The Duchess Picks Holiday Gift Guide 2024
As I prepared my Duchess Holiday Picks Gift-Giving suggestions this year I pivoted from the crush of producing a close-to-comprehensive list for y’all & instead approached the Picks as a creative, curated guide as my “gift” to you! And an homage to the artisans who create these desirables.
Here you can have some fun shopping intimately (vs. just locally); discovering some of my favorite things that enrich and elevate. The list is admittedly very subjective but I hope you’ll see that that’s what also makes it special. It’s personal and thoughtful. With a budget-friendly focus.
Also, the Duchess Picks’ Holiday and Hostess gift ideas are focused in the Garden Glamour categories or “Chapters” that are my wheelhouse: Gardens, Gathering, Books, to make navigation a breeze, along with the product links to make the buying easy.
My goal is to offer you a unique gift collection that I’ve researched and curated. Here’s a selection of sophisticated, whimsical, fun ideas that you’ll feel good about gifting this festive season.
I am recommending makers and curators that are different, special. It’s not just the idea of shopping local, although that’s good, but rather I prefer to shop “intimate.” To me that means buying from mainly artisans and makers who are passionate about their craft. To make a connection with them through their creations. And they can be found most everywhere but we can locate them in that universal “town square” ~ here, via the internet. Ta da!
Gift Giving
How do you exchange your holiday gifts? Is it a gift for everyone in your orbit, including the job tribe? Have you narrowed your list to family and close friends? Do you do the Secret Santa, or Grab Bag? At the rather lavish Christmas parties Bill and I would host for extended family, we had fun doing the “Ghosts of Christmas Past” Grab bag, which is essentially a kind of regifting of lovely things that may just not have suited you.
Most of us look to purchase a gift that has meaning and thoughtfulness infused with the giving.
That’s the spirit of the season. Buy a gift, support a good cause: it just feels like a win/win for everybody.
Here are my Duchess Gift Picks with links to make your buying flawless. Super easy. And if you’re wondering, I earn nada/nothing on the recommendations. Remember? It’s my gift to you.
Enjoy giving from your heart.
Art of Gathering
From my fellow Les Dames d’Escoffier, the “Sauceress” 😉is Francine’s Outrageous Kitchen ~ a trio of mouth-watering handmade, homegrown sauces: Toffee (my favorite ~ I can eat just straight out of the jar. Shhh, don’t tell anyone 🤫), the Raspberry Coulis (my favorite. I can have more than one favorite!) and the classic Fudge. (the best)
One or all three make an ideal Holiday or Hostess gift to a foodie friend ~ or to yourself. The sauces are pure, natural, delicious toppings for so many desserts, and can be added to savory dishes, as well. I like using the Coulis on puddings, yogurt, panna cotta and in cocktails. Here, it’s my chocolate red velvet cakes.
Francine’s Outrageous Sauces
Palmer & Co Champagne Is the perfect champagne to serve at your Holiday festivities and to bring as a joyful Hostess/Hostess gift. A true French champagne, the Reims vineyard is 4th generation owned and managed. Last spring, we were introduced to this bubbly by the US director, Pauline, and still love serving and sipping this beauty.
Raventos i Blanc Sparkling Wine I was introduced to this Spanish sparkling wine many years ago by Belinda Chang, a world-class sommelier, at her downtown Chelsea club, in its garden. After we’d met at the first Slow Food event in Brooklyn earlier at Roberta’s/Heritage Radio Network’s side garden, with founder Carlo Petrini and Alice Waters. We didn’t want the day to end. It was epic. And so we chatted, toasting our good fortune with Raventos, afuera. It was love at first sip. Ever since then, it’s became my everyday bubbly.
Raventos is a wonderful gift and it’s also one you can be proud to serve at your holiday dinner parties and celebrations. Raventos can be purchased in your local liquor or wine store; online too, where they also offer Club 1497 where you can gain access to limited editions and tastings.
