After a number of readers asked me if I was going to put together a gift guide this year, I started to think long and hard about my feelings about gifting. These feelings are rapidly evolving.
I’ve always enjoyed the process of gift giving — thinking of what a friend or loved one might like and find useful, without needing to be told. A truly thoughtful and surprising gift can be inexpensive but meaningful in invaluable ways. For years, I’ve focused on offering useful and sustainable gifts, and experiences or outings that I know will be enjoyed and consumed fully. In other words, nothing that could be wasted. That’s also meant I’ve only supported businesses with values that match my own and are as minimally damaging to the environment as possible. It takes work and time to come up with the right giftable gesture but I find the giving more fulfilling the receiving.
I’m the only one who feels this way in my family. They are stuck in the hamster wheel of giving out of obligation and want a “list” of what I might like or want. There’s no real thought involved nor is it about spending the time to think about my life and what might make the most sense. They are like many families, tied to a tradition of gift exchange that’s been devoid of meaning and utility. Today, I find myself fighting to consolidate, consume less, be part of more mindful traditions and all I want to do is refuse to engage in what my family and many others have held onto for no other reason than familiarity.
In my French family, the issue is similar. The paradox in France is that the population expresses strong anti-capitalistic rhetoric and yet has adopted so many of the worst capitalistic practices from the United States (ahem Black Friday). They might not kill each other in a stampede to get a deal on a television set but they’re just as susceptible to the temptation of overconsumption as anyone else.
Whether it’s in the US, France, or any number of developed nations, there is something grotesque and morally sterile in the way we consume today. It’s too much of the wrong things, all year long. By the time the holidays roll around and the discussions about gift giving emerge again, the cycle of senseless consumption comes full circle.
So in thinking about what I could recommend to people who are looking, for gifts that are made in France or inspired by it in some way, I’ve chosen to share the things I buy for myself that have been considered based on the company or the item’s transparency, utility, packaging, composition, and inherent value. I’m a big book buyer (I can’t stop everything!) but have become more discerning in what I choose to own and hold onto. I believe in food and beverage gifts that, if selected carefully, will be consumed quickly and not end up in the far reaches of a pantry (sustainable chocolate for a chocolate lover, wine for the oenophiles…). And I share experiences that might make someone happy: tickets to a theatrical performance, a guided tour, a dinner at a nice restaurant, or even, a home-cooked meal (which if I’m offering means I really love you because cooking is NOT my favorite activity).
I guess what I’m hoping in sharing all of this is that wherever you may be this month and however you may be preparing for the new year, you consider your impact. A few documentaries and incredible books have opened my eyes (wider) to the serious implications that shopping or gift giving can have on entire populations and natural environments.
So with that, here are a few ideas to get you started:
BOOKS
Our Women on the Ground: Essays by Arab Women Reporting from the Arab World
An incredible, moving selection of stories that was as elegantly written as it was edifying.
The Little(r) Museums of Paris
A clever, beautifully illustrated guide to the smaller but equally as important museums across the city.
Je Ne Suis Pas Parisienne
(In French) Dissecting the myth of the Parisian woman through the author Alice Pfeiffer’s personal experiences as a French-British journalist.
Self-Portrait in Black & White: Unlearning Race
Cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams was inspired by the birth of his children in Paris to re-examine his perception and understanding of race and race relations. A powerful and enlightening memoir.
Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes
Everything from the environmental impact of producing cotton tees and denim jeans to greenwashing of major clothing brands, Paris-based journalist Dana Thomas digs into the fashion industry’s role in damaging the planet and the problems with our current mode of consumption.
Little: A Novel
The most whimsical and fantastical story about a little girl with an unfortunate upbringing who grows up to become Madame Tussauds.
Woman of Color
Essays, tips, notes, and wondrous photographs from an inspiring woman in Brooklyn navigating life as a woman, creator, and single mother.
Girls and their Cats
If you’ve been following me for anything length of time, this needs no description. I love cats and I love the meet-cute stories of cats connecting with their owners. Includes: fun stories and tips, charming photography.
The Seine: the River that Made Paris
What’s central to the lifeblood of Paris? The Seine River, argues author and former NYT Paris bureau chief Elaine Sciolino in this travel memoir that takes readers into the long history of the city’s major waterway and how it’s evolved since its beginnings. You can also listen to our chat about this (and more!) on episode 41 of my podcast!
