- clipboard
- Posts
- the clipboard gift guide 2022
the clipboard gift guide 2022
the best shops and gifts for your holiday season
Welcome to clipboard, a semi-regular publication about good shit and Tāmaki Makaurau by yours truly, Reilly Hodson. This time, we’re doing the third (!!!) annual clipboard gift guide. If you enjoy clipboard, share it with your cool friends who are mourning the demise of Peach Pit (whether or not they ever actually went).
mistletoe by Justin Bieber
Buying Christmas gifts is stressful, but it needn’t be! That’s why I write a gift guide every year that is focused not on driving affiliate revenue but by making it easier for you, dear reader, to get your shopping done in a stress- (and mall-) free way.
This year’s guide is based on a few guiding principles, which are of course only adhered to most of the time:
Shop in person - because browsing is valuable, retail workers are helpful and couriers are unreliable at this time of the year
Shop local and small - because supporting local small businesses is fun and their product is often better
Don’t buy vouchers if you can avoid it - because you always end up spending more than you would if you just got a thoughtful gift
Spend what you can afford - this is hopefully an attainable list, and while the thought is not all that counts, I believe there are diminishing returns on gifts above a certain price, depending on the category
The guide is broken down into two key sections. The first is, I think, the best way to shop: stores at which you can tick everyone on your list off; and the second gives a few recs for specific “types,” some of which have been requested by clipboard readers and some of which are people I know or have invented (one is me).
Let’s get into it.
one stop shops
If you only shop for adults, it’s often achievable to do all, or at least most, of your shopping in one place. I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to walk into a store with a list of people and walk out with all of their names crossed off. Here are a few of my favourite options for that kind of shopping.
your local bookstore
This is an easy one - a book is in my opinion the best gift you can buy, if your giftee is a reader. When done well, a book is an incredibly thoughtful gift - perhaps it’s something you’ve read and think that special person would love, or maybe it was a recommendation from the bookseller. I’ve tended towards this approach in the past and will do so again this year. Go to your neighbourhood store, but if you don’t have one, I recommend Time Out (which has an excellent loyalty programme), Unity Books and Lamplight Books in particular. Bookety Book Books is a great online option if you’re in a pinch, but it’s always better to browse in person.
Everyday Needs is my favourite store to browse because it’s filled with considered items that people tend not to buy for themselves: think the best possible A4 refill pad, or a beautiful incense holder. Little things that impart a bit of joy and say to your loved one: “I want your life to be a bit more pleasant.”
A few ideas: tasteful bookends, hasami mug, a bedside water carafe
Dan’s range of vintage homeware and furniture is unparalleled. I bought a coffee table from Kiosk and it’s been my absolute favourite piece of furniture since. Flick him an Instagram DM and he’ll show you around his showroom on Cross Street, and there’s plenty of amazing bits of all sizes that you can purchase for a special person that will make them go “where did you get this?”
Crushes is a Karangahape Road institution for good reason. Its vintage clothes racks get most of the attention, and deservedly so, but the stuff on the tables in the middle of the store is just as interesting for me. It’s all local makers making beautiful, considered items that are still very fun. We bought my sister out of law a candle subscription for her birthday in November, a bang on gift for people that like their house to smell good.
A few ideas: Burnt Sage Room Spray (my favourite of their in-house scents), a cute pointless bowl made of jewel toned glass, a candle holder shaped like a marigold
hard-to-buy-fors
the cool gen Zer in your life
Maybe it’s a nephew, child, or a younger sibling, but everyone has that young person in their life that is just a bit cooler than they are, and who can be somewhat of an enigma. They use BeReal and Snapchat, and know at least a couple of TikTok dances (perhaps ironically).
A few ideas:
A cool hat, like one from Goodlids, or this one from Checks, or even better, something vintage from Magic Hollow or Parlour
An emotional support water bottle, like a Frank Green or Nalgene
Minimalist jewellery like this pearl string (who’s that hot model?) from Pigment Studio or this bracelet from Don Du Ciel
Whatever they ask for - this is a group of people who know exactly what they want, so you can generally just ask
overseas whānau
This one goes out to clipboard reader Duncan who wants to buy for his Sydneysider sister in law, but applies to all of us with FaceTime family who we don’t see often. For these folks I think you need to get them something that isn’t gross Kiwiana but that says “Aotearoa is still pretty cool.” Whittakers and Tim Tams is a good option in a pinch, but you can do better.
A few ideas:
Black Ferns merch (World Champs!)
An open invitation to sleep on your couch whenever their chosen country’s democracy/climate fails
your cool friends who you haven’t exchanged gifts with before
I never know the protocol with gifts for friends, but it’s always a nice gesture to give them something if you’re in a position to do so - anything counts. These gifts also apply to work secret santa - I refuse to do novelty gifts that will just go in the bin!
A few ideas:
A lovely bottle of natural wine in a reusable bottle from Everyday Wine
A fancy sauce, like an Apostle hot sauce
A really nice coffee mug, like this one from Richard Beauchamp and Thom Morison
Just a text or phone call every once in a while to let them know you’re thinking of them
your significant other
The most important person to buy for, if you ask me! You’ll know your life partner better than I do, but here are a few great options anyway.
A few ideas:
A coffee table book about their favourite nerdy topic (if I were the recipient, perhaps it might be this one about streetwear brand Brain Dead, for example, but this applies to watches, gardening, art, furniture, you name it).
Small leather goods from Yu Mei (I like this pouch and this key fob) or Deadly Ponies (like this super simple cardholder)
A perfect t-shirt from Buddy in their favourite colour
Buy a joint thing for each other! But a fun something that you’ll both enjoy, like this Asano paper lamp
parents
What do you give to the people who gave you everything? I usually do a book or two, but here are a few other options.
A few ideas:
One of the Aesop gift boxes, preferably with hand wash
A board game that you’re happy to play with them through the summer
(For dad) an Asuwere membership to get his wardrobe sussed
(For mum) a lovely vase like this one from Tony Sly
Take them out for dinner at your favourite restaurant, and pick up the bill
the fashion newsletter writer who buys himself everything he wants before anyone can buy it for him
This one is just a personal wish-list, sorry.
A few ideas:
A sophisticated signature scent, like Aesop Tacit or Margiela’s “When the Rain Stops”
Some really good (plain!) socks, like these from Buddy or these from RoToTo
A nice new belt like this one from Crane Brothers
A paid subscription to his favourite publication, like The Spinoff, Metro, Ensemble or Monocle
Tell people about his newsletter and its amazing influence on purchasing decisions, particularly if those people run PR at cool fashion brands and can get him free stuff
a few other good gift guides
That’s all for clipboard this time, thanks for reading! I’ll be taking requests for more giftees in the clipboard chat in the Substack App (now on Android if you’re a heathen), so you can find me there. I’ll be back for an end of year roundup closer to the end of the year, until then have a great December!