We’re happy with a box of those Lindt balls (the dark chocolate, please, because we’re classy). But some people are a nightmare to buy presents for the person who has everything. There’s the Secret Santa recipient you barely know. There’s the friend who’s vegan, teetotal and allergic to fun. And there’s nearly always someone you have to buy for that you kind of can’t stand. Here are 15 gifts, from the ludicrously luxurious to the (literally) crappy that will amuse, delight or bewilder your loved and less-than-loved ones.
Brewed awakening
Silk Road Tea’s Renew, Reset, Re-Charge workshop ($25) offers wellness tips, recipes and rituals to help kickstart the new year in good health. Find out more at silkroadtea.com.
Monster Match
What do you buy for the fashion lover who really has everything? A Miu Miu keyring in the shape of a fluffy monster, of course. $915, at Holt Renfrew.
Not! Pyjama Time
If you’re buying for an entrepreneurial type, why not contribute to a Kickstarter on their behalf? Leze the Label makes good-looking pants that feel like pyjamas, are made from coffee and recycled plastic, and are wrinkle-resistant and moisture-wicking. Search for the brand on kickstarter.com to see how to back them. Estimated delivery is May 2018.
Socks appeal
$1 from the $10 price tag on these cute Holiday Slipper Socks goes to charity Big Brothers Big Sisters. At Bootlegger and boootlegger.com.
The good shit
How about this for a passive aggressive gift to your best enemy: A big pile of crap (actually, a $20 donation to Food for the Hungry, fhcanada.org, which will help people in Africa fertilize their veggie gardens).
Cultural connection
The loveliest thing to do on a rainy Vancouver day is head to the art gallery. A single visit will set you back $24 but annual membership is just $90, which allows you limitless visits to exhibitions, such as the upcoming Takashi Murakami one (opening February 2018).
Dark arts
Local artist Jaik Puppyteeth is known for his disturbing, funny illustrations. Buy prints online at jaikpuppyteeth.com or visit his Secret Boutique in his studio on Dec. 8, 9 and 10 to buy original artwork, merchandise and curios (more details on the website).
Let sleeping dogs...
...Wear adorable flannel pyjamas. $45, at Barking Babies and barkingbabies.com.
Knead to know
Does your hipster friend have too many avos and no toast? Send her to sourdough classes. After a three-hour session ($110), she’ll go home with a loaf and her own culture so she has everything she needs to make bread at home for pennies. See palmerandsons.ca/bread for more.
Don’t give up the day job
If last year’s business buzz phrase was “disruption,”this year’s is side hustle: The thing you do to make cash or find fulfilment outside of your regular job. The Starter Pack ($88) contains a tote bag, notebook, T-shirt and mug. You can also buy sticker sheets ($8) – we’re especially keen on the ‘This isn’t a fucking hobby,’ one.
Soap star
Holt Renfrew’s H Project this year celebrates our home and native land through Uncrate Canada, a selection of items from Canadian brands. Our favourite piece is this soap set ($115 for five), a collaboration between fashion brand Smythe, soap maker Binu Binu and Haida artist Bernard Kerrigan, who created a Raven design that appears on each bar.
Crowning glory
A $75 donation will buy a wig for the Canadian Cancer Society’s salons so women who’ve lost their hair because of cancer treatment can get back a little bit of confidence and self esteem. Click here to donate and to learn more about this and other ways to support those affected by cancer.
May I have this dance?
2018’s Vancouver International Dance Festival (VIDF), from March 1-24, features multiple Canadian premieres, but the one that most intrigues us is New York company White Wave Dance’s iyouuswe, a 65-minute journey that examines how we develop meaningful relationships, maintaining a sense of “I”as part of “we.”
Listen up
Everyone we know is banging on about audiobooks right now. The absolute master is audible.ca, which has virtually every book in every genre from comedy to economics. Buy a gift subscription for $14.95 a month and the recipient gets one credit per month, plus 30 per cent off additional books (just in case they have an extra long commute).
Stream of consciousness
There are conscious, eco-friendly, sustainable fashion manufacturers, and there’s Novel Supply. Created by Capilano University alum Kaya Dorey, the clothes she designs are made from hemp and organic cotton, dyed with environmentally friendly inks, and they look great. Dorey is so forward thinking that she has been recognised by the UN, awarded the Young Champion of the Earth prize in November. Cabin Crew sweater, $108, at novelsupply.com.
