Savvy snow-chasers know it’s thriftier to buy an all-access ski pass rather than spring for individual lift tickets. Alterra Mountain Company’s Ikon Pass—for $1,099 until mid-December—grants skiers unlimited admission to 14 resorts, including Steamboat, Colo. and Tremblant, in Québec, plus select days at 27 other resorts world-wide. Vail Resorts’ $989 Epic Pass is another wide-ranging option that includes more East Coast resorts. But don’t dally: The purchase deadline is Nov. 24. ikonpass.com, epicpass.com
Part workbench, part power station, all motorcycle. The Cake Ösa+, a two-wheeled solution for carving through city traffic, may appear like a practical present at first for a giftee facing a midlife crisis. After all, it’s got an electric motor, can carry two passengers plus groceries and even charges your devices during a blackout. But its eccentric Swedish design, its modular configuration—customizable to more than 1,000 variations, a rather ridiculous number, when you’re ordering it online—and its roaring off-road capabilities for impulsive detours make it stand out among the relatively sensible Harleys other dads are unwrapping this holiday season. $9,500, ridecake.com
Somewhere in the world, a sensible woman is saying, "I really need a new black work bag." This sleek example designed by Miuccia Prada has "ooh…aah!" unboxing appeal. Part of the limited-edition "Lights Out" collection, which reimagines many of Prada’s classic bag shapes in allover black, the Panier is just big enough to hold an iPad and just small enough to look low-key. $2,450, prada.com
While it’s reasonable to expect privacy in the bathroom, decorum still dictates you hide away unsightly grooming tools when you leave. An eccentric way to flout that rule: this tempered-glass and chrome-plated toothbrush holder made in Italy by lifestyle brand Lorenzi Milano. The chic, splurge-worthy capsule lets a giftee leave his brush on the counter—at least 12% handier than stowing it in a medicine chest. Add this biodegradable natural bamboo toothbrush from FETE and revel in giving a gift to the Earth, too. Toothbrush, $5.50, Toothbrush Protector, $180, takamichibeautyroom.com
They won’t mill your Himalayan sea salt, but these diminutive shakers might turn the table conversation from politics to art. Nikolai and Simon Haas, known for imaginative sculptures and furniture, teamed with L’Objet creative director Elad Yifrach to make the extravagant 24-karat-gold-plated Haas Niki + Simon Salt + Pepper Shakers that no one truly needs but everyone will want. Mr. Yifrach credits the "outer-worldly" desert terrain of California’s Joshua Tree National Park with inspiring the objects. "They’re the perfect pair to spice things up," he noted. Indeed. $275 for the pair, l-objet.com
Appropriate for our era of maximalist 10-step skin care routines, Liberty London’s Beauty Advent Calendar is stuffed with 25 products—most of them full-size—including such goodies as a probiotic deodorant and a Nars blush/bronzer duo. If that sounds over-the-top, Emily Bell, beauty buyer for the iconic store, said she’s found that some customers regift the items to which they’re less partial to friends and family. What’s better than a gift that keeps on giving? $275, libertylondon.com
Mom always gives you a sweater. This year, hint broadly that she choose a cool one. Made in collaboration with Bergdorf Goodman’s B. Shop, this Country of Origin, Ltd. sweater puts a subtler spin on patchwork with its varying stitch styles. "It’s wearable but with a bit of interest, a bit of intrigue," said Bruce Pask, men’s fashion director for Bergdorf Goodman. $350, bergdorfgoodman.com
Consider this a wake-up call: Sometimes the best gifts simply make someone’s life easier. This retro-inspired timepiece—with a matte black finish and bold, simple-to-read numbers—lets your favorite workaholic step away from the blaring alarm and blinding light of her smartphone when she attempts (and fails) to be off the clock this holiday. A silent-sweep movement—no ticking—and a subdued digital beep help maximize the peace and quiet. Wideboy Alarm Clock, $49, store.moma.org
