Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Bag Charms, French Butter Presses, and Everything In Between

Summary

The Who What Wear Podcast: 2024 Holiday Gift Guide Summary

Episode Title: Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Bag Charms, French Butter Presses, and Everything In Between
Release Date: November 20, 2024
Host: Cat Collings
Guests: Hilary Kerr (Co-Founder), Bobbi Schussler (Shopping Director), Lauren Eggertson (Editorial Director)
Sponsor: eBay

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Introduction

In this festive episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, host Cat Collings teams up with her colleagues Hilary Kerr, Bobbi Schussler, and Lauren Eggertson to unveil an extensive 2024 Holiday Gift Guide. The discussion spans a variety of gift categories tailored for fashion enthusiasts, homebodies, health aficionados, and more, ensuring listeners have a wealth of ideas for everyone on their holiday list.

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Luxury Gifts for the Fashion-Savvy

Hilary Kerr emphasizes the importance of selecting luxury accessories from brands that the recipient adores. She shares her strategy:

"[05:35] Hilary Kerr: 'Go to whatever brand your bestie is obsessed with and find a fun, quirky, interesting accessory that fits your price point.'”

Bobbi Schussler highlights designer keychains and upscale items like the vintage Fendi baguette bag:

"[10:00] Bobbi Schussler: 'Bag charms are a huge trend. My pick is the Empire or Brooklyn style Coach bags, which are celeb favorites.'”

These selections ensure the gifts are both stylish and meaningful, often being pieces the recipients wouldn’t purchase for themselves.

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Affordable Gifts Under $100

The panel acknowledges the need for budget-friendly yet thoughtful gifts. Hilary Kerr recommends high-quality beauty products such as:

"[09:07] Hilary Kerr: 'Hermès nail polish is a fantastic gift—beautiful colors and long-lasting formula.'"

Lauren Eggertson suggests luxury socks:

"[10:50] Lauren Eggertson: 'Comc offers cashmere socks in vibrant colors that can transform any outfit.'”

Bobbi Schussler introduces the trend of bag charms:

"[10:00] Bobbi Schussler: 'Bag charms from brands like Bauble Bar and Marc Jacobs are under $100 and add a personalized touch.'"

These options provide elegance without breaking the bank, making them perfect for broader gifting needs.

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Gifts for the Homebody

For those who cherish cozy nights in, the panel suggests:

Hilary Kerr shares her experience upgrading her parents' bathroom essentials with luxury products:

"[12:16] Hilary Kerr: 'Upgrading bathroom essentials with brands like Ouai and Matouk can make daily routines feel special.'”

Bobbi Schussler recommends chic hotel slippers:

"[13:38] Bobbi Schussler: 'Hotel slippers from Bombas offer luxury comfort for homebodies.'”

Lauren Eggertson adds the allure of elegant robes:

"[14:07] Lauren Eggertson: 'Bernadette’s silk robes or Doozen’s striped options provide at-home luxury that feels indulgent.'”

These gifts enhance the comfort and aesthetic of any home, perfect for loved ones who enjoy lounging in style.

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Hostess Gifts

For the friend who loves to entertain, thoughtful hostess gifts include:

Hilary Kerr recommends personalized items and high-quality kitchen essentials:

"[17:32] Hilary Kerr: 'Personalized olive oil bottles or monogrammed cocktail napkins from Heather Taylor Home make chic and functional hostess gifts.'”

Lauren Eggertson suggests building a collection with serving platters:

"[18:59] Lauren Eggertson: 'Genori 1735’s Oriente Italiano serving platters allow you to gift pieces that can be added to a host’s collection over time.'”

Bobbi Schussler points to unique glassware:

"[17:57] Bobbi Schussler: 'Decorative glassware from Sophie Lou Jacobson adds a quirky and stylish touch to any hostess collection.'”

These selections ensure hosts feel appreciated with gifts that enhance their entertaining experience.

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Health and Wellness Gifts

For the health-conscious individual, popular gift ideas include:

Hilary Kerr highlights digital workout subscriptions and premium swimwear:

"[20:27] Hilary Kerr: 'A subscription to Nest’s digital workouts or activewear from Left on Friday can inspire and support their fitness journey.'”

Bobbi Schussler suggests stylish workout accessories:

"[21:46] Bobbi Schussler: 'We Gym offers chic yoga mats and weights in beautiful colors, perfect for those who love to stay active.'"

Lauren Eggertson recommends pairing workout classes with accessories:

"[22:11] Lauren Eggertson: 'Gift classes at local studios along with fashionable workout socks or scrunchies create a comprehensive and thoughtful present.'"

These gifts cater to both the functionality and style preferences of fitness enthusiasts.

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Personalized Gifts

Nothing says "thoughtful" like personalized gifts. The panel shares various ideas:

Hilary Kerr suggests personalized packing cubes and monogrammed apparel:

"[23:23] Hilary Kerr: 'Monogrammed packing cubes from Paravel or customized sweaters from J. Crew add a personal touch to practical gifts.'”

Bobbi Schussler emphasizes customizable jewelry:

"[24:38] Bobbi Schussler: 'A personalized jewelry box from Sophie Billabra filled with customized loc pockets makes for a cherished gift.'"

Lauren Eggertson loves personalized pajamas:

"[25:19] Lauren Eggertson: 'Customized pajamas from Apergee offer both comfort and a personal flair, perfect for any recipient.'"

These personalized options ensure each gift feels unique and special to the receiver.

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Experiential Gifts

Experiential gifts create lasting memories. Recommendations include:

Hilary Kerr mentions gourmet subscriptions and makeup classes:

"[26:35] Hilary Kerr: 'Subscriptions like Murray’s Cheese of the Month or Helen’s Wine Club offer delightful monthly treats, while Joey Maloof’s Zoom makeup classes provide skills and fun.'”

Lauren Eggertson advocates for concert tickets and memberships:

"[28:11] Lauren Eggertson: 'Concert tickets or museum memberships allow recipients to enjoy experiences they love throughout the year.'"

