Whoever she is — mother/sister/wife/bestie/first girlfriend — the woman in your life deserves a good gift to open this Christmas. If you’re thinking she won’t notice that you’ve left things until the last minute — and that she won’t mind — you’re sadly mistaken. Fortunately for you, we’ve tapped into the femme proclivity for nice things and sorted an extremely thoughtful and wide-ranging list to keep you in the good books for another year.
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For The Beauty Queen
As per usual, we like to start small and work our way up. Whether you’ve only just started dating or the office Secret Santa has you buying for Jessica in HR, there’s no shame in keeping things humble and top-line this year.
With some of this year’s most wildly popular trends being wallet-friendly, you’re in incredibly good company. No woman will say “no” to suncare that seamlessly wears on top of her makeup and skincare Ultra Violette’s Preen Screen Mist ($42) hits it on the head, especially when spritzed on top of the world’s number one selling skint tint from Ilia ($110) with a little sheen screen lip balm ($27) to top it off.
If she’s born in the 90s, there’s no doubt you’ll nail it with anything from Glossier now that they finally ship to Australia, but their best-selling trio of Boy Brow ($35), Cloud Paint ($39) and their Eau de You EDP ($135) are an easy bet. If she’s more interested in the business behind the brand, then a hardback copy of Glossy ($45) dives deep into the story of one of the most disruptive brands in beauty to date.
If she takes her beauty routine seriously, a perfect entry point is the Viviology 7-step Starter Kit ($179), or the Augustinus Bader Starter Kit ($305) roughly translates to a societal debut on the Upper East Side, with the rig equivalent being NZ brand Tronque’s Full Body Collection ($550). Elsewhere in the grooming department, the Dyson Airwrap ($699) is the only hairstyling tool that dries, curls and shapes hair and is widely regarded as the only hair tool worth having.
For The Book Worm
Coffee table books are the new humble brag for those interested in design, and whilst anything from Rizzoli whispers quiet luxury, Rose Uniacke ‘At Home’ ($430) is this year’s interior bible — and possibly the most you’ll ever spend on a book. Should one book not be enough, a 12-month subscription from Well Read ($420) serves as a monthly reminder about how caring you are, as well as how she’s probably failed again to hit that NY resolution of “reading more.”
For The Accessory Aficionado
Elsewhere, a bottle of Chanel N5 EDP ($275) will never look out of place in a discerning woman’s fragrance lineup, and nor would a Gucci 25H, 34mm watch ($2,915) on her wrist, or a Sarah and Sebastian Fine Gossamer Diamond Necklace ($550) around her neck.
On the topic of jewellery, a Meadowlark Solid Gold Loop Ring ($1,145) echoes the sentiment of love without hinting at too much, and you could probably drop these Bella Clarke’s Cupid Harp Earrings ($160) into that bundle as well. And if timeless accessories are where we’re all heading in this world (and we should be), wrapping a pair of Miu Miu 09WS Sunnies ($550) around that beautiful head of hers is the first-class ticket.
When all else fails, aka she’s a tough one to buy for, opt for the classics. Gifts that are worth the investment will pay consistent dividends for years to come (both in brownie points, Frequent Flyer points, and/or on the resale market). Sometimes, you just gotta hit Go, and where better to than with a bag? Nothing says quiet luxury quite like a handbag, and quite frankly, there are only two bags this year worth considering — the Savette Tondo Shoulder Bag ($2,250) and the Toteme T-Lock Clutch ($1,490). Both in the reasonable category (as far as luxury bags go), and both impossibly chic.
If she’s the kind of girl who’s always “on her way” but is actually in the shower, it’s probably a good opportunity to buy her a nice watch. Consider the Tissot Chemin de Tourelles Powermatic ($1,240), Longines DolceVita x YVY ($2,800), or if money is no object, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding in Pink Gold ($86,500).
For The Aqua Enthused
If she’s the kind of woman who’s more likely to wet her hair at the beach than under a Jolie Skin Filtered Shower Head ($282), you’ll never go wrong with a new set of togs. Australian brand Ines Lauren’s one piece ($300) is making a run at being the most coveted wardrobe addition on the market (for both sport and leisure), and the OG Instagrammable towel brand Baina has a new check colourway ($130) that will take pride of place in her daily bathing rituals. If she can’t get enough of glamourised beach essentials, then the Barbados Bundle ($189) from local business Gentle Habits caps it off with their best-selling snorkel and fins.
For The Gym Junkie
If she’s more of a land-based fitness creature, the Alo Yoga Mat ($175) makes the perfect companion for when she transitions from bike to pilates on the new Peloton Bike+ ($2,745) that you might fork out for her (but mostly for you). Likewise, a Wilson Shift 99L V1 Tennis Racquet ($369) is transferable between the two of you, but when you pair it with a Tory Sport Tennis Dress ($288), she’ll think it’s all hers. If activewear appears to play more of a part in her sartorial style than her lifestyle, a pair of Loewe Sneakers ($1,290) have her grinning from A to B, and the “Cool Girl” uniform of a “Sports’ Sweatshirt from Sporty & Rich ($270) might get you one step closer to uninterrupted viewing of the Boxing Day Test.
Looking for the perfect Christmas Gift for Him? Check out our 2023 Christmas Gift Guide for Men.