The beans-by-mail subscription from Driftaway Coffee takes a remarkably pragmatic approach to pleasing a giftee. The first item to arrive: a kit of four coffees to sample and rate so experts at Driftaway can learn a recipient’s preferences. "Coffee is subjective, so our tasting kit covers profiles ranging in roasts and origins," said co-founder Anu Menon. A three-month subscription includes an 8-ounce tasting kit and two deliveries of 7-ounce packages that the coffee snob on your list will actually enjoy. From $44, driftaway.coffee
Your favorite Japanese-food junkie can elevate the mundane takeout experience with designer Nam Yoon’s porcelain sushi sets. Each suave soy-sauce holder has a top—featuring zoomed-in images of salmon, shrimp, etc.—that doubles as a perch for the recipient’s chopsticks between bites of spicy-tuna rolls. Sushi Sauce Bowls & Chopstick Rests, $14 each, $52 for four, store.moma.org
Whether your giftee loves to be handy around the house or can barely hang a picture, this Swiss-designed tool kit by furniture maker WohnGeist will help her channel a conspicuously skilled craftsman. Its 24 pieces, primarily made from pearwood and steel, were assembled as a one-of-a-kind collection of brands found throughout the world. The stars: a handsome hammer and chisel out of Japan. The tools magnetically cling to a handmade oak case that she can cart around by its leather-wrapped handle while looking for ways to be useful. WohnGeist 24-Piece Tool Kit, $2,850, bestmadeco.com
"It was important that the pieces we design live in the closet for more than just one season," explained Thakoon Panichgul, the Thai-American designer whose eponymous label returned this fall after a two-year hiatus. Revived as an accessibly priced direct-to-consumer business, Thakoon’s collection includes utilitarian yet interesting essentials like this chunky lamb's wool turtleneck with a ribbed chevron stitch. "It’s a throw-on, pretty much a [safety] blanket for any outfit," explained Mr. Panichgul. $225, thakoon.com
More potent than vanilla extract and far less pricey than pods, Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste will set any baker up for the coming year. It includes extract plus beans, which give frostings and ice creams those beautiful flecks, and the flavor is intense minus the alcohol notes some extracts impart. It’s a responsible choice, too: Nielsen-Massey works with organic farms that pay fair wages. $30, nielsenmassey.com
This satisfyingly silly bathroom accessory—an 18-inch-tall "cupboard"—is modeled on an 1815 bureau in the parlor of London’s Ham Yard Hotel (conceived by British designer Kit Kemp). The cardboard version’s shelves, drop-down desk and drawers are stocked with $462-worth of gifts from Ms. Kemp’s collection, including unisex soaps, lotions, a gold-edged notebook, stripy pencils, a patchwork puppy and more. None of the 16 items, nor the delightful little cabinet, could be called essential. But your giftee can throw open the doors, inhale deeply, and pretend he or she’s woken in a luxury suite in the English capital. Mini Bureau by Kit Kemp, $300, firmdalehotels.com
Like a wee wearable duvet, this plush muffler will guarantee that no blustery blasts infiltrate your giftee’s bundle-up efforts. The smart scarf comes in solid colors and is stuffed with fluffy goose down. Because winter can be wet, not merely chilly, the nylon shell is also water-resistant. We recommend you present it to the world traveler in your life: It doubles as a masterful travel pillow in a pinch. $148, bestmadeco.com
Traditionally, a fruity, boozy, luxuriously spiced Christmas cake packed all the indulging one resisted the rest of the year into a single lavish treat. Now, British chef Jess Shadbolt, co-owner of Manhattan’s King, is sharing a spin on her mother’s recipe—and all the joy it brings—with the world. She simmers dried figs, currants, raisins and walnuts in whiskey and butter, then folds that into a batter fragrant with warm spices. An extra touch of excess: The baked 8-inch cake comes wrapped in a tea towel designed by Rosie Assoulin, a regular at King. $90 plus shipping, cakes@kingrestaurant.ny