Describing the taste is the winemaker who writes… A focused sparkler, with a pleasingly crisp, light texture, offers a subtle, savory overtone of smoke, stone, grilled herbs and flavors of black cherry, pickled ginger and almond pastry. Fresh finish. I don’t know about all that, I just find it pleasantly dry, fruity in a good way, crisp and light.
For barware and tablescape Gatherings, I’ll wager you’ll be overjoyed to shop Joanna Buchanan.
I learned that Buchanan launched her online retail business in 2014, but I honestly don’t know why she and her luxe, seasonal accessories, weren’t on my radar until this year. Now, I’m a huge fan. In fact, when I look at her designs, I have to blink, “Did I design this! The style is whimsical, glamorous, and sophisticated.
For example, as readers/fans of my Art of the Garnish book know, I love using jewelry as part of the drink’s finishing touches; you will recognize how Buchanan has, ahem, “picked” up on this couture cocktail look and offers glamorous Cocktail Picks and bedazzled wine charms.
The Koi Crystal or Candy Cane bottle opener would also make a fabulous gift, as would the Bee Cocktail Shaker Set.
I adore her napkin rings! Mother and I gifted the Sparkle Shell napkin rings for a special shower gift, and I couldn’t resist the Sparkly Flamingo napkin rings for moi.
Just perusing the Buchanan web site is like looking at a jewelry case brimming with irresistible glamour. Your giftee will feel like royalty.
Over the years I’ve purchased heart-stoppingly exquisite vintage cocktail glasses from here. I just don’t don’t know how they acquire and curate such collections. And honestly, I also don’t care! Their rare glasses are so artful ~ and a most welcome addition to our bar decor. I especially love the etched glass and the intricate stem ones. Your Happy Hours will whisper torrid tales when sipping from these glamorous glasses.
Say “Cheese” (please)
Fourchette has three brick and mortar shops but also has an extensive online retail so you can purchase “superior gourmet foods and homeware, including gift baskets brimming with the best cheeses, linens, caviar, candles & home fragrances, knives, Gathering Cheese & Charcuterie Boards, and unique serveware and hostessing pieces are available as gifts. And from the owner to her team, they are kind and knowledgeable.
Paper Culture
While I admittedly have an abundance of note cards ~ some might say I’m overstocked, the truth is I have long adored cards. I find them incredibly artful ~ there is a never-ending variety of nature, whimsy, a kind of local gothic designs, botanical art, and more…
Plus, there is simply no substitute for a hand-written card or letter and having pretty, personalized, appropriate stationary is a must-have. One can never have enough good stationary, therefore, shop away.
I love to have my note cards range from formal ~ meaning classic stationary with our monogrammed initials and envelopes, to casual cards, postcards, and lots in-between.
I write hello/thinking of you notes and thank you notes with frequency.
Here, I’ll share a few of my favorite cards ~ not counting the ones I purchase from our local Atlantic Highlands Art Gallery Shop where I volunteer.
I’ve purchased the exuberant watercolor cards Darlene Flood showcased when she was a featured artist selling at Neiman Marcus. I still admire her floral designs, having rediscovered Darlene on Etsy a few years back. I even deputized some of my to more quickly find Darlene… I love the personalized cards she renders (and so quickly too.) She makes a trifecta of customized cards for me: my Leeann, Duchess, and “Ladies Who Lunch Conversations” cards.
Gift the personal.
My new crush is the artful collections from TokyoMilk, Objects of Desire.
While it goes without saying that I’d be attracted by the glittery peacocks, I have purchased a variety of their whimsical, glamorous and some tongue-in-cheek or downright cheeky card designs (see the “Nailed It, Girl Boss, Crows Feet, Drama Queen, for starters). You can shop for gifts in their online store. It’s conveniently categorized by Sentiments: Love, Birthday, Wedding, Anytime…)
Art of the Garden
Rain Chain.
Until I was writing this gift guide, I wasn’t aware that ten years ago I was approached by Rain Chains Direct asking me to do a product review. While that didn’t happen, (rats…) it is an interesting coincidence that, totally unbeknownst, I did shop for and chose the of Rain Chain Direct’s copper designs to purchase. While I may have missed out on the complimentary test drive, I can honestly tell you that the Rain Chain is a delight ~ it is beautiful, handles torrents of rain, and adds a sensual element to my garden designs. I especially appreciate the sounds and sights as I do my warm-weather yoga on the porch fronting the copper rain chain.