Bobbi Schussler highlights monthly delivery services:

"[27:55] Bobbi Schussler: 'Educational subscription boxes from brands like Lovevery or Crunch Labs keep the excitement going long after the holidays.'"

These gifts go beyond physical items, offering unique experiences tailored to the recipient’s interests.

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Memorable Gifts

Highlighting unforgettable presents, the panel shares personal stories:

Hilary Kerr treasures custom gold cuff bracelets:

"[29:27] Hilary Kerr: 'Custom gold cuff bracelets with my children’s names in diamonds are future heirlooms and deeply sentimental gifts.'"

Bobbi Schussler recounts her husband's surprise gift:

"[30:37] Bobbi Schussler: 'My husband gifted me a Cartier Trinity ring, engraved with our daughter’s initials and birth date, making it a cherished keepsake.'"

Lauren Eggertson fondly remembers concert experiences:

"[31:21] Lauren Eggertson: 'Spontaneous concert tickets to Mexico City created unforgettable memories and showcased thoughtful surprise gifting.'"

These stories illustrate how personalized and thoughtful gifts can leave a lasting impression.

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Gifting Tips and Strategies

To navigate the holiday season efficiently, the panel offers practical advice:

Hilary Kerr recommends grouping gifts for similar recipients:

"[32:19] Hilary Kerr: 'Giving the same cozy blanket jackets to a group of friends ensures consistency and avoids the appearance of favoritism.'"

Bobbi Schussler advises staying updated with sales and trends:

"[33:26] Bobbi Schussler: 'Subscribe to favorite retailers’ newsletters and utilize push notifications to stay informed about holiday sales and discounts.'"

Lauren Eggertson emphasizes bulk gifting and small pairings:

"[34:19] Lauren Eggertson: 'Combine larger items like vintage glassware with smaller accessories to create cohesive and thoughtful gifts, stored conveniently for last-minute needs.'"

These strategies help streamline the gifting process, making it both efficient and personalized.

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Ultimate No-Fail Gifts

For those uncertain about what to gift, the panel suggests universally appealing options:

Hilary Kerr recommends vintage or first editions of cult books:

"[35:17] Hilary Kerr: 'A vintage edition of a cult classic book from ABebooks adds a personal and intellectual touch to any gift.'”

Bobbi Schussler opts for cashmere essentials:

"[36:04] Bobbi Schussler: 'Cashmere items like sweaters, gloves, or hats are luxurious yet versatile gifts that cater to a wide audience.'"

Lauren Eggertson loves Lewis Sherry chocolates and Polaroid cameras:

"[37:15] Lauren Eggertson: 'Elegant chocolate tins that double as decorative pieces, alongside a mini Polaroid camera for capturing memories, make delightful and versatile gifts.'"

These options ensure a high likelihood of pleasing any recipient, regardless of their specific tastes.

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Conclusion

The episode concludes with heartfelt thanks to the panelists for their invaluable gift ideas and a special nod to eBay for sponsoring the episode. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to stay updated with the latest in fashion and gifting trends.

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Notable Quotes:

• "[05:35] Hilary Kerr: 'Go to whatever brand your bestie is obsessed with and find a fun, quirky, interesting accessory that fits your price point.'"

• "[10:00] Bobbi Schussler: 'Bag charms are a huge trend. My pick is the Empire or Brooklyn style Coach bags, which are celeb favorites.'"

• "[17:32] Hilary Kerr: 'Personalized olive oil bottles or monogrammed cocktail napkins from Heather Taylor Home make chic and functional hostess gifts.'"

• "[25:19] Lauren Eggertson: 'Customized pajamas from Apergee offer both comfort and a personal flair, perfect for any recipient.'"

• "[35:17] Hilary Kerr: 'A vintage edition of a cult classic book from ABebooks adds a personal and intellectual touch to any gift.'"

These insights, combined with the detailed product and brand recommendations, make this episode an essential listen for anyone seeking inspiration for their 2024 holiday gifting.

Transcript

[Bobbi Schussler]

Hey everyone, it's Bobbi Schussler here, the shopping director at who What Where. I hope you enjoy our upcoming episode and all things holiday gifting. I had so much fun chatting with my colleagues Hilary, Kat and Lauren about our favorite gift ideas this season. I hope you get a few ideas for the special people on your list. One place where I find extraordinary gifts is ebay. It's where I find those extra special finds like cool pre loved pieces that you can't get anywhere else. I now look for the ebay Authenticity Guarantee check mark on listings to see which items can be physically inspected by experts before delivery. This is an amazing service ensuring that my friends and family's gifts will be the real deal. I recently searched ebay for pretty vintage scarves. I love giving scarves as gifts because they're forever pieces and never go out of style. I started with pre loved Gucci scarves and found fantastic options backed by authenticity Guarantee. I spotted a reversible monogram scarf that I know my mother would love. It could totally become a new everyday piece. A stunning bag is always a lovely gift idea. So I continued with my designer search and uncovered an incredible vintage Fendi baguette bag from the 90s that is so special and one of a kind. I can't think of anyone in my life that would not covet this bag because of its beauty and versatility. I also love the idea of a Chicago card case as a gift. I noticed a rare Louis Vuitton style from a recent collab that popped up that any fashion person would be into it's seriously next level. I also spotted a chic Prada silhouette that might just have to be a little gift to myself. And that's okay, right? There are honestly so many amazing gift options on ebay. I could go on and on about all of the treasures I found. Ebay is the go to destination for my gifting needs and when I'm looking for a one of a kind designer piece or a beautiful pre loved item, the Authenticity Guarantee Filter makes my shopping experience better because having the confidence of a verified item is essential for luxury purchases. Happy Holidays everyone.