When Sir Edmund Hillary scaled Mount Everest in 1953, his honking leather boots were built upon thick rubber outsoles that would look insane on city streets. Today’s boots, like this pair from Italian shoemaker Tod’s, needn’t sacrifice aesthetics for outdoorsy function. They’re slush-appropriate, yet also trendy-wine-bar-appropriate. $795, tods.com
Freewheeling songs by the Grateful Dead provided the soundtrack for the early days of 15-year-old accessories brand Smathers & Branson, according to founders Peter Smathers Carter and Austin Branson. Accordingly, the creative duo offers this not-merely-useful needlepoint belt stitched with dancing bears, a classic Deadhead motif. Should you lack a Jerry Garcia aficionado in your life, Smathers & Branson also makes belts, valet trays and wallets depicting everything from skiers to tuxedo’d penguins. $175, smathersandbranson.com
Counterintuitively, the Chinoiserie crab illustration on this set of matches renders them extra-sensible. Think about it: While a standard cardboard matchbox gets buried in a junk drawer, this imported letterpress-printed one is more likely to be left out on a mantle or credenza, where it can sit pretty, conveniently at hand. Ideal for your menorah-lighting or candle-crazy friend, the approximately 125 matches, each nearly 4 inches long, will last many more than eight nights and prevent burned fingertips. Crab Matchbox by Archivist, $10, homie.nyc
For some, living on the edge means adding a pinch of color to an all-white tennis ensemble. Without getting too dangerously close to some country clubs’ cap of 10%-nonwhite-clothing-allowed, these pom-pom socks inject sporty resort looks with a bit of welcome whimsy. Bonuses: reinforced heels and toes, compression arches and the boost of confidence that only that new-sock feeling can bring. $15 for a pair, torysport.com
These flower containers are considerably more stylish than the repurposed Mason jars that litter Instagram. They’re also humanoid in a charmingly pointless way. Each of the five porcelain "women" has a name, homeland and removable head featuring unique facial features and a hairdo. You might choose, say, Pepa from America or Izumi from Asia (shown). Their creator, Milan-based artist Elena Cutolo, said she initially imagined a meeting between friends from different continents. Try not to feel too bad beheading the gang to make room for peonies. Canopie Vases by Seletti, $155 each, beambk.com
For your favorite jet-setter, this portable, A.I.-powered translator is sure to break down barriers—language or otherwise—in the New Year. The Pocketalk’s easy-to-use interface, dual noise-canceling microphones and two-way interpretation in 74 languages ensures your generosity won’t get lost in translation. And because there’s nothing worse than a gift that comes with strings attached, like a monthly subscription fee, the upgraded model includes two years of unlimited data. Pocketalk Voice Translator in Gold, from $249, pocketalk.net
Thanks to a glut of deals, practical sightseers can save an iceberg-size bundle on summer 2020 Alaska cruises. One tempting offer is a 12-night Princess "cruisetour," which includes a week-long sea voyage ogling glaciers and whales and four nights in wilderness lodges in search of grizzly bears and golden eagles. Your significant other won’t scold you for going overboard on a gift. $3,429 per person for a suite with a balcony, plus $460 per couple of spendable credit, avoyatravel.com
Tired of your daughter obnoxiously checking the time on her glowing iPhone at family gatherings? Offer her the gift of discretion with this dainty, durable wristwatch. Ralph Lauren’s new mini-stirrup watch, which comes in gold, stainless steel and diamond-encrusted bezels, marks a welcome return to delicate proportions in women’s watches. Its old-fashioned tininess means it nestles comfortably under a cable-knit sweater for daytime and pairs equally well with a tuxedo jacket for evening. Gold Watch, $7,950, Diamond Watch, $5,450, ralphlauren.com
