Gifts That She'll Actually Cherish | The Lush Life Gift Guide
Opulent and considered gifts, at every price point. Mother's Day, Housewarming Parties, Your Friend's Birthday + Wedding Guest Gifts. A quick gift for your co-worker. All Inside. :-)
Hello Lush Life friends,
Gift Giving season is upon us again, and no- it’s not the festive season (Christmas, Hannukkah, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year).
It’s that interesting time of the year where suddenly, Mother’s Day is creeping near- and then Father’s Day- oh, and your friend of a friend invited you to their housewarming party (because everyone seems to move when the weather is warmer!).
And let’s not even get started with Bridal- as someone who rarely gets invited to my friends’ weddings- I do however, get sent Bridal Shower invites and wedding registry wish lists. *insert bombastic side eyes here*.
Between wedding season, housewarmings, birthday gifts, and Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day- gift giving can feel overwhelming.
Quick Guide To The Gift Guide
*today’s post is a long, gift guide. for best results, please read in the substack app.*
I debated even creating such a guide (they are incredibly tedious to pull together and time intensive), but I also love gift giving. It’s one of the skills I feel I truly posses: curating the most unexpected, opulent and intentionally considered gifts for people I adore- regardless of my budget. I am known for my gift giving in my circles of friends and family. My grandma always says “You just always get it right”. (Thanks Grandma!).
The quotient that makes my gift giving algorithm tick is simple:
A. I identify gifts that blend both fashion and function: I dread the idea of gifting something to someone that gets chucked in the garage or the bottom back corner of the closet, lost in abyss of old shoes and untouched memorabilia. It makes my skin crawl. I want the gifts I give people to add to their lives, perhaps in an unexpected way, but that is the luxury of gift giving for me.
B. If I know the person well, I try to consider what they may like- and otherwise get themselves, but for whatever reason, haven’t gotten around to getting it for themselves. I think those are sometimes the best gift giving moments. That “AHA” moment when someone is like “wait, why didn’t I think of that”.
C. I try to steer away from gifts that feel too personal. What I mean: Certain things in life just feel personal, say for instance, a handbag, fragrances or a dress, or shoes. I feel like most people need to have the experience of making the final decision for these kinds of things- because they feel quite personal.
Most people are not nearly as picky as me when it comes to selecting a handbag. I’m very particular about colors, leathers, shape, silhouette, versatility, and again, those details people often overlook. When friends buy me a handbag, I often feel guilty and say “oh you shouldn’t have”- and mean it. I don’t want to be the annoying friend with several stipulations when it comes to receiving a gift.
Like am I really going to say “I don’t like patent leather or silver hardware and I only like unborn lambskin or Elba Silk leathers or Togo leather in bright colors, and specific shapes call to me like crescent shapes and more sculptural pieces”. No. Because to them, it’s just “cute”. And I’m the oddball with discriminating taste.
I’m embarrassed to say that the handbags people selected for me were regifted to my staff or other friends who LOVED them.
Long way to say,
opt for gifts that don’t require someone to consider if they like it for themselves.
Case Study: My Mother :). Every year, I would gift my mother a handbag (as a handbag enthusiast, it made sense to share my love with my mom, who doesn’t care nearly as much as I do about handbags). That said, I knew her favorites (Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch)- and yet, for some reason, my mother was not wearing the bags. It wasn’t until a Telfar bag that I received as a gift just didn’t work for me (I detest polyurethane, I’m sorry! I tried)- and I sent it in the mail to Mom- and she wore/wears it EVERYWHERE. Don’t get me wrong, she loves and wears the bags I’ve sent her over the years. But the Telfar bag has been useful for her since she works in hospitals- she actually needed a large tote bag to carry files and paperwork. She uses the bag for travel with her carry on luggage. She uses it as a grocery bag.
Out of ALL the handbags I’ve gifted her over the years- this is the one that she reaches for the most. Because it fulfilled a gap in her life, it had a fashion (it was beautiful) and it got the “AHA” moment I look for aka “Why Didn’t I think of getting this for me”?!
Because I’m intensely observant and perceptive- I often pay attention to the details others often overlook. Being this analytical of everything is exhausting to my brain, as you might expect. But it helps me when I am fundraising for nonprofits, or curating outfits and considering human behavior and human habits and what people value/prioritize.
I am, of course, INTJ on the Myers- Briggs- which makes up less than 2% of the population. I share this personality type with First Lady Michelle Obama, Jay Z and unfortunately for me, Elon Musk is also in there, too. *groans*.