[Cat Collings]

Welcome to the who what Wear Podcast, your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors and tastemakers who are shaping the ever evolving world of fashion. I'm who what Where Editor in Chief Cat Collings and today I've gathered an absolute a team of gift givers to walk you through their recommendations for all of your holiday shopping. I'm joined by who, what, where co founder Hilary Kerr, Shopping Director Bobby Schessler and editorial director, Lauren Eggertson. And we've curated some lovely gift options for everyone in your life, from the fashion person to the fitness enthusiast and everyone in between. We cover absolutely everything this episode. Vintage butter molds, luxe hotel slippers, personalized olive oil bottles, and more. I came away with so many amazing ideas for my loved ones, and I hope you do too. It's all coming up on who, what, where? Hi, everyone.

[Hilary Kerr]

Hi, Kat.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Hi.

[Cat Collings]

I am so excited to sit down with you all to talk about one of my favorite things, literally one of my love languages, which is gifting. So this is a special episode because I am going to be heading on parental leave in the next couple of weeks. So the voices you hear from today have kindly agreed to fill in for me by hosting the pod while I'm out. We have our co founder, Hillary Kerr. Hello. Our shopping director, Bobby Schessler.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Hello.

[Cat Collings]

And our editorial director, Lauren Eggertson.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Hi.

[Hilary Kerr]

Thanks for having us, Kat.

[Cat Collings]

Yes. I am jazzed about this topic. I can't even contain my excitement, to be honest.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Well, you're a great gift giver. I'm just gonna say that right off the start facts.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Yeah, you really are.

[Cat Collings]

Thank you. I accept that title. I also know that Hillary is very competitive gifter as well, so I am.

[Hilary Kerr]

I like winning at presents.

[Cat Collings]

I think we've got a nice spectrum of opinions to tap into today. So first, let's talk about gifts for our specific community. Obviously, we're speaking with fashion and beauty lovers and people who are really tapped into the market and the trends. Let's say this describes your best friend and you're willing to drop, you know, a little bit of money because she's your bestie. What are you buying for them? We're talking maybe like a hundred ish plus dollars.

[Hilary Kerr]

So my go to is figuring out something that's a luxury accessory from a brand that they're already obsessed with. And I feel lucky because I was indoctrinated into this strategic gift giving by my best friend who gave me a Skoal Prada keychain in, like, 2006. I was obsessed with Skoals because that was the era and it was so fun and luxurious. And I thought about her every time I used my keys, which was all the time, and it just felt so, so charming and like something I would never have bought for myself. So I say go to whatever brand your bestie is obsessed with and then find, like, the fun, quirky, interesting, lovely accessory that fits in your price point and buy that for them. Something that they wouldn't buy for themselves otherwise. My other strategy is take something that they already wear and love all the time and then upgrade it. So, for example, like, if they always have a really simple white T shirt that they like, fine, maybe give them a more luxury version of it. So just something that feels a little bit nicer or that is a brand that they've always been coveting. If they like their cotton T shirt, maybe consider one from the row or something from the. Great. Just putting that out there. Upgrade an everyday essential. That's me.

[Cat Collings]

Gorgeous. I've given the luxury keychain before to a former coworker of ours, Michelle. I think I did a vintage route, though, like through Etsy or ebay or something. It touched on one of her interests. It was a little Gucci riding boot. And she's a horse girl, so worked out well.

[Hilary Kerr]

Perfect. Vintage and luxury. And designer.

[Cat Collings]

Yes, please.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I love that. If anyone wants to give me a designer keychain or a shirt from the row, send my address. My main criteria is always to give something that somebody wouldn't buy themselves. Thinking specifically to my best friend. She's all about coach bags right now, which we all are also.

[Hilary Kerr]

Amen.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Our gift guide is literally on the homepage right now with a coach bag front and center. So that's my pick. There's so many amazing styles, like Empire. The Brooklyn style, I think is what I would suggest for my friend in particular. It's a celeb favorite. It's a fashion person favorite.

[Hilary Kerr]

It's a Hillary Kerr favorite in the size 39 fleas. The big one.

[Bobbi Schussler]

The big one. The suede cedar is definitely the front runner. I think it's sold out right now, but definitely go into the store or sign up for the alerts for the restock before the holiday season officially starts.

[Lauren Eggertson]

I love those.

[Cat Collings]

Yeah. That bag has taken over, hasn't it?

[Lauren Eggertson]

It's gorgeous.

[Hilary Kerr]

It's a future heirloom. It's so simple and stylish and well made. And it can fit your laptop. I should know. I can fit a laptop and another bag inside of it. It's great.

[Lauren Eggertson]

I feel like fashion people struggle with that. You don't wanna have to carry a tote along with your cute handbag. So that's always something good.

[Bobbi Schussler]

And it's not like $4,000, right?

[Lauren Eggertson]

Exactly. I feel like my friends aren't obviously as in this niche fashiony community as we are, but something that I've really been loving are really sculpt, like chrome hair accessories.

[Hilary Kerr]

Ooh.

[Lauren Eggertson]

So there's one from LEET New York. And it's like a little hair tie and you can just put it on a ponytail, which is like very accessible style if your hair is not in a little bob. And it just is so beautiful. And it can kind of transform any outfit so easily, like a sweater, a T shirt. You can also wear it to a cocktail party. And it's definitely something that I know they wouldn't buy themselves or maybe would make them nervous to try something funkier in their hair like that. But it's so fun when you have it and I feel like when you see it sitting on your dresser, you. You just want to try to put it on and it'll be fun for them to think about me when they do. So there's also fun, like vintage hairpins that I've been looking at like on Etsy and things like that. So kind of a curation of those across the board would be fun to gift.

[Cat Collings]

This season I have been seeing trend reporting about the sort of hair pins we're placing the claw clip era so right on target.

[Lauren Eggertson]

It's much chic. Achieving the actual French twist is very difficult. I've tried it. I have really heavy hair, so I don't think I'm the best. Oh, poor you can. Yeah.

[Bobbi Schussler]

So hard.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Woe is me.

