Welcome to the T List, a newsletter from the editors of T Magazine. For this week, we’ve made it the second installment of our Christmas gift guide, featuring recommendations from T-staff members about what we covet for ourselves this season, as well as the gifts we think we’re giving to our friends and loved ones. Read the first edition here, and Register here to find us in your inbox every Wednesday. And you can always reach us at [email protected].
packing party
Cashmere scarves with old-world charm
While a scarf might not be the most unexpected gift to give this holiday season, thanks to a recent collaboration between Saved NY — the homewares and line store founded by Sean McNanney — and the artist Lukas Palumbo, aka Lukas The Illustrator, it could be the most beautiful. Saved NY is known for its sustainable Mongolian cashmere blankets and fashion accessories and Palumbo for taking inspiration from nature and etchings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Choose seven original handspun, handwoven felt cashmere scarves with a range of vibrant designs that take you back in time: one shows a ship on the high seas and the other shows a knight returning, presumably triumphant, after a distant adventure .
To me, there’s no better winter gift than a warm bowl of pasta—and no better pasta chef in America than Missy Robbins, of the Lilia and Misi restaurants in Brooklyn. This month, in collaboration with New Jersey-based ceramist Jono Pandolfi (who made dinnerware for Lilia), she created the clay Union Bowl, which comes in three neutral shades and has a deep shape that’s perfect for stacking high. with noodles; for the actual pasta, you can go either way, depending on the culinary talents of the person treating you: Robbins and her partner, Talia Baiocchi, recently released “Pasta: The Spirit and Craft of Italy’s Greatest Food, With Recipes”, an extensive, beautifully photographed cookbook, ideal for months of hibernation. Or, if you can’t rely on such kitchen skills, just send them fresh pasta, sauce, and other supplies from Misi Pasta, the chef’s own online retailer, which ships nationwide.
Arresting Accents
Daisy earrings and fragrant rings
In many cultures, the simple daisy symbolizes regeneration, a prescient theme for the dawn of a new year. For some flowers that will last longer than a field, look to Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Bernard James. Its daisy-shaped studs are handcrafted from 14K gold and would make a charming gift for anyone looking for something new. Or, for a piece of jewelry that smells like a flower, try one of Jodan’s aromatic rings, based in Arita, Japan. The otherwise minimalist ceramic bands have square or crescent-shaped gold leaf accents that are meant to be drizzled with essential oils (sold separately) and will carry their scent all day long.
stocking fillers
A marble handle body brush with raspberry red lipstick
A beauty-and-wellness-themed stocking will leave loved ones in need of a little extra pampering to look and feel their best. To that end, Gilded Body offers a handmade Marble Body Brush, a dry brush that tackles rough winter skin. Then there’s Bathe’s Anointing Oils, which, when massaged into the skin before a bath or shower, create an immersive, aromatherapeutic experience. (Try one of the brand’s four calming scents—palo santo and vetiver; neroli and myrrh; lavender and sandalwood; and sage and citrus—or the Discovery Set, which includes a one-ounce bottle each.) To help someone in need. If you really want to unwind, Crystal Greene, a facialist based in New York City, offers gift certificates for her deeply relaxing La Sculpture facial, a rejuvenating treatment that includes massage techniques and leaves the skin glowing. Once it glows from head to toe, your recipient needs a finishing touch, perhaps in the form of Byredo’s Mad Red lipstick, a vibrant raspberry shade with a matte finish, and a sculptural applicator that’s perfect for any holiday party. Or, for a more unexpected trinket, throw in an elegant acetate toothbrush with silk bristles from Officine Universelle Buly 1803, which can be engraved with the future polisher’s initials in the font. of your choice.
December is the festive season and a nice bottle of booze is always a reliable Christmas offering. For a drink with a background, try Hana Makgeolli’s artisan rice wine. The Brooklyn-based producer was founded last year by first-generation Korean-American Alice Jun, who had started making the milky Korean brew in her apartment using organic rice and traditional brewing techniques learned from her father. She and her business partner, John Limb, also offer gift cards that can be used in their tasting room, where their makgeolli is served alongside house-cooked bar food, including Dubu Kimchi (steamed tofu with fried kimchi) and Bossam (braised pork belly and cabbage). If you prefer a dark drink, there are several worthy options from Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, founded in 2017 by Fawn Weaver with the aim of paying tribute to the first well-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green. All of the brand’s offerings, including the 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey and the 1884 Premium Small Batch Whiskey, are distilled, aged and bottled in Tennessee, where Green was born.
home and away
Cashmere slippers and soothing incense
Traveling around this time of year is always stressful, especially now. To temper the madness and dispel any pre-holiday jitters, I recommend creating a cozy environment wherever you land. Start by lighting a few sticks of incense from London-based fragrance brand Vyrao. My favorite is Ember, with notes of cistus and cedar, and it comes in vibrant shades of neon orange, bright yellow, and magenta. Then tour your newly scented spot in a pair of equally colorful Knighton slippers from British heritage brand John Lobb. They’re made from soft and cushioning cashmere suede and come with a zippered travel case that you won’t be able to do without.
game time
A flower puzzle, Lucite chess pieces and more
Games are always an easy way to bring family and friends together, and this year there’s something for everyone. Take the new Monopoly ISSIMO, made in collaboration with the Italian e-commerce retailer, an offshoot of the legendary Pellicano Hotels Group. Modeled after an Italian road trip, this update of the classic board game takes players through the country’s 20 regions, highlighting iconic locations such as Fiordo di Furore, Stromboli and Burano, to name a few. For a more meditative effort, try Piecework’s new Tall Poppy 500-piece puzzle, which, when assembled, reveals a fuchsia-colored photograph created by floral designer Doan Ly. Parks Project’s Minimalist National Park playing cards feature illustrations of scenes from the Badlands, Grand Canyon, and other national parks, and proceeds from the deck go to support the protection and preservation of public lands. Finally, for the aesthetes on your list, Sunnylife’s Lucite Chess & Checkers board is a striking two-in-one game set whose transparent pieces are miniature sculptures in their own right.
When I give jewelry to a friend, it’s important to me that it’s more than just a beautiful piece, so I start by choosing a maker whose work feels very personal. An example is the Florentine designer Marco Panconesi, who draws on his memories of traveling with his family. I especially like this pendant necklace of his with layered chains and a blue obsidian dipped in green enamel. Another example is Ren, founded by Crystal Ung, whose mission is to honor and extend her Asian-American heritage through modern jade pieces. And if jewelry is just too intimidating a gift, consider one of her vintage trinket trays, which hail from Asia, date back to the 1800s and work perfectly for preserving baubles already in your possession.