Ok- stop digressing, Aria!
With those two considerations, I am able to more intentionally give gifts that people in my life actually love. It took trial and error, which I share in the liner notes below.
On to the gift guide! Whether you’re shopping for a friend’s birthday, housewarming, or a co-worker’s send off party- or of course, for Mom and Mother’s Day (and Grandma too!) and eventually Father’s Day- and bridal showers, I came up with some gift ideas that I hope inspire.
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Gifts for Mom (And Grandma Too!!)
Let’s Start with flowers of course! Except this year, what if we did something a bit more, well, forever? I always send my Mother and Grandmother fresh flowers, but I know my mom doesn’t always like them (because of allergies, and of course, they are short lived).
Flowers That Last Years: I’ve gifted mom and grandma these beautiful “eternal roses” arrangements from Venus Et Fleur and they are a crowd favorite. My mom feels like she has flowers everyday, on her coffee table.
I love to send these beautiful pink roses, and the white roses are divine as well.
More cost conscious: a single flower makes a longstanding flower, and this small arrangement is stunning too.
Forever Flowers:
You can be more niche and give Mom the gift of beautiful floral glassware, flowers meant to be proudly displayed for decades to come.
From Swarovski, I found these beauties: A florele rose, a lily, and an idyllia flower. I also think this hibiscus glass flower would look lovely on a nightstand and this centerpiece worthy idyllia royal flycatcher glass statue is a worthy Mother’s Day Gift. It’s a conversation starter, for when she has friends and family over. And, it’s magical.
Coffee Table Books As Art
This “Mother & Child” coffee table & art collector’s book from ASSOULINE is stunning Mother’s Day gift as well. I also love this ASSOULINE coffee table book for adventure.
Can’t Make It To Mother’s Day Brunch, This Year?
If you’re not in the same region as Mom, I relate.
I wanted to surprise Mom and Grandma this year for Mother’s Day, but unfortunately, the invoices haven’t cleared yet.
C’est La Vie.
Instead, I’ll be Face timing them and sending “brunch” their way! I love these gift baskets from Williams Sonoma!
It’s opulent, and ticks off my box (fashion + function- they can reuse the baskets for beautiful storage!). I also love this gift basket for the sheer abundance of it all.
Jewelry, for Mother’s Day
Always classic. Mom is never not going to love beautiful jewelry. Even if on a budget, we still want pieces that feel incredibly special and more importantly, are hypoallergenic.
Think elevated costume jewelry. I swear by it, personally (all my jewelry is designer costume jewelry due to extremely sensitive skin and skin allergies).
This jewelry set features earrings, bracelet and necklace to match. I spied these Chanel earrings from the pre-loved marketplace that are brand new. Tory Burch’s Spring releases featured these quirky fruit earrings (and these too!) that I think are stunning for the season. There’s also these lovely statement earrings that feature a combination of pearls and silver from Swarovski’s latest capsule release.
This pendant is for mom’s love of niche jewelry, and I think this bracelet is universally appealing but won’t break the budget. And these cost conscious earrings look 20x more expensive in real life (i own a pair myself!).
Little, Thoughtful Luxuries:
You can never go wrong with a silk scarf! I spied these from Dries Van Noten, this one and this one ohhhh and this one.
A Dipytque candle is always fabulous. Trust me. If you’ve never tried the fragrance house, start with “Rose”. Maybe add a golden glass candle holder too, for drama.
Honeycomb truffles always feel luxurious.
These Jonathan Adler Vases (this one, this one and oh of course, this one are all on deep sale).
Give The Gift Of Scent
I know I mentioned earlier how I abstain from gifting specific pieces like handbags or clothing- here’s how I get around that.
I think discovery sets are effective gifts because the recipient has a chance to sample a variety of scents, and discover the fragrance house and its offerings.
It’s overwhelming when you receive an expensive bottle of perfume, but you hate the scent! This way, they have a bit more agency.
I think Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s scent profiles/discovery set are a great start, and Chanel is usually a fail safe option too. Le Labo’s discovery scents are also popular too.
I also think Byredo’s discovery set is a nice addition to any vanity, and is still an emerging fragrance house in North America, so it’ll be a selection Mom probably hasn’t explored yet. Oh, and bookmark this one for yourself. It’s so good!
I love this travel set that features travel size atomizer + refills that are perfect for any purse. And this discovery set from Diptyque is literally inspired by the French countryside.
