It’s beginning to look a lot like gift guide season! To kick it off, we rounded up our favorite gifts to give and receive during the holiday hostess season. After all – it’s the best way to make sure you’re invited back!
You can do better than a last minute bottle of wine, like a nice bottle of olive oil instead. It’ll last much longer! Lately, my go-to gift has been something from Flamingo Estate, a gorgeous LA brand you’ve probably seen all over Instagram. The Olive Oil and Persimmon Vinegar gift set will upgrade salads for months, but you can also do the solo bottle of olive oil for finishing off any dish.
If you’re staying over, I think it’s always nice to get something that they’ll use over and over again. Make them think of you even when you’re not there! Cloth cocktail napkins might sound old-fashioned, but they bring such a nice touch to even the most casual of happy hours. These vintage-inspired monogrammed ones or this embroidered pink-and-green golf themed set are both favorites. And if you want to be really fancy, a monogrammed set of hand towels and bar soaps turns any powder room into a getaway.
When in doubt: give nice candles. I love these long twisted candles for ambiance, a miniature set of Diptyque for little corners of the house, or Jenni Kayne’s Cedar candle for that perfect woodsy scent.
For something extra festive, I love this miniature Calamondin tree. The deep green leaves and pops of orange look really gorgeous sitting on a counter. The same goes for this little magnolia tree! And there’s always my number one favorite gift: a big bucket of Maldon salt. Even your least chef-y friend will appreciate a sprinkle on their avocado toast or nestled into a swoop of butter.
Shop the rest of our holiday hostess gift guide edit below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how, and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.