Replacing a conventional and often not so handsome gutter downspout, the rain chain is easy to install, decorative, and functional ~ and can further enhance the look of a water reclamation system, when combined with cisterns or rain barrels.
According to Rain Chains Direct, they also can be “considered a sustainable, or environmentally friendly product because they are made of pure copper. Copper is a 100% recyclable raw material, making it a perfect material for the future.
The company has lots of styles from which to choose from. You can see the Tulips Design I chose.
You can also view a lovely video I did of the Tulips working their magic in the rain…
One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato ~ Garlic!
Maine Potato Lady is where we get all our garlic from ~ and used to get our potatoes too. The best. She also offers lots of garden accessories including the hard to come by bags and metal markers.
Garden Markers ~Maine Potato Lady
Speaking of Garden Accessories, you can get caught in a garden-infused dream world trying to choose from all the incredible items to be found in the New York Botanical Gardens gift shop, especially the Exclusives. But there are also unique fragrances, garden decor, tools, seeds, books, and well, almost anything the garden enthusiast on your list could wish for. Have fun narrowing down your choices.
The Classic Red Flyer Wagon will not only look smashing under the tree with lots of wrapped presents as its holiday cargo, but you’ll find scads of uses for this iconic red wagon that so many of us loved as a kid. I initially got one a few years ago when I was doing a potting-up, garden workshop at an assisted living facility and wanted a nostalgic touchstone for the “mature” guests. It was magic.
And I’ve used the wagon in my garden for myriad reasons ever since.
I love it. It makes me and others smile. It would make a useful and whimsical gift, too.
There are also kid-sized wagons ~ A toddler will be smiling too, like every day is Christmas pushing the Bubble Buddy Walker Wagon 🫧
There is even a 12-pack of mini wagons ~ to hang on the tree? Or use as table decor, as I did.
All are fun to gift.
Protective Tick Suit
Tick Suit a doctor and a professor at a medical school - pulmonary and environmental medicine TheTickSuit provides a tough barrier for ticks. It is 100% cotton and breathable.is 100% organic pre washed cotton. Wear it over light clothes. It’s tough and you can wash and dry it over and over. It’s one piece, so your shirt and pants don’t separate as you bend over. If you want, add a chemical barrier by spraying your suit with permethrin ~ as we do ~ or another insecticide. One may not think that such a utilitarian item would make a good gift but they’d be wrong. While a wee bit pricey, the Tick Suit is pure love ~ it can save a life.
We’re smart. We spray all our work clothes with permethrin; I wear so many layers and hats. And yet, just as I was transitioning away from client horticulture work, I got bit. By a tick. Sooo, I consider it my new fashion fare in the garden to wear the Tick Suit.
It suits me… (to a “T” i c k)
For the Birder ~ Twitcher, or budding Ornithophile in your life, consider this Bird Feeder with one-way mirror window mount
Recently we gifted this bird feeder to a favorite niece. She and her Mother sent us photos the next morning showing that it was up and working. So, it’s an easy install. The advantage of this feeder is that it’s like a show ~ you can see them but they can’t see you! It’s an intimate window onto the avian world ~ from your special “perch” 🐦⬛ And Bill recommended that the shake some hot pepper flakes into the feed mix to prevent those pesky squirrels from trying to steal the show!
Cicero famously said, If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Moderny captured the essence of that sentiment in a book~vase: A Book about Flowers
I purchased this vase last spring and enjoy it very much for holding pretty flowers or cuttings from the garden. In every season. It’s quite a reasonable buy and will make a lovely gift for the bibliophile and garden lover.
Speaking of books, my Holiday Gift Book Picks are to follow.
Jewelry
I love to wear jewelry that has an ethos; that sources sustainable materials and demonstrates a connection to the earth.
So it’s not a surprise that I very much appreciate and recommend the wonder of Nature-inspired Organic Jewelry by Janet Mavec.