[Cat Collings]

I love that the theme of accessorizing seems to be running through all of our responses, which is nice because it's an item that you don't have to worry about size or anything like that or getting that right. Okay. I also love the category of affordable gifts because one of my pet peeves around gifting is that so many gift guides online are like, oh, gift your friend this $500 sweater. And I'm like, like I just suggested.

[Hilary Kerr]

Yes, that is the problem.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Go to the row.

[Cat Collings]

I mean, maybe people like their friends more than I do, but I like a thrifty thrill gift. So I want to hear your guys recs in the under a hundred category.

[Hilary Kerr]

I love that. I wouldn't categorize it as a thrifty thrill, but I can say that it is officially under a hundred dollars, which is a Hermes or Selene beauty product. Personally, my favorite thing is to do an Hermes nail polish. As someone who owns two of them, I can say without a doubt that they are some of the highest quality, longest lasting nail polish I've ever used in my entire life. The colors are impecc, the bottle is beautiful. It's very hard to justify buying a very expensive nail polish for yourself, but it is a Great gift. So fancy nail polish or beauty product?

[Cat Collings]

Celine just launched a red lipstick.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I think that's really pretty. Also, the Hermes lip balm. No color is also amazing. I use it every day, and you can refill it. So maybe I should just take that as my answer. But I won't. I have another one.

[Hilary Kerr]

Yeah, give us your other one, Bobbi.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Okay, so again, like, leaning into what people love. I'm just gonna say bag charms, huge trend. If you follow me on Instagram, and if you don't, it's Obby Chasson. You should do it now. I'm obsessed with this trend. I don't know where it came from. My bags are completely chaotic.

[Hilary Kerr]

Jane Birkin.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Yeah. Well, yes, I know.

[Lauren Eggertson]

You can't even see Bobby's bags anymore.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I know where it came from. I don't know why I started going crazy. You cannot see the bag.

[Hilary Kerr]

She's charmed up. It is true. I have seen from afar, and I love it.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Parker thatch is one of my favorites. They, like cute bubble charms, are under $100. I have, like, a Daisy Duck one that's from Bauble Bar that I get compliments on all the time. My daughter loves Daisy Duck, or at least I pretend that she does. And then I love the wizard of Oz, which maybe isn't that shocking, but Marc Jacobs just did a Wizard of Oz collab, and he made a really fun wizard of Oz bag charm, so.

[Hilary Kerr]

I just added that cute love.

[Cat Collings]

You've loved wizard of Oz your whole life, Bobby?

[Bobbi Schussler]

Yeah, since I was 3. I had a whole collection. I had a Wizard of Oz, Christmas tree, doll collections. Maybe I shouldn't admit that. All right here on this pod.

[Cat Collings]

Deep cut. Fun fact.

[Lauren Eggertson]

That's fun for us to know because now we can gift you things in that realm.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Yeah.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Please love it. Okay, my answer for an affordable gift that I love giving, which might sound lame at first, but I love luxury socks. They're almost always under $100. One of my favorite brands is Comc, and they're around, like, 35, 40, depending on the kind of material you get. If you've had a pair on your feet, you're just like, how have I been missing out on this? I love this brand specifically because they have the best quality. They come in Egyptian cotton, cashmere, W. They come in crazy colors. Like the kind of colors that can fully transform an outfit. You feel like your outfit's boring. You put on this crazy pop of color sock. You just feel so cool, and it makes your whole look feel really intentional. So I Think they're just a fun little gifting moment. They also sell them in like pairs of three or different kind of groupings of colors, which is fun if you want to go maybe a little bit above that 100 price range. But they're my favorite and I just love them and I want to tell everyone about them.

[Hilary Kerr]

Love it.

[Cat Collings]

I would like some socks, so sign me up for your sockless one.

[Lauren Eggertson]

You got it.

[Cat Collings]

Okay, onto the next category for the homebody. So the girl that it's hard to get her out to the club.

[Hilary Kerr]

The bedrotter.

[Cat Collings]

The bedrotter. What would a person like this enjoy? Being gifted. I'm so curious because we all know her. Sometimes we are her.

[Hilary Kerr]

Okay, so my mom is a cancer, so I have grown up with a homebody. And one thing that I did was I upgraded everything in my parents bathroom and shower one year. So so I got them this beautiful little wicker basket and then I took all of their drugstore faves and gave them a little zhuzh. So it was upgraded. Shampoo and conditioner from Ouai and from my favorite rose. It was better for you. Body wash from Necessaire Body Lotion, Shani Darden Face Care, Dr. Idris Skincare Products. Some towels from Matouk, which is one of my favorite brands. Weezy is also another really great brand. They also will monogram those towels, but just really gave them a bit of a zhuz. My parents are so down to earth and so lovely and so utilitarian when it comes to products like that. So it was fun for me to go through and just give them a little freshen up of all of the best products that are out there. And they have continued to buy a number of them. So I feel as though the present was enjoyed. And at least it makes when I'm showering at their house nicer for me. So selfish and giving all at once.

[Bobbi Schussler]

That's a great idea. I might have to steal that.

[Hilary Kerr]

And by the way, it doesn't have to be super expensive, like, oh, well, this is the best Dr. Bronner scent or this really great black washcloth with cute little eyes on it. And it just feels like, especially for us who work in this industry, someone appreciates that curation and it was really fun for me to do.

[Bobbi Schussler]

For me, I feel like slippers are certainly generic, which I'm aware of, but I just feel like a hotel slipper feels very chic for a homebody. There's something so luxurious always about, like people parading down to breakfast in their hotel slipper. I was Just in a hotel actually for Lauren's wedding this last weekend and saw that bombas I was looking for myself and they have like a really cool chic one for $65. Lissette obviously has amazing stuff for a splurge option. But I think like a chic hotel slipper is fun.