Poilâne: the Secrets of the World Famous Bread Bakery
It’s nearly impossible to visit Paris without coming across the standout bakery Poilâne, an institution since 1932. Apollonia Poilâne is the third generation to run her family‘s business and has expanded its reach well beyond French shores. In her new book of recipes, she shares both her family’s legacy and a boundless passion for bread — and, of course, coming together at the table. You can also get a preview in my podcast episode — Apollonia stopped by to chat about the book and loads more!
FRAGRANCE & ‘BEAUTY’
Scent is obviously incredibly personal but if you’re looking for direction, these are the brands I wear religiously.
Officine Universelle Buly, Louvre collection
I opted for the Vénus de Milo, one of the fragrances in a special collection inspired by eight different works in the Louvre. Buly fragrances are water-based (no alcohol!) and come in gorgeous, plastic-free bottles that you’ll want to keep on your mantle long after you’ve emptied them.
L’Artisan Parfumeur
I’m partial to the Premier Figuier (fig), le Chant de Camargue, and Bucoliques de Provence in perfume, and the amber boule which is a beautiful object that gives off a subtle scent in my living room.
Ormaie
Unisex, entirely natural, artisanal bottle production (recycled wood for hand-crafted toppers), and perfect for the person who has traditionally worn the scents from big luxury brands but wants a less synthetic option.
The other two brands I discovered this year which have been game-changers (and might appeal to some of you):
Manucurist
A vegan, cruelty-free nail care and nail polish company that has been in the professional nail industry since the mid 1990s in France. Originally only available in spas and nail bars, the founder’s daughter took over the business in 2015 and ramped up distribution direct to consumers, too. In Paris, the brand has a Green Club where you can buy their products and even get manucures and pedicures using their polishes, including their semi-permanent polish that is also made from 84% natural ingredients (vs mass market, chemically-composed brands like OPI) which are listed HERE. I particularly love their kits in collaboration with another sustainable French label, Rive Droite.
The other: Amalthea, organic skincare in packaging that can be cleaned and refilled in the store or by mail. Ingredients are 99% natural (a lot about that HERE) and after using them for more than six months, my skin feels cleaner. Ultimately, I was looking for brands that create little to no waste and are clean in their composition. If you read between the lines, even the most popular “clean” brands aren’t so clean or sustainable. Worth looking into if you are eager to find greener options.
GREEN DESIGN
My big recommendation here is to always have a reusable cup with you, wherever you go, for not only water but also coffee and tea. The common complaint is that such cups are unattractive. While aesthetics shouldn’t be the primary objective, it’s a fair point. I love the cup from Australian company Huskee which is incredibly well-designed and big on aesthetics. The ridges in the cup help protect your fingers and hands from the heat and the material itself is sustainable: it is BPA-free and features coffee husk as a raw material. The coffee husk is an organic waste material that’s produced at the milling stage of coffee production. And it’s all easy to clean! To locate your nearest stockists, in the U.S., Europe, or in Australia, click HERE.
My second tip? Give the gift of greenery. My husband and I aren’t very adept gardeners but we have added succulents, terrariums, and a couple of resistant plants to our home and we enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoy caring for them (as best as we can). For specific ideas for plant lovers, check out the gift guide from my friends at Urban Jungle. Another option: foliage as art. I love Herbarium and their framed, pressed florals like this one designed by my friend Frank Barron (also known as Cakeboy Paris) and these floral letters.
SOMETHING USED
Why buy something new when you can give new life to old treasures? If you can’t be in France to hop between flea markets and antique fairs, there’s Madame de la Maison and its founder Ajiri Aki’s exquisite finds. Also, the idea of buying only used or vintage pieces applies to clothing and accessories–the planet will thank you.
EXPERIENCES
Or go for the intangible and offer a tour or class for your next trip to France. I offer them (more on that here! The photo above is from a special bread and bakery tour I led for Bake from Scratch magazine and its guests), so does Cakeboy Paris, Women of Paris, Le Paris Noir, La Cuisine Paris, Picturesque Voyages, Navigate Paris, Secret Journeys, Delectabulles, The Cook’s Atelier, and Kitchen at Camont.
MY BOOKS
Then there’s the gift of my own books! My second book, The New Parisienne, will be released on April 21, 2020 and is already available for pre-order. If you decide to order now, please save your receipts: I’m working on special goodies with my publisher for readers that pre-order–more on that soon!
