleanup post-meal is an absolute breeze." — Theresa Massony, senior editor, living
A Great Stocking Stuffer: Slip Silk Skinnie Scrunchies
"I'll be honest and say that I didn't fully understand the hype of the Slip Silk Skinnie Scrunchies ($39) until I was gifted them last year. They're super soft and don't bend your hair, but they can also pull your hair back tight, which so many scrunchies can't do. They're also easy to wear on your wrist. I'm obsessed with mine, and they're now the only hair ties I wear." — IY
A Kitchen Staple: GoWise USA XL 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer with Recipe Book
"I didn't realise how badly I needed the GoWise USA XL 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer with Recipe Book ($74) until I received it as a gift from my parents. As someone who loves to cook, this is my new favourite kitchen gadget. I use it almost every night to cook everything from vegetables to tofu and even sandwiches. It's super easy to use and cuts down on my cooking time drastically, which is always a good thing with my busy work schedule. I tell everyone who listens that they need one too." — Jessica Harrington, editor, beauty
A Cosy Winter Coat: Everlane The Duvet Puffer
"Every year, my mom treats me to a new winter coat. It's one of those things that's a big investment, so when someone else buys it for you, it just feels better. This year, my pick is the Everlane The Duvet Puffer ($248), which seems like the right choice since it's my first winter in NYC. Not only is it super warm, but it's versatile and chic silhouette (with a cute belt) will go with everything I own." — Krista Jones, editor, commerce
A Pretty Kitchen Gadget: Smeg 2-Slice Toaster
"Not only is this Smeg 2-Slice Toaster ($180) the most useful present I've ever received, I also think it's so cute! It adds a stylish element to my kitchen (because let's be real, appliances can be ugly) and it works incredibly well. Shout out to my grandma for this brilliant present!" — Macy Cate Williams, senior editor, commerce
For All Avocado Lovers: OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer
"The best gift I've ever received is one I got last year from my mom, the OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer ($11). I had mentioned a few days before Christmas that slicing and mashing up avocados took so many utensils, and I was worried about slicing my hand open — and on Christmas day this was under the tree! I use it all the time, and it meant so much that my mom had both listened to me and set out to help fix a (relatively small) problem in my life. In fact, I love this tool so much that I forced my boyfriend to buy one too, and now he uses his all the time." — Madeleine Fournier, social content producer
An Everyday Gadget: Apple AirPods Pro
"I received the Apple AirPods Pro ($190, originally $249) for my birthday, and I cannot name a product, let alone gift, I use more. I listen to music and podcasts, take meetings, and work out in these headphones. They're super comfortable, and the sound quality is fantastic." — IY
A Gift Everyone Will Enjoy: Nordstrom Gift Cards
"One of my best-ever Christmases was the year I just got Nordstrom Gift Cards ($5 - $1,000) from literally everyone. My loved ones didn't just get me gift cards, they got me the experience of being able to walk into Nordstrom and buy just about whatever I wanted to. If you go this route, be sure to do your shopping spree in the middle of the day on a weekday (schedule permitting, of course) so that you can really live that empty store, Pretty Woman personal shopping montage fantasy." — Beau Brink, senior SEO manager
Great Gift For Creatives: 9 Heads: A Guide to Drawing Fashion
"A few months into lockdown, my husband noticed that I was feeling a little restless, and he patiently listened as I complained about needing a hobby—ideally one that'd get me to use my hands. The gift of this excellent book 9 Heads: A Guide to Drawing Fashion ($68) couldn't have come at a better time; it reconnected me to my early love of sketching clothes. He also paired it with an easel kit, and the two gifts combined not only gave me a fun way to unwind at the time, but they've become one of my favourite 'distractions.'" — Shelcy Joseph, assistant editor, commerce
A Gift That Will Last Forever: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven
"This Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven ($370) is the only thing in my kitchen that isn't from Ikea and I would recommend for anyone who (like myself) sticks to one pot, cosy meals as soon as the weather drops below 50." — Melissa Hayes, consumer marketing manager
An Everyday Bag: Kendall Conrad Nina Bag
"I was gifted this Kendall Conrad Nina Bag ($590) last year, and it has become my everyday bag. The leather is buttery soft, it's the perfect size (not too big but fits a surprising amount), and I love that I can wear it as a crossbody or bucket bag." — IY
Cosy Loungewear: Abercrombie LuxeLoft Lounge Sweater Joggers and LuxeLoft Squareneck Tank
"Ever since I received the Abercrombie LuxeLoft Lounge Sweater Joggers ($59) and LuxeLoft Squareneck Tank ($27, originally $39), I've been living in them. The set is the softest piece of clothing I own and I take it off just to wash it and then put it right back on again. The cut of the tank top is super flattering and I love that it's cute enough to wear out of the house if I want to run a quick errand." — JH