[Hilary Kerr]

You could also go the merch route and get them a slipper from their favorite hotel.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Yeah. Okay. Bobby, I piggybacked off of yours because I'm such a homebody and I love a robe, like all different kinds, like a really warm cozy one or like a really thin cotton one for the summer with like a good print on. And I think they're so fun to gift because it's like this little at home luxury. And my dream robe, if money were absolutely no object, which unfortunately is would be the ones from Bernadette. They have crazy beautiful silk ones. Some of them are even like embellished with beading and sequins. But on the more realistic pay scale this brand dues and Doozen has these really fun. They're all striped like block colors. They're just so statementy and there's no way you can't feel good putting that on at home. So those are my faves.

[Hilary Kerr]

You should look at Petite Plume also.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Oh yes, they have really good ones.

[Hilary Kerr]

They have cozy versions but they also have like more luxury versions. They're really, really nice and the price point is usually really good. And it's Most everything is 100% mulberry silk, which is also machine washable, which is nice.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Oh, I love that great kid stuff too.

[Hilary Kerr]

And you can do family matching stuff. Oh, it's so fun.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I love it.

[Cat Collings]

Okay, so an evolution of the homebody is the hostess who also loves to luxuriate in her home, but with the angle of entertaining. I love this friend. This friend invites you over a lot for dinner. It's home cooked usually and it's always nice to come with something in hand. Like what is a great hostess gift that's not a bottle of wine. The whole category I am stumped on. So I'm curious to hear your ideas.

[Hilary Kerr]

This is my favorite category. So starting off, I am deeply obsessed with these odd sized measuring cups and spoons from all clad. I bought a set for myself at Williams Sonoma. They're so fancy and heavy and if you have a friend who's a baker, they are perfect because they come in all of these weird sizes. So it's like one and a half cups or three quarters of a cup. So you don't have to get a whole bunch of stuff messy. They're so nice. It sounds so over the top, but it's perfect for someone who loves to bake. Also, Flamingo Estate, which we all know and love. They have amazing produce, amazing candles. They also are right now doing limited edition personalized olive oil bottles, which I think is lovely and chic and is like wine but more utilitarian, which is nice. And then finally, I also really love all things Heather Taylor home. She has a bunch of really beautiful linens at a range of different price points. Female founded business local here in la. Cocktail napkins are always nice because I feel like most folks don't have linen or a fabric cocktail napkin, but that's really lovely, plus environmentally friendly. Or you could do the thing that my friend Olympia, who's the creative director of J. Crew did. She had a dinner one time and everyone's napkin, she had them monogrammed with their initials, which I thought was so clever. And someone else sent us one time a bunch of linen napkins that had everyone in my family's name monogrammed on them. So I think that was such a cute and fun idea.

[Cat Collings]

Hilary. That someone was me, I think. Unless you have multiple people doing that.

[Hilary Kerr]

Well, I actually have had a couple of different. Wait, those are the ones with the red, right?

[Cat Collings]

Yeah, I did the, like, Italian pizzeria.

[Hilary Kerr]

Themed one that was so amazing. We use them all the time. So the fact that my children who are 5 and 7, have a Clark and a Wilder napkin, they think they are the coolest people ever. Anyway, my point is it's a wonderful idea and I love it. And thank you, Kat.

[Cat Collings]

It does make you feel very special for any age, really, I think to have a personalized napkin, it's a fun one.

[Bobbi Schussler]

No, I'm telling you guys, Kat gives the best gifts for me. I love the items from. I'm sure a lot of, you know, Sophie Lou Jacobson. She has like amazing decor items and glassware. And there is like a picture that I'm obsessed with right now, just with like unique colors and. And a kind of quirky handle. Just like an interesting shape. So I think any piece from her would be great.

[Cat Collings]

Does she also do lamps? Yeah, I've seen those lamps. They are gorgeous.

[Lauren Eggertson]

My gift, I kind of like it for the hostess and actually beyond too. Like this idea of you're helping someone build a collection through your gifts. So obviously you should do this with someone who will be in your life for a long time. But I'm obsessed with Genori 1735, like Oriente Italiano collection specifically. But they have all these other different kinds of styles and collections that you can choose from. But I really like the idea of giving one piece to someone for different occasions over the course of their life. So you're kind of helping them build a collection in this way. They have really beautiful serving platters and even smaller trays. And then they have different size plates and things. And when you're buying one at a time, the prices can feel more attainable. I think like a small salad plate can be like 100 something dollars and a dinner plate can be like 1:35. I just think it's such like a luxurious, fun statement gift that you probably wouldn't buy yourself. And it's fun to kind of have someone be on their toes a little bit for like, when's the next one coming? And I just like that concept.

[Hilary Kerr]

Anticipation.

[Lauren Eggertson]

I love it.

[Cat Collings]

To go along with your idea of olive oil. Hillary Gohar World is a New York based brand and they have so many delightful linen items that are very unique. And they have little mini aprons that you can like put on the bottle like it's wearing a little apron. And I just am quite charmed by that. And you can get custom embroidery on the front so you could do, you know, their last name or something charming. And of course you can put a bottle of wine or a non alcoholic spirit in there too. So the little apron fits all sizes of things. Okay, My next idea is little niche, but there's this item that I learned about recently called I'm gonna butcher this, but it's like Coqueleur, but it's this French tableware item that's usually silver and you can get them on ebay or Etsy if you're lucky for around $50. And they are these like butter press things. Yes. That make like a mini butter sculpture. When you put the butter in them, like soft butter, and it like pushes the butter up into like these amazing swirls and flowers. Depending on which one you get, they're all different little patterns. And you put it on your table when you're having a meal and it's just this fanciful, like for no real good reason does it exist besides elegance. Elegance, Yes.

[Hilary Kerr]

I love it. Thoughtful details for the table. Yes, please.

[Lauren Eggertson]

I love that.

[Cat Collings]

Okay, great. I feel like our hostess is stocked up.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Yeah, she's ready.

[Cat Collings]

Okay, next category is for the health and wellness aficionado. What should we gift them?