Who would have thought disposable dinnerware could be so charmingly nonfunctional? Reflecting the Pop Art ethos of elevating everyday objects to high art, Roy Lichtenstein’s "Paper Plate" is literally just that, but screen-printed in his signature style. The limited-edition piece was commissioned in 1969 by fashion photographer Bert Stern for his Manhattan boutique, On First. This print, archivally framed, is available at Joanne Hendricks, Cookbooks, another New York store full of wonderful objects. $1,000, joannehendrickscookbooks.com
The Family Dinner Collection from kitchen and table outfitter Our Place isn’t made for splashy entertaining. The down-to-earth pieces are designed to facilitate everyday pleasures. "For us, this is about empowering people to cook at home," said Our Place co-founder Shiza Shahid. "The dinner table is where culture is most authentically represented and connections are formed." The "Dinner for 4" set includes handsome plates, bowls, glasses and the Always Pan, a ceramic nonstick skillet with a nesting spatula and steamer basket. It all adds up to an ideal gift for a young adult setting up a home or anyone looking to pare down to the essential. $250, fromourplace.com
Yes, the Christmas tree will stay erect in a green metal contraption that attempts cheeriness via red stabilizing screws. But Yuletide aesthetes will truly rejoice at this far prettier stand which—save for its aluminum construction—is botanically correct. Powder-coated in matte black, silver or white, these superfluously chic stumps hold up to 1.5 liters of water, can accommodate trees 5 to 7 feet tall and rival the appeal of the presents surrounding them. "The Root" Christmas Tree Stand, $249, gardenglory.com
Robert Ettinger recently noticed that his diabetic friend was lugging around a "pretty horrible-looking" plastic pill case. So Mr. Ettinger, CEO of the 85-year-old British leather goods company that bears his last name, decided to make a more discreet, yet just as handy, organizer. Ettinger’s leather-bound case has compartments for one’s pills and daily vitamins. The days of the week are helpfully written out in large block lettering to, as Mr. Ettinger said, "help older relatives avoid mistakes." $205, ettinger.co.uk
For the tame homebodies on your list who wish to masquerade as out-all-night hedonists, French label Celine offers a sordid solution: its new Nightclubbing cologne, touted as capturing the aroma of "crimson velvet seats" and "nicotine." In layman’s terms, it’ll make the wearer smell like he or she just danced till dawn in a dimly lit, smoke-filled Parisian hot spot without ever leaving the comforts of home. $320 for 200 mL, Celine, 212-535-3703
French fragrance house Diptyque’s candle topper, a carousel adorned with five golden tassels, softly turns, propelled by heat released by the flame. The tassels glow in the light and call to mind the merry-go-round in Paris’s Jardin du Luxembourg. The perfumery swears the charms both divert destiny and promote luck. But, as luck would have it, the carousel is sold without a candle so package it with a suitably wintry scent—perhaps, the limited-edition ‘protective pine’ with notes of cedar and sage. Diptyque Carousel, $60, diptyqueparis.com
"There is a synergy between the animal lover and the jewelry lover," suggested Larkspur & Hawk founder Emily Satloff. For those on your list who are both, the company’s bespoke animal rings are ideal. You’ll need to do some detective work: The process (allow about six weeks) begins with a questionnaire about the pet—alive, departed or even imagined—and culminates in a ring cast in gold, based on a hand-drawn sketch (included). Ms. Satloff, who kicked off the project by casting her own beloved cats, said that, for the wearer, the bauble is "poignant and talismanic." Starting at $6,000, larkspurandhawk.com Corrections & Amplifications An earlier version of this article quoted Emily Satloff as describing the ring using the word "telesomatic." She used the word "talismanic."