Janet’s one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces in her earring, bracelet, and necklace collections feature a bountiful garden full of sweet pickings including “delicate curling” beans, acorns with cross-hatched caps, bees, and my favorite, the eels! I have a cocktail ring that I adore and recently purchased the clip-on earrings to match. Isn’t there something just so sexy about the glamour of these scene-stealing and face-flattering clip-on ornaments?
Janet’s designs are hand-crafted and made in Rhode Island. Why the Ocean State? Janet writes that it was the heart of fashion jewelry production in the 19th and 20th century and that’s a nod to her love of antique jewelry.
The hand-crafted designs are all reasonably priced. So you can gift future heirlooms with abandon.
When I laid eyes on this astonishing textile art at the Philadelphia Flower Show, I immediately had to not only purchase the daisy necklace for Mother, but I also couldn’t wait to learn the story behind this jewelry art.
The ladies managing the Show booth explained the art works are Oya, “Turkish lace,” that means various forms of narrow lace trimmings, worn throughout the eastern and southern parts of the Mediterranean region. And the works were not only meant to be beautiful but also they were forms of communication. In effect, the colors and knotted silk crochet lace-like designs told their own stories…
And then, right after our tour of the Flower Show, we visited the Barnes Foundation Museum and like a fairy following me, the textile art was there too. I took it as a sign and bought a necklace for me, as well!
Paz Sintes is hand-crafted, delicate, you could say, otherworldly. Each piece is truly one-of-a-kind.
Kate Spade Shaken or Stirred Stud Martini Earrings are whimsical and fun. They always elicit a happy, fun reaction especially at festive, intimate Happy Hours.
Kinka, the Gotham East Village Shop, is offering some very pretty Kay Kojima handmade Ceramic Earrings. (More on Kinka below)
Fragrance
No Holiday gift guide would be complete without including a special fragrance. After all, of our five senses, it is our sense of smell that ignites our memories the most. We can smell something and it will trigger a specific remembrance.
Fragrance allows us to wear the nature flowers and spices in a special way.
I very much recommend my favorite fragrance: Ashore Fragrance from Amouge.
It smells like a garden memory dream. Plus, it resonates with me for another reason. Ashore was created by Mackenzie Reilly, a special Ladies Who Lunch Conversations guest on my videocast.
Specifically, Ashore is a floral fragrance, composed of:
Top Notes: Pink Pepper, Cardamom Oil & Turmeric Leaf Oil
Heart Notes: Jasmine Sambac Absolute, Solar Accord & Rose Absolute
Base Notes: Ambergris Accord, Olibanum Hyperabsolute & Sandalwood Oil
An then, there was a kind of Fragrance Kismet: Maybe not such a coincidence occurred recently after I met my dear friend, CJ, for dinner in town, and after a lovely meal and catching up, we hugged our goodbyes.
She smelled so good. I asked, “What are you wearing?”
Because Amouge is not a mainstream market brand, I was somewhat surprised when she replied, Guidance, by Amouge. I guess we are Birds of a feather… 🙂 Who prefer esoteric, luxuries.
Guidance, too smells rich ~ and heady. Both fragrances use “real” oils and florals.
Guidance features Amber and Florals:
Top Notes: Pear, Frankincense, Hazelnut
Heart Notes: Saffron, Rose, Jasmine Sambac, Osmanthus
Base Notes: Cistus, Sandalwood, Akigalawood, Ambergris, Vanilla
Worthy Causes for the Holiday Season ~ Charitable Giving
Contribute to a good cause. It will make you feel so good ~ evoking gratitude. Which, it turns out, is linked to good health, happiness, and social bonding. xo
This one’s personal. Nicole~Nicky Cutler Trevor, is a most inspiring woman. She is the daughter of my dear friend, Joanne.
