“Remember, the big stores don’t do ‘a little Jig’ when they make a sale. Make someone ‘jig’ this year.”
This year, we’re shopping small, we’re shopping responsibly but we’re definitely not shopping Amazon if we can help it. I’ve been surfing the back alleys of the internet in search of its most charming small businesses, as well as browsing the gift shops of museums and hotels which were hard hit during the pandemic lockdowns. You’ll find many of the choices on this list have been curated to reflect the social movements and events of this crazy, crazy year called 2020. I’ve always put a lot of thought into finding unique gifts at the holidays and if you’re a long-time reader, chances are we probably share similar tastes. So without further ado, let’s go gift-shopping…
For the Dedicated Scrapbooker
Recycled decomposition notebooks from $9.00 by Michael Roger.
For binge-watchers of “The Crown”
With Diana-fever on the rise again thanks to season 4 of The Crown, the late style-icon’s fashion choices are in hot pursuit. We’ve been a long-time fan of the Provencale brand, Souleiado, and so was Diana. Retailing at €119, this Pompadour handbag has been a staple of the brand’s bag collection for decades now. Find it here.
For the Vintage Travel Nostalgic
TWA Cashmere sweater, $249 from the TWA Hotel online gift shop.
For the Born & Bred New Yorker
Ceramic New York Coffee Cup, $15, was designed by Graham Hill, an ode to the iconic “We Are Happy To Serve You” paper coffee cup was introduced in 1963 by Leslie Buck.
For the Classical Art Lover
“The Veiled Lady” is a famous bust, after the antique by Monti, 1875 which is part of the great Chatsworth house collection. The Duke gave Copeland permission to reproduce this subject. This product is available in a choice of finishes: Antique Marble, New Marble, Veined and polished, Black and Bronze. Dispatches in 2 weeks, $145.
For the elegant masked crusader
Handmade and customizable “toile de jouy” masks, 49 euros by Brigitte Tanaka in Paris.
For Little Mermaids
For every purchase of Maya the Mermaid doll, 10 meals are donated to schoolchildren who are in need—via partnerships with World Food Program USA’s School Meals Program, Children’s Hunger Fund, Breakfast Club of Canada and WE Charity School Nutrition Program. Further, the sale of these fair-trade dolls also supports 750 artisans in Peru.
If they can’t go to the beach, bring the beach to them. High design inflatable pools, $100 by Mylle.
For an Eye for Graphic Design
Lots of great print reproductions, from $6 to $69 on Etsy.
For the One-of-a-Kind Bohemian
Psychic Outlaw is a company selling rather fabulous recycled patchwork jackets.
For Easily Distracted Storytellers
A goodbye to writer’s block with the world’s best distraction-free writing tool. Invest in a future storyteller with the Freewrite Smart Typewriter.
For Little Storytellers
Create your own fairytale box by Laurence King.
For the Miniatures Enthusiast
You may already be a fan of Aleia’s magical snail world on Instagram, but now there’s a book, $34.99 from Broccoli Mag.
For the Workaholic
Amusing desk signs from He Said She Said.
For the Aspiring Astronaut
Nasa flight suits (available for children and adults) and space helmets from $30.
For the 2020 Warrior
Boxing Glovers, $60 from Brooklyn-based Gym Overthrow.
For the Retro Roller
Beloved Long Beach, CA-based roller skate brand Moxi started making skates in 2008. Skates & more roller merch from $99.
For the Record Collector
Customizable record dividers, ready to ship, $186.
For the Vintage Film Lover
The New York Herald Tribune shirt became an instant fashion piece when Jean Seberg donned it in the 1960 film “Breathless.” That iconic shirt is now loyally reproduced, down to the smallest detail, with Knickerbocker Manufacturing in Brooklyn. $90 from here.
The Overlook Hotel Rug, $71 from Etsy or the officially licensed luxury rug is here.
For the Tireless Sketcher
As you draw, your creations transfer digitally—and instantly—to your device, in any color and brush you select using the Imagink companion app on your iOS, Android, Mac or PC device. Amateur and professional artists who enjoy the creative freedom of drawing their digital works on paper will love the iskn Repaper Drawing Slate, $199 or 179 euros from Europe.
For the next Frida Kahlo
$50 from Phaidon or check your local bookstore.