[Hilary Kerr]

So as someone who is relatively new to fitness, I am obsessed with my workouts, which are a Digital workout from the nest. Female founded New York company. I stream it almost every single day. The price, price per class is almost zero. At this point, I feel like they're paying me to take class because I use it so much. You don't require a trampoline for the cardio though. I obviously do that. They have cardio scope classes. They are amazing and it's just nice to know it's not going to like some big chain. It's actually going to these great female founders. Otherwise I would say my far and away favorite swimwear brand is called Left on Friday. And they now are making workout clothes that are incredible. Their bathing suits were the official bathing suits for the Canadian beach volleyball team. The two founders originally started at Lululemon, so of course they would get into activewear eventually. The tops, the pants, all of it are great. And I think that's actually kind of a nice present because I personally hate buying workout clothes for myself. So if someone gave me fancy, lovely, nice workout stuff from Left on Friday, I would be happy.

[Cat Collings]

That's amazing. I feel like it's one of the swim brands that nails sizing so it actually like feels good on your body, which is weirdly not standard.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Yeah, it's tough out there.

[Hilary Kerr]

Yeah. 10 out of 10 recommend.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Amazing. So I'm just gonna go with what I know. My husband's more into it and he likes these products from we gym, like yoga mats and they have weights and different working out accessories. I like them because everything comes in like chic colors. Like there's a rose and there's sandstone. We have those in our home and the price point's pretty decent. So yeah, I think that is a brand to look at if you don't know about them already.

[Hilary Kerr]

I didn't. Thank you.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Yeah, that sounds chic. I also love working out and so do a lot of my friends. This one might be a little bit obvious, but workout classes are so expensive these days, so we kind of love to gift each other one off gift cards or classes that we'll purchase to our favorite workout studios around where we live. That's always really fun because it is just such a luxury to get even. Three classes or something like that. It's really a game changer. So we always like to take notes of like the new studios that we're all trying and loving. And we often do go a lot together. So that's our favorite thing. I like to pair it with a cute pair of workout socks like Aloe or Nike or like a fun scrunchie or Some sort of workout accessory so they have something to open along with it too.

[Cat Collings]

I like a theme too, around, like, here's different elements that all sort of work together is fun. Okay. Personalized gifts. This category makes me smile. It's just the best. It shows that you put thought into it. You thought about this weeks in advance. This is no last minute gift. It's impossible unless you own an embroidery machine like myself.

[Hilary Kerr]

Oh, cat.

[Cat Collings]

So it is November. We have time on our hands until December. So what are the personalized gifts? We should be prioritizing this season.

[Hilary Kerr]

So if you have a friend who travels a lot, I think there's something really nice about a personalized packing cube. Paravel, which is one of my favorite travel brands, makes some really beautiful ones. I love them. I am a Virgo, so obviously I'm team packing cube. And I like a monogram, so I think they're great. Also. Speaking of great, one of my favorite brands, the great makes the most amazing sweatshirts for men, women, kids. And you can have them monogrammed. I think it's really sweet to do sort of like the chest embroidery, one pocket area. You can do a last name. You can do a nickname, which is fun. Or I like a saucy word that people are not expecting that might be considered off color. That's always fun. Or I think the other thing that's really nice is to monogram the cuff, like right at the seam. I think that's something that's really lovely. I did that as a group gift for a bunch of my direct reports one year. I've done it for my husband, for my best friends. Everyone loves it. Also, Claire V. Does these amazing, stunning pouches and clutches. And you can get the monogram. So it's wonderful because it can be a twofer. Like, they could use it as an organization piece in their coach bag, or you could use it as a clutch for going out. And it can be different prints. So you can make something in different patterns. They last forever. They're really lovely. And you can have those monogrammed.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Love that.

[Cat Collings]

Gorgeous.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Yeah, I definitely want to echo that. Also, a monogrammed sweater or cashmere sweater I think is always lovely. J. Crew, you can customize and monogram a piece for just $10 extra, which I think is amazing. I also love the idea, which I'm doing, like a really unique jewelry box. Like a small one with a customized piece of jewelry in it. The brand tiny tags makes really pretty customizable loc pockets, which is great. But the jewelry box, I found it On Net A Porter. It's by Sophie Billabra. She makes amazing pieces, but it's this gorgeous kind of yellow velvet little mini jewelry box. It's $85 and I just think it would be lovely with a customized necklace inside.

[Lauren Eggertson]

So cute. I love like a luxury pajama and I love a monogram pajama because for those people who maybe it's not their style to have something monogrammed that they would wear out, I think it's really fun and kind of kitschy and cute to have it at home. And I love apergee pajamas. I forever just like the feeling of them. They're so soft. They last for so long through so many washes. They just feel like the coziest things in the world. And it's also fun to get them for a couple or for a family or things like that. I know you touched on that.

[Hilary Kerr]

Hilary obsessed.

[Cat Collings]

Also speaking of the embroidery, which I'm very into, the classic L.L. bean tote just got a little sexy upgrade with a collaboration with TIBI that they just released. And it has this like belt situation around the top that kind of feels a little more fashion and edgy and vaguely Prada Y or maybe even not so vaguely. So it's a good time to get a little monogram tote. They've got some fresh offerings. I feel like this episode is going to be packed with ideas. I know we're on to experiential gifts, which I think is really lovely because as I get older, I sometimes second guess. I'm like, do they already have something in this category? People kind of are stocked with the stuff they need. So doing something outside of a physical present, like a consumable or an experiential can feel like the right move. So I'm curious for your thoughts in this category.