In terms of full size perfumes, I bend the rules just a bit with Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s Body Oil and Jo Malone’s Red Roses as they are incredible light and soft fragrances. I’ve given this to my mom but also friends and everyone loves it. And if someone didn’t like it- I’ve also used it as a “room spray” for dinner parties.
Spa Day:
Find a 5 star hotel and purchase a spa package for Mom, and then send her these lovely spa robes that she can luxuriate around the home in. There’s also this silk robe for summer to wear around the home too!
You can also throw in this nail polish for a bit of glam (this one too!).
Travel Bag:
When was the last time Mom bought herself a carry all for her travels? Again, I know I said “no personal handbags”- as they need to be selected by the person themselves.
However, time and time again I have found that folks (me included) are far less picky about the bag that’s going under the airplane seat.
Everyday + Travel Bag: I received this Cuyana tote in PR a couple of years ago, and the leather is incredibly stunning. This tote can also be monogrammed and is perfect for summer cruises (my mom loves cruises and would love this for her travels).
Wallet On Chain: She’d also love this wallet on chain that she can wear crossbody around the ship to carry her passport and hotel keycards and cash. The chain is detachable and converts back to a wallet (love those kinds of details!)
Travel Bag: I’ve been seeing the re-emergence of Longchamp and these nylon/canvas travel bags are easy to care for. (This one and this one are cute too!)
I also LOVE this Ralph Lauren Teddy Bear canvas tote! You can use it for travels and for grocery shopping or a day at the park. There’s also this forever travel bag from Ralph Lauren as well, and this vibrant canvas travel bag too!
J Crew has a beautiful suede travel bag on sale right now.
Custom Luggage: If Mom has 20 million scarves on her roller luggage for fear of not recognizing it, then give her this monogrammed roller luggage. She won’t worry next time she’s in baggage claim which suitcase is hers.
I also LOVE this Ralph Lauren Teddy Bear canvas tote! You can use it for travels and for grocery shopping or a day at the park.
Gifts Under $150
We’re balling on a budget these days darlings!
Just because we’re being a bit more frugal doesn’t mean we compromise the opulence factor!
These are little luxuries that bring a smile for the recipient.
For Your Co-Worker:
For my “Aria Said & Associates LLC” clients, consultants and partners; I routinely send out luxury chocolates, niche olive oils and thoughtful little luxuries for birthdays, milestone events and so one.
Chocolates always feel like experiential luxury to me, and even if they don’t eat chocolate, they can regift without guilt! I especially love these chocolate caramels from Williams-Sonoma, and these biscuits and these chocolates are lovely too.
Olive Oils feel special, even for me- the terrible domestic who can barely boil water. (I still use olive oil to reheat my food in the airfryer!!! LOL). This olive oil gift set is already wrapped with a bow- perfect for last minute! And add this to cart for yourself- a bright and rendition to your spice racks and pantry.
Snackboards are unexpected fun, and feel like a heavy lift without being one ;)
For Your Friend’s Birthday:
Thank goodness, you won’t have to show up empty handed! Chances are you’ll need a cute gift and some cash to help cover the birthday dinner with the other guests. I love these cost conscious finds that feel luxurious without trying.
For the bookworm, a Kindle is perfect for on the go. I’ve been contemplating adding a kindle myself for ease of travel with books and novels I’m mid way through.
I’ve been gifting these travel size handcreams to friends- and I snagged this one for myself recently at the Byredo store. They cute and small enough for clutches and easy to pop into your work bag. Purchase 2 or 3 mini hand creams, and et voila, birthday gift that feels opulent! (And thoughtful!)
You can also add these cute bag charms to the mix! They’re fun, and can be used as both a functional keychain and as a bag charm. (Fashion + Function, yes!)
For your friend who always loses their airpods and swears on purchasing new ones. Save them a trip with a more affordable set of earbuds.
For your high femme, ultra glamorous friends- you know the kind that always has bronzer in their bag? Yes them! I’ve always loved these Christian Louboutin Nail polishes- the bottles are glorious, and look stunning on a vanity or in the medicine cabinet.
For the art enthusiast, I recently purchased Amy Sherald’s coffee table books for my home, and I have these Kehinde Wiley coffee table books on my personal wishlist.
It’s a lovely way to add art into someone’s home. Small effort, big impact.
This Amy Sherald coffee table book features the portraiture of Breonna Taylor on the cover.
You can’t go wrong with a Frida Kahlo coffee table book, and of course, this MOMA coffee table is the gold standard for coffee table and home decor (and personal enrichment, as someone who spends their Sunday afternoons reading coffee table books!)
