Self-Care
Gifts that offer a moment of relaxation and reflection, or a pampering night in
1. Handmade one-of-a-kind artist journal, $120 at Jenni Bick.
2. “Santa Fe” leather wrap journal, $62 at Jenni Bick.
3. Kaweco “Art Sport” fountain pen in hickory brown, $150 at Penny Post.
4. Nail lacquer, $21 (top coat) and $38 (color duo “Serving Beauty” and “Redezvous”) at MischoBeauty.com.
5. Well Kept bath milk, $28, Well Kept “Agave” exfoliating cloth, $20, and Vesper Bloom eau de parfum by Ayond, $160. Both at Take Care.
6. “Elwood City Ice” blue-light glasses, starting at $200 at Nurilens.co.
7. Liberty “Surf Shack Hideaway” paint-by-numbers kit, $30 at Steadfast Supply.
8. Witchie Wicks Cypress & Pine candle, $36 at Steadfast Supply.
9. Flower Seed matchbooks, $18 for decorative box of ten at She Loves Me.
10. Emily Lex Studio winter watercolor workbook, $26, and paints, $20, at Red Barn Mercantile.
Kids & Teens
Imaginative toys, artsy activities, and fun games for a range of ages
1. Capital Stitch Co. “The District” embroidery kit and step-by-step guide, $32 at Steadfast Supply.
2. Wooden forklift, $126 at Pippin Toy Co.
3. Sarah’s Silks red play silk, $22 at Pippin Toy Co.
4. Wanderlust DC-themed blocks, $38 at Pippin Toy Co.
5. Animal Friends mosaic sticker activity set, $12 at Steadfast Supply.
6. Moose Match Mayhem game, $10 at Labyrinth Games & Puzzles.
7. Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris book, $20 at Le Village Marché.
8. Zimbbos elephant block stacking game, $37 at Pippin Toy Co.
9. Wicked-themed playing cards, $16 at Penny Post.
10. “Let’s Go” coloring kit, $19.50 at Steadfast Supply.
Home
Decor, gardening tools, and artwork by local artists
1. Hard-to-kill potted-plant arrangement, $110 at Rewild.
2. “Native Plants of the Mid-Atlantic” dish towel, $25 at Marcella Kriebel Art + Illustration.
3. Pear candle by Scandles, $25 at Tuckernuck.
4. Transplanting trowel, $75 at Georgetown Garden Shop.
5. Two-pint Rowley Ripple Copper watering can, $150 at Georgetown Garden Shop.
6. Chive Pooley bud vase, $38 at Georgetown Garden Shop.
7. 15-inch laser-cut wood bowl, $110 at National Building Museum shop.
8. “Georgetown Flower Stroll” print by Cris Clapp Logan, starting at $27 at Etsy.com/shop/CrisLoganArt.
9. National Mall map print, $28 and up at Terratorie.com.
10. Cherry Blossom II Collection “Breath of Fresh Air” print, $50 and up at CarinaTenaglia.com.
11. Handmade salt jar (lid not pictured), $48 at Salt & Sundry.
12. Avocado vase (a pit placed on top sprouts roots for an avocado tree), $65 at National Building Museum shop.
13. Acorn vase (oak roots sprout from an acorn), $45 at National Building Museum shop.
14. Amber “Betta” vase, $118 at Salt & Sundry.
Entertaining
Presents for anyone who enjoys hosting game nights and dinner parties
1. “Verdure” vase, $92 at Salt & Sundry.
2. Hand-painted ornament, $40 at CarinaTenaglia.com.
3. Estelle Colored Glass wineglass in rose, $185 for six at Tuckernuck.
4. Fall syrup trio, $30 at Shop Made in Virginia and CrescentSimples.com.
5. Candy Cane Sparkle mixer, $24 at Red Barn Mercantile.
6. Spicewalla “Sugar & Spice” trio of specialty sugars, $26 at Red Barn Mercantile.
7. Santa Claus Vintage Puzzle, $24 at Le Village Marché.
8. Provenance 14-year limited-edition bourbon, $260 at the Bourbon Concierge.
9. Wine Cellar game, $20 at Labyrinth Games & Puzzles.
10. Finspan game, $50 at Labyrinth Games & Puzzles.
11. A Screaming Blast: Exceptional Entertaining book, $45 at Salt & Sundry.
12. “Speak EZ” glass in peach, $48 at Salt & Sundry.
13. Peruvian Brothers hot sauce, $7 at La Cosecha.
14. Caramels, $12 and up for a gift bag at MouthPartyCaramel.com.
15. “DMV Pride” coasters by Stitch & Rivet, $38 for four at Saint Helens Leatherworks and the Downtown Holiday Market.
