The Shnoop Edit · The holiday edit · 15 picks
Birthday gifts for every age and every budget: considered pieces for the people you know best, from a small luxury to a milestone present.
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Editor’s pickSlipFor her
For a nightly bit of indulgence
A queen-size (20 × 30 in) pillowcase in 22-momme, 6A-grade mulberry silk with a hidden zip, and it is machine washable. A nightly indulgence most people never think to buy for themselves.
Skip it if her pillows are king-size; the queen case will not fit them
$120.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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Editor’s pickMarquis by WaterfordFor him
For the whiskey drinker at home
A 30-ounce square decanter with two 11-ounce double old fashioned glasses in Marquis by Waterford crystalline, cut in a traditional Irish wedge pattern. Hand wash only.
Skip it if he drinks only wine or has no shelf space for display barware
$136.49at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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Leatherman
For the one who fixes things
Eighteen tools in a 4-inch body, including pliers, replaceable wire cutters, spring-action scissors, a saw and two knives that open from the outside. Backed by Leatherman's 25-year warranty.
Skip it if they already carry a multi-tool, or work somewhere a blade isn't allowed; the sheath is sold separately
$129.95at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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Bose
For music on the patio
A compact speaker rated IP67 for water and dust, with up to 12 hours of battery, Bluetooth 5.3 and USB-C. PositionIQ tunes the sound to how it stands or lies.
Skip it if they want a speaker to fill a living room; a larger home speaker suits that better
$159.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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Maison MargielaFor her
For a lover of light florals
Blackcurrant and bergamot over lily of the valley and jasmine: a bright floral built around the memory of blossoms after winter. Margiela's Replica scents are unisex, in minimalist bottles.
Skip it if she prefers warm, musky or spicy scents
$170.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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Time ResistanceFor him
For the frequent weekend traveler
Handmade in Italy from full-grain, vegetable-tanned cowhide with YKK zippers and a tear-resistant lining; one roomy compartment about ten inches long. Each piece takes on its own grain.
Skip it if he wants interior dividers or a kit that hangs from a hook
$125.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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FellowFor him
For the pour-over devotee
A gooseneck electric kettle with to-the-degree temperature control, hold mode, scheduling and a brew stopwatch, designed for a slow, steady pour-over. Just as useful for tea.
Skip it if he's happy with drip coffee from a machine and isn't looking to change
$199.95at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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LunyaFor her
For the warm sleeper
A racerback tank and tulip-hem shorts in sand-washed mulberry silk that goes in the machine on cold. Light and easy-fitting; in our view best for someone who sleeps warm.
Skip it if she prefers long sleeves and full-length pants for sleep
$188.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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Shun
For the cook who never upgraded
Handcrafted in Seki City, Japan: a VG-MAX steel core clad in 68 layers of Damascus, a 16-degree edge and a D-shaped Pakkawood handle. The knife a home cook uses every night.
Skip it if they already own good Japanese knives or rarely cook
$140.15at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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LeatherologyFor her
For the woman who travels with jewelry
A four-inch full-grain leather zip case with an elastic suede pocket for rings and a removable suede pouch to keep chains from tangling. Small enough for a carry-on or an everyday handbag.
Skip it if she travels with more than a handful of pieces
$105.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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H by FretteFor her
For hotel-style mornings at home
Thick 100% cotton velour terry with piping, roomy sleeves and two deep pockets, from the Frette hotel line the brand says supplies The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis. The hotel robe, at home.
Skip it if she runs warm; heavy terry suits cold mornings, not hot climates
$175.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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BellroyFor him
For the man trading in a bulky wallet
Heat-bonded leather layers instead of stitching keep it slim, and a magnetic closure snaps shut over six to ten cards and flat bills. In our view, the cleanest swap for a bulky wallet.
Skip it if he keeps coins and receipts in his wallet; it is built for cards and a few flat bills
Le Creuset
For the everyday home cook
A 9.5-inch and an 11-inch pan in hard-anodised aluminium with a textured non-stick surface for browning, oven-safe to 500°F and safe for metal utensils. A practical upgrade for someone who cooks every day.
Skip it if they cook mainly on cast iron or stainless and avoid non-stick
$189.95List Price: $199.99 (5% less)at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
UGGFor him
For the husband who is always cold
A full-length hooded sherpa robe with a self belt and side pockets, cut in a relaxed fit. In our view, a warm robe is the kind of everyday comfort people rarely buy for themselves, especially for cold mornings.
Skip it if he runs warm or lives somewhere mild; sherpa fleece is a cold-weather fabric
$157.95at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
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Ember
For the coffee that always goes cold
Holds coffee or tea at a set temperature between 120°F and 145°F for up to 80 minutes, or all day on its charging coaster. Works with or without the app; hand wash only.
Skip it if the recipient drinks coffee quickly or wants something dishwasher-safe
$119.00at Amazon as of Oct 18, 11:17 AM ET Details
See it at AmazonStart with how they spend an ordinary day, not with the occasion. The gifts people keep using are upgrades to something they already do: the coffee they make every morning, the bag they carry, the chair they read in.
If they already own the obvious things, choose the best version of something small rather than a mid-range version of something big. A beautiful pen or a hand balm they would never buy for themselves lands better than a gadget they did not ask for.
Consumables and small luxuries work well at this price: good chocolate, a candle, a notebook, a hand cream. They are easy to enjoy and never take up space.
Thirtieth, fortieth, fiftieth and later birthdays suit something lasting: fine jewelry, a watch, a piece for the home or a shared experience. Order early if it needs engraving or sizing.
Choose something to share or use up rather than something to display: a gift set, a good bottle of olive oil or a box of chocolates. Taste in objects is personal; almost everyone enjoys something good to eat.