Nicky has undergone two brain surgeries, starting in 2021 ~ just a few months ago she couldn’t yet walk ~ yet she recently successfully ran the New York City Marathon! And in June, got married in a fairytale June wedding. Nicky’s ability to overcome, what is by anyone’s definition, dire adversity, is also the very definition of inspired resolve and spirit. Please consider donating to Nicky’s Cause: National Brain Tumor Society
Another close-to-my-heart cause is Conservation Wild, a women-led, non-profit foundation protesting biocultural diversity. You can support Conservation Wild directly here, and also learn more about their incredible work to save the animals and habitat of such noble creatures as the Jaguar. I’ve written about Conservation Wild and its founder, April Kelly, who was a special Ladies Who Lunch Conversations guest.
You can also purchase the Jaguar Cocktail Napkins I painted as an homage and tribute to April’s Conservation Wild. This month, 100% of the sales of the couture cocktail napkins are flowing to the Foundation.
Purchase of the other couture cocktail napkins fuels Toni and Megan’s charity causes of choice. You can buy all the watercolor napkins here on the site in the Garden Glamour Shop.
Eclectic Artful Choices
Kinka has The most adorable shop in Gotham’s East Village. But lucky for you Kinka sells online. The husband and wife team ~ Tom and EunYoung ~ are our forever friends.They are artists who not only create many of the things and services they sell, but they also have curated a fabulous collection of unique, artisanal art, food, and plants.
For your consideration, I point out here just a few here that I’ve loved and used for Holiday and Hostess gifts:
Kinka’s Bees Wax Air Freshener
The Hand Poured Scented Bees Wax Tablets from Korea ~ they are the most pretty room air fresheners!
I also like their incense, the paper maché art ~ I covet the Dancer to gift a former ballerina I know… It’s so Degas.
And oh, the Nigata Koshihikari White Rice! It’s even freshness-dated. No offense to Uncle Ben, but you’ll never eat store-bought boxed rice ever again.
And Lollipops! With a special treat. The Amborella Organics are “Delicious lollipops with seeds in the stem. After enjoying the yummy lollipop, plant the biodegradable stem to grow a plant. I love putting the lollipops at the place setting for a true garden party treat.
You’ll enjoy shopping and discovering all the unique Kinka offers.
Artful Pet Portraits
Watercolor artist Kristen Lanfrank was our instructor for a series of watercolor classes I took recently at Rumson’s Autumn Elise Gallery & Vintage. A very engaging way to learn, I must say: talented teachers, bonhomie, and did I mention wine and cheese?!
After class, I saw Kristen’s incredible pet portraits, and was blown away.
I loved her passionate way of capturing not just the pet’s looks but their soul.
I commissioned one for my sister-in-law Bonnie’s birthday. Bonnie and her husband Gerry have such a beautiful dog ~ Angel ~ who is a German/Danish short haired pointer but to me is like the fashionista of the canine world with her fancy coat of brown, white, and spots. I just knew that Angel would be an outstanding candidate for Kristen’s art.
Indeed. We were overjoyed with the completed portrait. Kristen created an outstanding piece of art to commemorate and celebrate Angel.
What an incredible gift for the Holidays for the Pet Lover in your world. Don’t worry, Kristen works fast, too.
I might also ask Kristen to paint a Pet Portrait to be used as stationary and postcards! Other great gift ideas.
You can contact Kirsten via her Instagram account: Teachers Pet Portraits
It’s such a perfectly creative business moniker too, because Kristen is a high school art teacher, as well.
Kismet.
Heading back to the Autumn Elise Gallery & Vintage where I met Kristen. Autumn’s fine art and vintage clothing is an artful resource for your gift-giving.
The fabulous owner, Autumn, has a keen eye and an engaging, creative personality. Which means, she’s so adorable, talented, and inviting.
She’s curated some very cool, thoughtful things.
Clothing (I purchased a very cool top used on the set of “Mean Girls.”), Pottery, Glass, Artworks, and those fun, but instructive Classes. You can visit the Gallery in Rumson or Kingston, NY and/or Shop here
I’m Wishing you a peaceful, joyful, Happy, Holidays. Filled with the best gift: Love
Give from the heart. Cultivate generosity. Give philanthropically.
It’s said that God loves a person who gives cheerfully...