For the Francophile Fashionista
Organza butcher bag, 35 euros made by Brigitte Tanaka in Paris.
For a Future Bohemian Queen
Exquisite play tents by Dock a Tot, beautifully photographed by our friend Jamie Beck.
For the Great Outdoors Adventurer
Hammock, $79 by Huckberry.
For the Do-it-all Dad
RS-Barcelona Mon Oncle Barbecue in Blue by Mermelada Estudio, $380 on 1st Dibs.
For the Dive Bar Regular
Introducing the fragrance, Whisky, 1969. “An ode to iconic rock club on the Sunset Strip. Dark, electric, and little bit drunk. A groupie nuzzles into an intoxicated rock god backstage; they swig spicy warm bourbon from the bottle together and her girlish scent swirls about the sweaty room. The red stage lights burn hot lighting up the beautiful faces in the smoky crowd. The bass thumps from the stage rattling the old, sticky, wooden bar.”
For the Adventurous Wine Lover
Nearly a decade ago, south of the Aland archipelago, between Sweden and Finland, a 200 year-old shipwreck was discovered to be holding 168 sealed bottles of Veuve Cliquot produced between 1839 and 1841 at the bottom of the sea. Divers had the first taste, and found that the wine was not only drinkable, but good; dare we say, even smooth. News of the well-aged 200 year-old wine found at the bottom of the sea must have spread quickly amongst wine lovers, because within a year of the discovery, the world had its first underwater winery – and more on the way.
From one of Europe’s premier underwater wine cellars, once ready for consumption, Edivovino wine is sold in its amphora just as it emerged from the Adriatic sea – seashells, algae and all. More about Europe’s underwater wine cellars here.
For the Peaceful Plant Lover
Justina Blakeney is the creative director of the Black-owned home décor brand, Jungalow® and the author of The New Bohemians book series. Shop her vases here for $68.
For the Quirky Decorator
We’re absolutely obsessed with everything Alexa Proba makes, and 10% of sales will go towards @feedingamerica — an organization providing food to people in need. Pillow, $175.
For the French Antiques Addict
Our friend Ajiri Aki, the founder of Madame de la Maison has the eye of a serious collector, and she has the keys to a collection of timeless French tableware, one-of-a-kind antiques. Shop her linens and tableware here.
For the Pop Art Lover
Moma x Vans sneakers, $80, lots of styles to shop here.
For the Socially Conscious Vintage Collector
Blk Market Vintage is a Brooklyn, Black-owned NY-based antique/vintage concept shop. Browse more of their treasures here, like this vintage Emenee Children’s Accordion, $45.
For the LGBTQ Activist/ Comedian
T-shirt, $10 from Revel & Riot (a non-profit brand devoted to promoting LGBTQ+ equality).
For the Activist who wears their Heart on their Sleeve
Artist-led non-profit and Black-owned organization For Freedoms encourages creative public engagement, conversation and action in all areas of civic concern. Their edgy design tshirt is $40.
For a Stressed Out Soul-searcher
Unsolicited advice notebooks by Adam J Kurtz.
For those not quite from this planet
Blue Oyster Grow mushroom Kit. $34 from Small Hold.
For the Star Gazer
Ideal for beginners, Orion’s compact tabletop StarMax 90mm TableTop Telescope is powerful enough to bring the moon, our solar system’s planets and even innumerable bright deep space objects into view. Table top telescope, 200 euros.
For the Modernist Architect
Modernist Bird feeder, shop it from the Moma Gift Shop.
For the American Kitsch Lover
Lawn Chairs from the Museum of Modern Art store, $70.
For all the Family
Clue 3D luxury edition from the WS game company.
For Basic Witches
Online or check your local bookstore.
For the Nomadic Musician
The LED Lantern speaker, $110, is both a dimmable lantern and a wireless speaker, this innovative, playful design looks like a timeless hurricane lamp and delivers up to seven hours of continuous ambient light and crisp, omnidirectional sound.
For the Urban Explorer
Don’t be a Tourist in New York and Don’t be a Tourist in Paris books, $35 from the MessyNessyChic boutique. We’ve got a 20% discount running on both our Don’t be a Tourist in Paris and New York books through the weekend. Just use the code “jig” upon checkout.
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