’Tis officially the season for gift-giving. For us, that’s a full month (31 days!) in which we’ll be providing gift ideas for everyone on your list with our Unwrapped holiday gift guides. So make your holiday shopping a breeze this season, and let us help you find gifts for all the people in your life—and maybe even a spoiled pet or two.
The art of gift-giving can be tricky at times, but when you get it right, there's nothing better. Some gifts are a no-brainer, like gift cards for coworkers or sweet treats for your casual sweet-toothed friends. But when it comes to picking out a gift for that special someone, there can be a lot of added pressure in making sure it's perfect. Luckily, there are places like Etsy that take all the work out of gifting. But with so many amazing online shops within that site, you may be wondering: Where's the best place to start?
Etsy trend expert Dayna Johnson recommends getting personal this year. "We may think that luxury or expensive gifts are what show someone you care, but spending a little extra time and effort to purchase something unique that expresses who someone is, goes a long way," she told NYLON via email. "In a recent survey, we found that more than one-third of shoppers who purchase[d] customized or personalized gifts online, reportedly, [felt] happy when giving these gifts to others, and more than half [felt] thoughtful."
In that same spirit, we here at NYLON decided to team up with Etsy to bring you a list of 15 hand-picked gifts, each with a personalized twist, guaranteed to make you and your gift recipients feel extra good this holiday season.
Sugar and Chic Shop, Personalized Jewelry Box, $38, available at Etsy.
Nothing screams opulence like a gorgeous glass box perfect for storing your precious gems (or even your stash of an organic green material of the chronic persuasion). Make it yours or somebody else's this holiday season with a little name personalization.
Noble Beeswax Candles, Beeswax Alphabet Candles, $3.42 per letter, available at Etsy.
Whether your message is something sweet (or devilishly naughty), spell out exactly what you want to say to someone this giving season with these adorable beeswax candles. Light it up!
Damon D. Chan, Neighbourhood Typography City Map Print, from $16.11, available at Etsy.
If you're looking to cure the bare walls in your apartment, Damon Chan's maps are perfect wall candy. Choose your favorite city out there, or opt for Toronto for the overzealous Drake fan in your life.
Scripted Fragrance, New York City Scented Soy Candle, $25, available at Etsy.
New York is an amazing place to live, however, the smells of the city aren't usually so great. Luckily this sweet-smelling candle embodies the sweet smell of New York spirit, rather than its scent of cigarette butts and garbage.
Minetta Jewelry, Your Handwriting Bar Necklace, from $69.15, available at Etsy.
Get all kinds of reckless with this shimmering gold nameplate necklace. Of course, being sold on Etsy means cute and crafty, which is exactly how you'll feel with your own handwriting gracing the front.
The Bea Line, Bright Eyes Earrings, $160, available at Etsy.
Turn around, bright eyes: These quirky ear charms are sure to capture the eyes of others. And while the precious metal of the season is usually gold, we can't help but gush over these silvery beauties.
Brittani Rose Paper, Custom Dog Portrait, $200, available at Etsy.
Dogs are amazing. Dogs are everything. Therefore, this gift (a paper dog portrait) is both amazing and everything. Need we say more?
Lirika Matoshi, Glitter and Stars Tulle Socks, $32, available at Etsy.
It's natural to opt for fuzzy socks during the winter season, but change things up a bit with these gorgeous and glittery tulle socks.
Cloud Hunter Co., Navy Blue Velvet Midi Slip Dress, from $189, available at Etsy.
Christmas and New Year's are just some of the many holiday festivities of the season—there's also Kwanza, Hanukkah, Three King's Day, and more. Finding the right dress for each occasion can be pretty hard, so take the guesswork out for a friend, and give them this blue velvet number for their next festive gathering.
Lauren Winter Co., Mesa Top, $180, available at Etsy.
We all have that friend for whom it's difficult to shop for, so why not go totally off the radar and opt for this stunning top from Lauren Winter Co.? It's guaranteed to go with almost anything, and, with a little imagination, can also serve as a chic Jedi costume come Halloween.
Make Pie Not War, Say It BIG Ring, $42, available at Etsy.
Because sometimes our loved ones need a little motivational reminder.
Talia Sari, NYC Map Statement Ring, $75, available at Etsy.
Nothing says statement piece like a gorgeous gold necklace bearing a map of the New York City subway. While we can't guarantee that these pieces will actually help you navigate the Big Apple, we can guarantee they will please anyone on your Christmas list.
Pretentious Beer Glass, Snobby Set, $176, available at Etsy.
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes—and these beer glasses are no exception! A perfect gift for IPA enthusiasts and beer snobs alike.
Felix Street Studio, Leather iPad Tablet Sleeve, $50, available at Etsy.
Executive realness. Complement any power suit and impress all your blandish coworkers with this luscious leather iPad tablet.
Jill Brodeur, Small Metallic Gold Leather Clutch, $150, available at Etsy.
Keeping ourselves organized is usually mission impossible, but we guarantee that you'll never lose your things again by storing them in this shiny, gold clutch. Personalize it with your initials to make it your own. Or someone else's. Christmas shopping is hard.
