The best gifts aren’t the ones your better half asks you to buy — they’re the ones you put some thought into. But, hey, it’s almost December and there are only so many hours in the day. So if you need a helping hand, we’re here to do some of the heavy lifting.
Our guide to the best gifts for your significant other includes everything she needs to tackle the trails or just cozy up by a roaring fire. And if nothing seems quite right, feel free to peruse our dozens of other gift guides to find even more inspiration for what to buy that special person in your life.
YogaGlo Subscription
This subscription is akin to having a good friend you can always rely on in your back pocket. From 45-minute deep hip- and heart-openers to 5-minute meditations, YogaGlo is widely versatile yet always consistent, meaning it’s rare she’ll be disappointed. And, it’s only $18 per month — pretty much the cost of one drop-in class.
Wildsam Field Guides – Road Trip Desert Southwest
Whether she actually heads to the Southwest or not, it’s more about inspiring wanderlust than nailing down the trip. And Wildsam’s guides — complete with where to buy Navajo rugs and scenic backroad suggestion — will certainly do that. Psychology shows that remaining curious together strengthens the bond, so pick somewhere neither of you has been and let the open road take it from there.
Running Home
Not many memoirs can decorate bookshelves like Wild and Eat, Pray, Love, but Running Home by Katie Arnold, a former Outside editor, will be a contender when it comes out in March. Facing the loss of her father shortly after the birth of her second child, Arnold begins running long distances (like, really long distances) through the woods to confront her grief and, ultimately, save her own life. The book is an inspiration for anyone — not just runners — who has ever felt unsteady and struggled to find their own path in life.
OSEA for Parachute Sleep Time Bath Salts
Parachute teamed up with OSEA, the all-natural skincare company based in Malibu, California, to concoct up the most relaxing bath salts we’ve smelled in a long time. Made from lavender (a sleep-promoting scent) and essential oils, these will be a sure hit with any bath lover.
Paddywax Parks Collection Candle
Everything about these candles will speak to her: the natural sandstone look, scents that are actually powerful enough to linger in your home, a wood wick that crackles like a campfire and the fact that proceeds support the National Parks Foundation. The Grand Canyon’s Cactus Flower + Fern scent is the standout — each candle’s smell is derived from the park for which it’s named — but they are all good.
Rifle Paper 17 Month 2018-2019 Spiral Planner
No matter how efficient this digital age has made us, there’s nothing more satisfying than putting pen to paper — especially when it comes to schedules and planning. Rifle’s spiral planner gives her options on how she prefers to plan: weekly, monthly, yearly or all of the above. And it’s plenty pretty to boot.
Lail Designs Utility Vase
Speaking of pretty, there’s nothing more joyful on the eyes than coming home to a table with fresh flowers. Surprise her with a bouquet in an equally beautiful vase she can re-use again and again.
REI Co-op Wallace Lake Leggings
A good pair of leggings is everything to a woman. No, really, it is. REI’s new Wallace Lake Collection has plenty of stylish items, but none fit better than the Leggings — especially for petite figures. The texture makes them just as suitable to wear under dresses as on their own.
Farmhouse Pottery Breton Striped Slippers
Slippers are a practical gift. And that’s very okay. These add a little bit of style to an otherwise frumpy item. If she already has a pair, don’t fret: we’re pretty sure almost anything from Farmhouse Pottery—like this simple Vermont-made forged bangle or set of new mugs is likely to make her smile.
Stowaway Pack An Overnight Bag
We’re not sure why it took so long for a cosmetic company to brand itself on the idea of travel friendly-size makeup. But, it makes so much sense. Nobody likes carrying around a makeup bag busting in all directions with full-size bottles of foundation and long lip glosses. This particular set comes with all of the basic essentials: powder, blush, mascara, eyeshadow, liner and lipstick.
Nudo Olive Oil Adoption
Adopting an olive tree in Italy is a romantic notion. She’ll think so, too, especially if the long play is to visit your plot together one day. In the meantime, you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your, well, non-labor in quarterly shipment of olive oil. Buy a good loaf of bread once it arrives.
Saje Aroma Om Essential Oil Diffuser
Diffusing oil has its wellness benefits: better sleep, respiratory health, increased focus and resistance against illness. And, we love the clean, organic look of this diffuser’s ceramic sheath. It’ll add a sense of calm and peace to her bedroom, office or living space. Stuff her stocking with some of our favorite essential oils.
The Grand Tour Wine Club
Does she have wanderlust and a love for wine? This is gift is for her. The Grand Tour Wine Club, by the sommeliers behind Verve Wine, focuses on a different region of the world each month. They sip and curate and determine what the story is for each location before delivering four bottles to your door. It’s a fun way to learn about which varietals thrive in certain areas and get nostalgic about places you may have visited together (or plan to someday).
Lotta from Stockholm Clogs
She’ll love these leather Mary Jane-style clogs for their ease and put together-ness. They’re comfortable, can handle a couple of miles on New York City concrete, and go perfectly with a business casual environment.
Kiehl’s Brighten Up & Glow Set
The great thing about Kiehl’s is that its products work for most skin types. This set comes with all the basic essentials for a good skincare regimen — face wash, moisturizer, eye cream (new parents, listen up: it de-puffs) and a couple other goodies. The moisturizer is especially good at fighting winter dryness. Want to round out her routine? Add their Amino Acid Shampoo and Conditioner to her stocking — it cleans and hydrates without adding waxiness or weight to the hair.
Everlane The Cashmere Turtleneck
Timeless. Relaxed. Cozy. Soft. And manufactured with ethics in mind. It’s hard not to love this sweater.
Ecuadane Large Southwestern Artisan Blanket
Alpaca can be incredibly itchy, but that’s not the case with this soft blanket — it’s mostly made of recycled materials, combined with wool and alpaca. Its bold pattern makes it a statement piece (so, make sure she’s not print-averse), and its large size (82 x 93 inches) delivers all the coziness needed for a cold winter night by the fire.
Parachute Merino Travel Kit
For more compact coziness, opt for the Travel Merino Kit from Parachute, a 38- by 52-inch blanket and eye mask combo. It’s just about the best way to improve long-haul flights in coach class. Once she gets her fingers on this, she may want to use these items at home, too.
Understands Planet 6 Ash Computer Stand
It’s easy to whiz through work prioritizing speed and efficiency over more slow, methodical approaches. Understands’ Planet 6 Ash computer stand is a great reminder that some things take time and time-tested skills to master. So, clean up her workspace — no more stack of books to prop up her screen — with this beautiful piece of furniture. Having an organizer on her desk won’t only declutter what’s around her.
Burrow Armchair
Buying her furniture is one thing but sprucing up her reading nook encourages self-growth and nourishment. Burrow’s armchair is stylish, comfortable, affordable and customizable to some extent — and it ships straight to her door.
Baume Custom Timepiece
Baume’s Custom Timepiece is truly beautiful with a swooping case and clean, simplistic face. The main selling point is the fact you can customize so many things— the colors of the face, hands and case, the strap materials — so that it reflects her style. At 35mm, it’s not dainty, but it’s so, so stunning. The one part she can keep private is your engraved message on the back.
Shinola Small Signet Rotating Pendant with Diamonds
Shinola’s jewelry is always a sure bet: it’s dainty, with the same nod to classic design as the brand’s stylish bikes and watches. Surprise her with this diamond-inlaid necklace — a play on signet rings, which are trending right now in fashion.