[Hilary Kerr]

It's a classic, but I still like a Food of the Month club. So I love like Cheese of the Month from Murray's Cheese Shop in New York or Helen's Wine Club, which is Helen of John and Vinnie's Helens. You can do a two bottle reoccurring. You can do a full year of it. Also Zingerman's, which is by you. Bobby does Bacon of the Month Club. And I'm sorry, there's not a dad in the world or a Hillary who does not like that gift. It is delicious and fun, so I put that there. Also, I am obsessed with my friend, but also celebrity makeup artist Joey Maloof. He is offering Zoom makeup classes where he takes you and your products and your Techniques and then just upgrades how you do your makeup. I did one for myself earlier this year. It is a gift that keeps on giving. My makeup skills have been upgraded by like 937%. So good. Putting that out there.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I love that. I always like some sort of monthly delivery service. I got a flower service once which I liked because then every month or during that time you're kind of thinking about that person. These days, like a kid subscription box service feels appealing, especially like an educational one. Little Passports is a brand that I've seen that just feels useful and interesting and yeah, something that keeps going longer than just the holiday season.

[Hilary Kerr]

Can I say lovevery also makes a really great one for the Little Littles and then once they get older, if you have a kid who is into engineering or building things at all Crunch Labs, they do amazing stuff.

[Cat Collings]

Ooh, I'm gonna check that out for my nieces and nephew.

[Hilary Kerr]

Really good.

[Lauren Eggertson]

I love gifting concert tickets. I feel like it actually is my go to. I do it for my husband, my friends, my family. I think it kind of shows that you pay attention to the things that they like and even if it's far away, sometimes that's even more fun because you just have something to look forward to in the year. So I think it's just a fun way to create like your next date night together. Also comedy shows. I recently gifted a friend tickets to a comedy show which is really fun. And yeah, again it just kind of shows you paying attention to the things that they like and the things that they mention and you create more memories together.

[Cat Collings]

Beautiful. I've got some membership ideas too. I feel like for kids and families, a membership to a museum or aquarium or gardens like an annual sort of of something is lovely and just gives maybe answers that question of like what to do on a weekend where you're just. You can come through for them. For a movie lover, I love a subscription to like Criterion Collection or movie. And lastly, I'd love an in house massage gift certificate or like someone who comes and does your manicure pedicure in your house. That to me feels like the ultimate luxury. And then they can schedule it before they have an event or something like that and works out well. Okay, now this one's kind of personal. Most memorable gifts. What's a gift that you've given or received that really stands out in your mind as wow, they went above and.

[Hilary Kerr]

Beyond for received, I would say I have these custom gold cuff bracelets that have my kids names in diamonds. So they are future heirlooms Both of my children have expressed great interest in when the bracelets will be theirs. They're super sentimental and major once in a lifetime presents that my husband gave me. So I really love that. My best gift that I have given is he found a vintage watch that he really loved. And I secretly bought it and then told him like, oh, no, it sold out. And then surprised him with it at Christmas. And he was so happy because it was something he would have never bought for himself in terms of the price point. But it was a really wonderful and memorable watch. And he wears it all the time and it gives him great joy. And I also got to surprise him by lying to him. So I think it's those sentimental fine jewelry presents that really do it for me.

[Cat Collings]

I know the listeners are going to be curious. What's the brand of the cuffs that you have, Hilary?

[Hilary Kerr]

They're from 14 Carats in Beverly Hills. It is more affordable than you would think, though. Still an investment. Ask for Seema. She's wonderful. But everyone there is very nice.

[Cat Collings]

14 carats is legendary.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Amazing.

[Cat Collings]

Yeah.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Mine is also on the fine jewelry spectrum. I also do not buy fine jewelry for myself. Someone has to do that for me, which was my husband, which he always does, which is very nice. But I think the best one certainly was last year. He gave me the Cartier Trinity ring. Christmas was like four weeks or something after our daughter was born. And so he gave me that and engraved it with her initials and birth date. So I love that.

[Hilary Kerr]

We love a sentimental husband.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Yeah, we love that. So sweet. Let's see what he does this year anyway. But I love that and represents the three of us, which is very nice. Nice. So if we have another child, I guess just have to add another ring.

[Lauren Eggertson]

It's so cute. I love that ring. My favorite gift ever was also from my husband. And it's been that theme of experiences. I know it's that might be like.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Say, everyone, she just got married. So my husband is very new.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Feels not natural to say yet, but we learned that one of my favorite bands was opening for one of his favorite bands, but like, only in Mexico City. And we kind of just. Just fantasized about it. And we're like, how crazy would that be? But like, we're not going to go to Mexico for a concert. And he went out on a limb and surprised me with the concert tickets. And it was so fun because we were just like, oh, my gosh, okay, we're going to Mexico City. And then we planned this whole trip and it was just so spontaneous, which I think is so fun for a gift. It can feel scary as the giver to kind of go there with it, but it was just so exciting. It was the first time anyone had ever really done something like that for me, so.

[Hilary Kerr]

So I loved it.

[Cat Collings]

That's so sweet. Oh my goodness. It's romantic. Okay, we've moved on to the last section, I believe, which is on our gifting tips, meaning the strategies planning for gifting etiquette hit me with how we approach gifting season.

[Hilary Kerr]

So in a perfect world, I would like to give an individual present to every person in my life. However, at the holidays, when time is our most precious resource, I tend to find for different groups of people in my life one present that I give to multiple people. So like all of my best friends will get the same present this year. My mother in law and my sister in law are all getting the same present, which is the coziest home coat from the brand off hours. It's sort of like the world's chicest version of a slanket. It's a blanket jacket, perfect for your bedrotting girl, but it's just so cozy and warm and it's this beautiful electricy lilac color. The founder also is the founder of soft services and it's so cozy and warm and lovely and luxurious. So I think if you can come up with the thing where it's like this group of people, this is what I'm doing across the board, that makes it a little bit easier and then you don't have to worry about something that has happened to me before where someone gets a present and your other friend gets a present and they like the other friends present better. And it just solves that. It makes it clear that you're not playing favorites, which is nice strategic.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I like that. One thing I do just from a shopping perspective is I always make sure outside of course, going to whoare.com daily subscribing to Whoare newsletter, following on Instagram, TikTok and everything else. But I do subscribe to all of my favorite retailers newsletters and like the push notifications because there's so many holiday sales happening like way before Black Friday, Cyber Monday time, which is obviously when a lot of people shop. J. Crew just had, you know, 50% off sweaters and that sort of thing. So I always make sure I'm up to date on every single shopping opportunity because you can be like, oh yeah, maybe I do want to get a cashmere sweater for somebody. But if you have your email Notifications, all of that said. And you could find one for literally 50% off, which I think is great.

