A Women’s Gift Guide: From Girlhood to Grandmas

‘Tis the season, and whether you love it or hate it, it’s time to whip out those shopping lists and use our creative juices to not buy the same old repeated mundane gifts. This is especially true for our loved ones, and if you’ve got some ladies in your life with no clue where to begin (spoiler alert: not all of us want perfume and handbags), whether it’s your daughter or niece, your significant other, your mom, or even your grandma, change it up this holiday season with one of these fun gift ideas.

If you want to buy a real standout gift this year, go for the coveted Alaskan Black Cod box, priced at $198, from Alaskan Salmon Company. This gift is especially ideal for, obviously, those who cook, but especially your Gen Z nieces or daughters who want a potential viral moment on TikTok with the sought-after delicate fish.

The Alaskan Black Cod box comes with 12 fillets, so it’s just as ideal for the lady in your life who has an upcoming dinner party planned. It’s even sushi-grade, which is for raw preparations, a rarity for black cod in the US.

As someone who has been subjected to serious hair damage over the past few years, from dying it too frequently (what can I say, I loved a good bright hair color in my 20s), aging, and general stress, I am now much more selective about my hair products. So, if you know someone who has a similar struggle, a thoughtful gift is the ghost™ gems kit. Priced at $57, this kit consists of shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, hair oil, and frizz defense smoothing spray (a must, especially for those who live in humid climates). Plus, all Ghost hair products have no parabens, no harmful sulfites, and are PETA-certified.

Calling all cocktail lovers! For the bartender in your life, there’s a good chance they already have had their hands on some Fabbri Amarena cherries. Change it up this holiday season with Albero d’Oro cherries, which are hand-picked marasca cherries that are perfect for cocktails, mocktails, and Italian-style desserts. Albero d’Oro translates to “The Golden Tree,” but the cherries actually come from Bulgaria, created after an Italian family relocated there during the 1950s migration wave.

Looking for a simple stocking stuffer? For the athlete and gym fanatic in your life, or for a friend who is simply looking to up their wellness game, treat them with an easy first step: the BODYARMOR Flash I.V. Boosters. These rehydration packets blend electrolytes, vitamins, and coconut water, and come either with or without caffeine. Flavors include grape, cucumber lime, strawberry kiwi, dragonfruit berry, and more. They’re even loved by Hailey Bieber.

Comfortable footwear can really make or break a mood; I know this because I’ve been bamboozled by enough shiny and sparkly shoes that look great but feel awful. If you’ve got a fashionista in your life who wants to be stylish with ease on the feet, the Penny Loafers from Sperry are an obvious choice. I personally love their “Brown primary – multi” color, which is leopard print, but whatever color you choose to give, they all offer that classic timeless style that works for both an office setting or a night out on the town.

If the lady in your life is anything like me, the quickest way to her heart is the gift of wine. Avaline is offering one of the best wine holiday gift sets on the market. All of their vino is organic and vegan-friendly, and the gift set includes Avaline’s Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Prosecco, and my personal favorite, their Lambrusco, which hails from the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Not only is this a lovely set because of what’s inside of it, but it also saves you the hassle of wrapping since it’s beautifully prepared.

For that special woman in your life who loves to cook, Bachan’s makes exceptional signature sauces, all packed with umami. The brand has been backed by Bethenny Frankel and Benny Blanco, two of the biggest celebrity influencers on what we prepare in the kitchen. They have an array of Holiday Gift Packs, but their “The Dip & Drizzle” set is especially appealing. It includes Bachan’s original barbecue sauce, a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce, along with two Japanese dipping sauces.

Drinks including THC have been making waves recently, but not all are created equally. The THC Cocktails from Nowadays, however, come from an award-winning cannabis beverage brand, offering consumers a smooth buzz without the booze. Nowadays offers canned cocktails and a signature 750ml multi-serve bottle; pro-tip, a fan favorite flavor is cranberry.

As charcuterie boards manage to continue to rise in popularity, those who take their meat and cheese plates seriously know that the real key to making one standout is having a quality dipping sauce. Go above and beyond with products from La Tourangelle, and make your life easier by simply buying a gift box. Now that I’m in my 30s, I personally appreciate receiving reputable oils for cooking, and the ones I’ve tried from La Tourangelle have colored me impressed. If you are struggling to choose, I’d go for their Favorites Trio, including a walnut, avocado, and sesame oil.

For the traveler in your life, this one has my personal endorsement, and I quite literally live out of a suitcase as a full-time digital nomad. One of my biggest struggles in my years living on the road has been properly packing my toiletries. The Osprey Transporter Toiletry Kit is a gamechanger. Osprey is an incredible brand for all of their products (shoutout to my OG blue backpack ten years ago), and the Transporter Toiletry Kit is lightweight, water-resistant, and has plenty of organized zipped compartments to keep things tidy.

Tiny things are cute, and generally speaking, us girlies love compact adorable things AND staying hydrated. So, the Hydro Flask Micro Hydro Bottle, at just 6.7 oz is simply perfect. Carrying around a reusable water bottle is pretty standard these days, but they take up a lot of space. The Micro Hydro Bottle from Hydro Flask is ideal for running errands without carrying the equivalent of a bucket with us. Plus, it comes in over ten different shades.

When the holidays roll around, there’s nothing more fun than counting down with an advent calendar. If you’ve been meaning to take your special someone to Paris, or perhaps if you’re planning a trip to the city of light, plant the seed early with the La Maison du Chocolat Triomphe Advent Calendar. Inspired by the Place de l’Étoile and its twelve avenues, the Triomphe Advent Calendar includes 26 chocolate treats, dark and milk pralines, and coated almonds and hazelnuts. It’s an elegant step above the typical advent calendar.