Mom, when you read this, please accept my sincere appreciation for the endless magic and ease with which you brought holidays to life for us as kids. As the second child of four, thanks to my parents, I never experienced anything besides magic for every holiday. But the creation of this magic, well, is exhausting.
There never feels to be enough time to prepare, and just as one holiday comes, you are packing up and decorating quickly, waiting for the next holiday that needs attention. It doesn’t help that my kids have holiday-adjacent birthdays, so I have to throw those into the mix.
As Thanksgiving is over, holiday events, parties, and gatherings are here. I have several get-togethers on the calendar, and I never like to show up empty-handed. The leftovers are still in the fridge, and my cart is filled with many gifts.
These are the best hostess gifts for 2024, with everything from luxury-specific home items to an Advent calendar for kids to beauty items.
Anthropologie Wonderland Scene Monogram
I bought these for our house last year, and it’s probably my favorite holiday decor I added to our home. I also wound up gifting the letters to a handful of friends, which was the most well-received and beloved item. It’s the ideal item to kick this off with, and a great Black Friday 30% off deal is included!
Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum Purse Spray
When I first shared these purse sprays from Chanel, hundreds of you bought them. I purchased it for myself, and it’s such a fun touch (and smell) of Chanel that it is a great gift!
Art of Living Set – Bernardaud x Dior Holiday Gift Set
From the moment I saw this trio on the Dior website, I was obsessed. I love the magic of lights when it comes to the holidays; this is the ultimate combination of light and luxury.
The set comes with 3 porcelain candleholders that display craftsmen’s savoir-faire with Dior scenes.
Gucci Card Set with Double G
Speaking of designers, I love that Gucci has fun with games. This card set has a custom GG motif on the back of each card and comes in a Gucci Double G zip case.
Loewe Medium Ivy Candle
Candles are a classic hostess gift, but I like to find one that is different from the usual suspects. Loewe offers its candles in art piece holders that you can use for pencils, which provides a touch of Loewe for your home.
Loewe Blanket in Mohair and Wool Blend
Another Loewe gift, this time a cozy blanket that again offers something different from the blankets we see in many homes (I have two Hermès blankets myself, but it feels a bit too expected at this point). I love this for your friend who loves a bit of color in their house!
Chanel Ultimate Allure Makeup Set
A designer beauty set makes for a great gift, and this is a bit more classic and includes a holiday pouch.
Gucci Coloring Pencil Set with Double G
Remember when adult color books became the rage? I totally understand it.
There is a highly therapeutic aspect of having to focus on coloring, and if you want to do it in style, you can do it with Gucci. For the host who loves coloring, I’d get them this!
Burberry Mirrored Horse Cashmere Scarf
Burberry is returning to basics, with its latest campaign focusing on scarves and outerwear. It’s a brilliant move, if you ask me because this brings back the nostalgia for me and the items that brought me to Burberry in the first place.
Of course, checkered scarves are plentiful in carrying colorways, but I like something a little different, and these colors are rich.
Bottega Veneta Small Model 600 Lamp
This might be the most art-forward, random item I am including, but I have learned that my friends with incredible styles find such interesting pieces, both personally and in their homes. This Bottega Veneta Lamp, based on Gino Sarfatti’s 1966 design, would be a show-stopper.
Smeg Retro Variable Temperature Kettle
One of the most used items in my home is our kettle. Vlad uses the hot water for his coffee, and I use it for my tea every single day, multiple times a day. This is an ideal gift for people like us, and Smeg has some fun colors!
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Blanket Wrap
You know the person who wants to be permanently cozy? They cuddle on the couch, have their favorite mug, and surround themselves with pillows and blankets. Get them this.
La Mer Limited Edition Holiday Minis
La Mer is seen as the ultimate in beauty, and these minis are a great way to experience a touch of the best of La Mer.
Estelle Colored Glass Stemware Set of 6
My brother pulled my name in our family Secret Santa last year and got me a set of new glasses for the house from this brand. It was the greatest gift because I need to be far more practical, and it delighted me and made me think of him each time I use them! These wine glasses would be a hit, too.
Missoni Giacomo Towel Set
You can see by the colorful items I’ve picked that South Florida living has been rubbing off on me. I love the idea of more color and think we need Missoni towels. If you are close with the person hosting the event and know they may love something like this, I think it makes for an unexpected, fun, and useful gift.
Hermès Soleil d’Hermes Small Salad Bowl
I have given a single mug from Hermès to quite a few people who love coffee/tea and use different mugs (versus people who have an entire matching set of mugs – also, who are those people!?). I love the idea of a very pragmatic salad bowl like this. What a statement piece!
Dior Makeup and Skincare Set – Limited Edition
I already purchased this set for myself – and a few extras as gifts. The pouch it comes with is nice and has a bit of gold shimmer, and these are some of my favorite Dior beauty products ever!
Anthropologie Hobbies Handmade Felt Ornament
I also found these to be a great gift! There are many characters, including a pickleball mouse, which is very 2024-appropriate.
Jonathan Adler Basketweave Pickleball Set
Speaking of pickleball, for the pickleball lover who takes it a bit more as fun than serious, what better than a very designer set?
LEGO City 2024 Advent Calendar
Okay, so this isn’t technically a luxury gift, but having kids occupied and happy is a luxury! If you’re headed to a home with young children, an Advent Calendar from Lego is a brilliant gift. I bought one for each of my kids, which has been a big hit over the past couple of years! We rarely could open just one door a day, but we tried.
I kinda want the Gucci card set only for the card case, and the Lego Advent calendar, they’re so cute
I love the letters, and the makeup sets! But I’m afraid if I gave someone a single small Hermes salad bowl, they might smash it over my head for wasting $560.
I’m sorry to say that I have no one inviting me over for dinner who warrants a $560 hostess gift. And if one of my guests brought a $735 colored pencil collection… I would question their mental well being. Also, please don’t bring scented candles… it’s the best way to tell someone you put zero thoughts into this. Personally, I stick with the classics: fresh flowers.
How are flowers a more thoughtful gift than a scented candle? Give me a nice scented candle over flowers any day!
Well… for starters flowers don’t poison the air in your home.
While these are all wonderful, I want the Lego Advent calendar gift for myself!
The ornaments are adorable! And really the only hostess gift I’d feel comfortable giving. I figure as we’re all adults with lots of stuff, consumables (wine, candy, flowers) at whatever your income level’s price point are the way to go.
These are all beautiful gifts, though!
(Ok, I’d never give beauty supplies; I’m still traumatized by the family reaction when I gave my grandma Oil of Olay, proudly announcing, “because it helps with wrinkles!” I think I was seven or so.)
omg what kind of friends are you making that you would spend $1200 on them for dinner and can I have some of your friends please?
I’m hosting two Xmas gatherings this week and I doubt anyone is showing up with anything except their sides for the potluck