[Cat Collings]

Yeah. The competition to reach the holiday shopper earlier and earlier feels like the game that retailers are playing that you can reap the benefits from.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Yes.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Mine kind of touches on that and mine's more of an idea for what I do for my bulk gifting. But I love getting like a little set of glasses or a tray or something like that from like a vintage store. They're often super affordable and then I get something small to go with it. So if it's like a pair of martini glasses, you can get like fancy olives or if you get a tray you could get like a little bracelet, you know, something like that kind of pairs with the item and it's nice to do that over the years. And I have like a little bottle box in our garage that I just put things in. And sometimes I buy things specifically for one person in mind, but then other times I just have like, let's say five to 10 gifts for like that last minute person coming over that I just want to like throw something together to gift them. So it's really nice. It's not for the procrastinator, but since it's like a hobby that I do regularly, I try to challenge myself throughout the year to just pick up little things.

[Cat Collings]

I love it. We do have one little bonus round, ultimate no fail gifts. Because sometimes you don't know what to get someone. You don't really know them that well. What are your trustee standbys? Fire round.

[Hilary Kerr]

Okay, so my go to for this is a vintage or first edition of a like culture culty book. So for fashion folks, I would get like an early edition of Judith Krantz's book Scruples or Valley of the Dolls or the Best of Everything. Something that's designy and cool. If you really love someone, some Joan Didion is never a bad idea. It could be poetry, it could be whatever, who knows. But ABebooks, a b e books.com has an incredible selection of vintage books from around the world, many of which are at outrageously affordable prices. It's sentimental and it's personal and it's cool. And I think anything that has sort of like a niche cult y following is kind of a fun one for this.

[Cat Collings]

I'm very into that. And there's that cookbook store that I feel like you always go to.

[Hilary Kerr]

Bonnie Slotnick, right next to the Bowery in the East Village. She has has the most amazing selection of vintage cookbooks known to Mankind. It's a perfect place to shop, period.

[Cat Collings]

Amazing.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I love it. Mine, which maybe isn't revolutionary, but a cashmere anything item, whether it's a sweater or gloves or hat, socks, it's always luxurious. My friend literally has never owned a cashmere sweater. You know, she's almost 40. And so I was like, I'm so happy I could make that dream come true. And there's so many options for under a hundred dollars too for cashmere sweaters.

[Cat Collings]

I love that, that it's a cash miracle.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Okay, mine might be a little obvious too, but I love the Lewis Sherry chocolate tins. And they come in all different sizes with all different colors or prints and designs. And once you eat the chocolates, you can leave the tins out for a display. You can use them as a little catch all by your bed for your rings or bracelets and things. And I also love coffee table books. They're just such a fun gift to open and they're so pretty. And I think especially if you buy one that kind of goes with someone's space, you kind of are showing that you thought about their space and you kind of maybe have an idea of where you, you would like it. And I just like that a lot. Those together is a really fun gift. But just the little chocolates and a sweet card I think are really fun. I just love them.

[Cat Collings]

One of my favorite gifts to give to almost anyone is a mini Polaroid camera and the film. I feel like young folks would be delighted by that. But it just is something that you can put into use right away if you're at a holiday gathering or beyond the holidays, like at a birthday party or something. It's just a fun way to create some memories right then and there. And of course me, I'm always trying to like customize everything. So I have this like sticker maker and you can like put their name or even just cute stickers you have on in kind of customize it I think is always well received in my experience. And then this is not groundbreaking. But I think it's a good reminder that we can always do a charitable gift, a gift that gives back. Have someone share their favorite charity with you and call it done. We all have plenty of stuff and the world could definitely use a little bit more giving, I think. So. It's a feel good one that never fails.

[Hilary Kerr]

True, true.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Amen.

[Cat Collings]

My goodness. I think we did a lot of the legwork for everyone. So you're welcome.

[Hilary Kerr]

I got some ideas. So thanks you three.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Yeah, I got amazing ideas.

[Bobbi Schussler]

I did too.

[Cat Collings]

We are really set up for the season ahead. Thank you so much for joining me and sharing all the ideas and happy shopping.

[Hilary Kerr]

Happy shopping.

[Lauren Eggertson]

Happy shopping.

[Bobbi Schussler]

Thank you. Happy shopping.

[Cat Collings]

A huge thank you to who we are gifting geniuses Hilary Kerr, Bobby Schesler and Lauren Eggertson. Make sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode. And while you're there, I'd also be so grateful if you'd rate and review us. If you have guest suggestions or any other feedback, drop us a line at podcast@whowhatware. Or you can find us on social media. See you next Wednesday on the who what Where Podcast. This episode was produced by Hilary Kerr, Summer Hammerhous and Natalie Thurman. Our production assistant is Claire Schmidt. Our editor is Ko Takasuki Chernovin. Our audio engineers are at Glen Canyon Audio and our music is by Jonathan Leahy.

[Hilary Kerr]

Thank you again to ebay for sponsoring this episode. This is what you do when you have high standards and fancy all the fancy things like a Dior saddle bag or that diamond tennis bracelet, you go to ebay. There you'll find new loves that will never disappoint. Expertly authenticated. Whether it's that vintage pearl necklace or brand new ruby earrings, a Prada crossbody bag or classic watches like that Rolex Oyster or that Cartier tank. On ebay, there are no limits to your high standards. Yeah, ebay. Ebay. The place for new, pre loved, vintage and rare fashion. Ebay Things people love.