For your friend who’s always on the go, I love this monogramed leather travel case- the top portion is for cosmetics, pencils/pens, etc and the bottom portion is a separate zip compartment for jewelry.
I use mine for travel on the carry on, and I love that it’s not nylon!
Even with scrapes and bruises, it patina’s beautifully.
There’s also this card holder and key pouch which I purchased during my trip to Boston recently- and the leather is phenomenal.
Its replacing my old and tattered Gucci card holder I’ve had for a million years and was near falling apart.
For your friend who has deleted their social media profiles: She wants to be ANALOG, darling. Their craving a time when we weren’t tethered to our screens. Give them the gift of analog luxury, like a record player to start their vinyl collection?
For The Housewarming Party:
You know my favorite gift for housewarming parties is a candle from Diptyque.
Since scents feel personal, I tend to opt for “Rose”- it’s a universal scent that’s soft, and can be lit year-round.
My friends always look forward to them, and I think it helps curate the lush vibes for their new digs.
If you’re the rich auntie, you can add this beautiful candelabra to add drama for the candlephile friends of yours.
I also think this candle centerpiece is going on my own wishlist for entertaining and overall grandeur.
For the friend who plays games. I mean, literally ;) I know backgammon is a thing for my old money friends, but I’ve never played.
I was captain of the Chess Club in middle school (she’s a nerd, I know) and I used to play chess during the holidays with my Grandpa and always looked forward to him letting me win!
My grandparents have always had the loveliest chess set on their coffee table, and I think it’s both fashion and function when it comes to decor.
I spied this set which I think is highly affordable, yet still glam.
This one is mirrored and gives me art deco vibes.
And of course, this one is my personal favorite and now on my own wish list.
Who is going to be upset at a lovely gift from Loewe?
I keep seeing these bar soaps on pinterest, and I think they are so posh. I’d feel guilty for the splurge on myself- but would totally justify it for a friend’s housewarming.
I also love this Loewe candle- once the candle is done, you can reuse the vessel for your work desk (pens, pencils) or for bathroom storage (makeup brushes, Q Tips, etc).
For your friend who collects vintage jewelry, who needs a bit of organizing help, I love these.
This jewelry box is leather and statuesque and can also be monogrammed.
This jewelry box is also stunning, and made out of birchwood- and you can select one piece or the entire trio.
There’s also these bright color vanity cases that can also be monogrammed, and I’m a fan of this one for my travels as of late.
Consider this one for your own vanity or for your bestie who has just signed a new lease and already bought their furnishings from Ikea.
Quick and Easy housewarming gifts from Williams- Sonoma I adore: Marble cheeseboard, and of course, a Le Creseut dutch oven!
For the Dog lover, I spotted these fun salt and pepper shakers! I love these Poodle inspired accessories for the home. And oh, there’s a bull dog too!
For the garden lover, I love these lettuce-inspired homeware, from this Lettuce pitcher and there’s a tea kettle and candle holder set too.
For the coffee lovers, I personally love the gift of Mckenzie Childs. They are beautiful homeware pieces that are incredibly unique, but also items I don’t think people would ordinarily pick for themselves.
For the girlies who love their pour over coffee, we have this beautiful pot and this is the larger version (6 cups).
For espresso lovers, like my friend Sean who recently bought an espresso machine after spending his summer in Italy, I’d gift these vibrant espresso and saucer sets. It screams La Dolce Vita to me!
If your friend is more a tea drinker, I love this tea kettle for tea purists who do things the traditional way. If they are a more “mid century modern” person, but also has a SONOS system throughout their home, they’re probably going to want this one instead.
For the friend who decorates like an interior designer, If you know me or have spotted me on the internet, you’ll know a great deal of my home is decorated in Jonathan Adler.
People always celebrate Kelly Wearstler and similar interior designers (for good reason), but I have adored Jonathan Adler’s work for many years for incorporating glam and whimsy and quirk all in one.
You don’t have to convert your whole home into a Jonathan Adler catalog like I did- some fun pieces for your friend’s housewarming that they’ll love are this vase, the Marseilles coaster set, the Versailles bar glass set and the Renaissance coasters.
For your minimalist friend, you can safely gift this guy- it’s just enough color but also a bit of niche without overwhelming their color palette.
Oh, and this card set is lovely!
And you can add this one to the cart for your boudoir. She’s sexy!
Incredibly thoughtful (when was the last time someone went out of their way to buy coasters?! Remember, AHA moments!)