Style
From sleek and chic to eclectic and practical—bags, jewelry, and accessories make great gifts
1. Designed for Joy “Millie” bucket bag in green, $98 at Le Village Marché.
2. Laptop portfolio in ginger brown, $70 at TwTote.com.
3. Hansel From Basel embroidered cashmere sailor scarf, $127 at Shelter.
4. Crocodile-embossed Italian leather “Veronika” bag, $2,550 at VieLorie.com.
5. Medium “Cesta” tote in strawberry wine-basket weave, $96 at IxoqBoxi.com.
6. Merino lambswool shawl, $108 at Salt & Sundry.
7. Touchscreen gloves in red, $38 at Le Village Marché.
8. Sapphire spaced cuff bracelet, $4,000 at Shelter.
9. Black jewelry case, $60 at Shelter.
10. Tiny-beaded ruby necklace, $695 at Shelter.
11. Gold-fill snake chain, $275 at Shelter.
Secondhand Gift Giving
With all the thrift shops, church bazaars, and vintage stores in the area, shopping local can also mean shopping secondhand–a booming trend fueled by rising prices, a desire for sustainability, and the thrill of the hunt. Maddy Brannon (@MaddytheB), who previews local estate sales to more than 71,000 followers, says the rules for secondhand gift-giving are simple: Look closely to avoid chips, cracks, and blemishes; clean each item before wrapping it up; and don’t give holiday decor for the holidays (“Who wants to put new gifts directly into storage?”). Here are some of her favorite presents and advice.
Candlestick holders. Tip: Include fun candles.
Art. “There is so much affordable, unique art.”
Glassware. Stick to sets of four or more.
Vinyl records. Cool album covers double as decor, and there’s something special about introducing someone to new music–“an algorithm-less gift.”
Clothing. Vintage pieces are often higher-quality and also one-of-a-kind–Brannon has found everything from a Masters jacket to nostalgic Disney tees.
Political or government memorabilia. “Senate ashtrays, political buttons, campaign bumper stickers, NASA handbooks are abundant and unique to this area.”
Gift Cards
Experiences make great presents for people who have everything. Consider a gift certificate to one of these spots.
For the creative: The Art League. This nonprofit in Old Town offers workshops in stained glass, jewelry making, phone photography, and more.
For the spa-goer: Balian Springs. The wellness retreat in Alexandria offers hydrotherapy pools, saunas, and lounges, plus spa treatments in a space that feels like a resort.
For the theater fan: Arena Stage. Among the upcoming shows of the 2025–26 season–the theater’s 75th–is the 1940s-Chicago-set musical Chez Joey, a reimagining of the hit Pal Joey; the courtroom drama Inherit the Wind; and a musical about the R&B/hip-hop trio TLC.
For ice-cream lovers: Yala Greek Ice Cream. This recently opened Georgetown shop–owned by Chrys Kefalas, who is married to local personality Tommy McFly–claims to be the first authentic Greek ice-cream shop in America.
How to Put Together the Perfect Gift Box
Washington is full of terrific shops with trinkets and goodies ideal for a gift basket or box. To assemble your own, we suggest choosing a theme based on either an occasion (such as game night or girls’ night in) or a hobby or interest (painting, cooking, travel, reading).
When you’re ready to start gathering items, Candace Ourisman–who once co-owned a concierge gift service–suggests playing with texture, scale, and tone. “I love mixing something indulgent with something practical, something tactile with something consumable,” she says. “That balance makes a gift feel layered and elevated, not predictable.”
Ourisman also recommends quality over quantity: “A beautifully curated gift doesn’t need to be overflowing–a few intentional pieces presented well will feel more luxurious than too many things competing for attention.”
Finally, she adds, don’t forget the presentation. “I’ve always thought of the packaging as part of the gift itself. Cohesive but not fussy, with just enough personality in the details–a handwritten tag, a sprig of something seasonal, a chic ribbon.”
When in doubt about a theme, try putting together a collection of your own favorite things. Sharing items you genuinely love, says Ourisman, is a way to connect, regardless of how well you know the recipient.
Besides the shops represented in this gift guide, these other local businesses are great places to start:
Laurel Leaf Takoma. A cozy shop of house-plants, used books, and vintage home goods.
Shop Made in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Hyperlocal offerings of art, jewelry, home goods and more from local makers.
Urban Dwell. A veteran-owned gift shop in Adams Morgan.
Vintage Vintage Vintage. Items from more than a dozen local vintage curators.
Plus: museum shops, which are treasure troves for interesting finds. The National Building Museum’s is renowned, while other favorites include the National Gallery of Art, International Spy Museum, Natural History Museum, Phillips Collection, National Air and Space Museum, and National Museum of African American History & Culture.
This article appears in the December 2025 issue of Washingtonian.