Like many who jet around for work, Danielle Corona knows how to keep comfy on trips from her base in Bogotá: Pack a super-soft blanket and eye mask into a sleek bag. When others clamored for the kit, Ms. Corona, the founder/creative director of bag brand Hunting Season, turned to her pals at luxury bedding firm Kassatex to collaborate on a chill-dispelling alpaca throw and silk-lined eye mask. Both slip into a buttery leather pouch, which Ms. Corona repurposes as a clutch for dinner and salsa dancing in Cartagena, where her family holidays. $600, kassatex.com
Peripatetic travelers will clap well-groomed hands with glee when unwrapping the Aviteur carry-on, with its neat, podlike shape of bespoke leather, "silent" wheels and suede-like interior. Designed lavishly by founder/creative director Patricia Gucci, the luggage conforms to international cabin regulations, so whether you’re bound for the Maldives or Malibu, you’re good. $4,950, aviteur.com
What’s black, composed of elements from the earth and makes a pragmatic present? If you answered coal, a hearty "bah humbug" to you. We’re referring to this sooty-hued stainless steel flatware, a good bet for anyone on your list who eats. Each piece in the chic, sleek service for four—which includes knives, dinner and dessert forks and dinner and breakfast spoons—has been hand-finished in Portugal and promises to get other flatter-looking flatware banished to the back of a drawer. Satin Black Flatware Set, $280 for a box of 20 pieces, rigbyhome.com
Think selfies are silly? Cookies painted with your giftee’s face take self-regard to a new, deliciously ludicrous level. Funny Face Bakery will turn any portrait into a cookie that’s a dead ringer for your brother-in-law, his pet Doberman or even his favorite star. Each admittedly pricey cookie is hand-painted to order with uncanny accuracy by owner Sarah Silverman and her team of artists, who can capture everything from Drake’s signature crying face to Princess Leia’s symmetrical ’do. They’d make lovely keepsakes if they weren’t so satisfying to munch on. Custom Portrait Cookies, 5 cookies for $100, funnyfacebakery.com
Gifting a blanket as the weather grows cold isn’t a startling idea, but a quality throw—like this five-foot-long beauty made from super-soft Merino wool—is sure to be appreciated nightly. Weavers in a women-run cooperative in Uruguay hand craft the blankets and stitch on the idiosyncratically squiggly shapes, so you’ll feel as good buying one as your giftee will feel snuggling under it. Lizzy Bee Throw, $395, houseofmorrison.com
Don’t force your favorite audiophile to stay cooped indoors while spinning some Motown. Heritage brand Hermès adds rhythm to its elite elegance with a giftable vertical turntable that’s built to go anywhere the music takes its recipient. A riff on ’80s boom boxes, this inimitable and innovative object is made with calfskin and canvas, blaring its tunes from a built-in audio system. Warning: Your giftee may not want to take it outside until spring. $33,600, Hermès, 212-835-6576
For the person on your list who could use extra help keeping things together at the office, consider Zenith’s whimsical-but-practical stapler. Far from the clunky black Swinglines that clutter desks, this colorful, Italian-designed device conceived by inventor Giorgio Balma can sit proudly beside a giftee’s computer—making her pens and Post-its feel less lackluster merely through association. And thanks to the stapler’s patented anti-jamming mechanism, the simple act of stapling pages is almost a joy. Zenith 590 Mix Stapler, $35, store.moma.org
It’s the ultimate sneakerhead trip: Get whisked off to Japan for a four-night stay at the luxury Aman Tokyo, a day with streetwear mogul Jeff Staple (pictured) exploring cool Ginza and Shibuya shops and dining with him at his favorite restaurant, Narisawa. Also nifty: Throughout 2020, a minimum of eight Staple collaborations will alight at your giftee’s door with a signed letter of authenticity from Mr. Staple. Though this package comes at an immodest price, $7,500 of the cost is donated to the Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, benefiting nonprofit organizations. $110,000, neimanmarcus.com
With this version of the towering game, help a grown-up feel like a kid again—albeit a precocious one with extravagant taste. Designed by Aerin Lauder, its 54 beech-wood blocks come stored in a chocolate- or cream-colored shagreen box lined in plush suede and adorned with brass hardware. When your giftee isn’t seeing how he stacks up against his competitive companions, this set doubles as décor, either tucked in its opulent case or artfully displayed to encourage another contest. Aerin Shagreen Jenga Set, $1,100, aerin.com
Encourage the digital addict in your life to put down his phone with this rattan newspaper holder that’s modeled after the original 1867 Viennese Wiener Zeitungshalter and still bent by hand. Fit for a 24-inch-wide newspaper (like the Wall Street Journal, perhaps?) the elegantly designed frame harks back to the days when print awkwardly reigned supreme. Described as an "antidote to the digital age," it celebrates the lost art of holding flimsy paper aloft. Newspaper Holder, $88, bestmadeco.com
There is nothing remotely down-to-earth about Heaven In A Box from Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery in New York City. The over-the-top assortment includes the signature Mah-Ze-Dahr bar, which combines a brown sugar and oat base with chocolate chips, toasted pecans, oat streusel and toffee-like salted caramel. Brownies lavished with Valrhona chocolate are, rather miraculously, both fudgey and cakey. The collection of cookies includes vanilla-bean shortbread, gingersnaps and classic chocolate chip. And the box contains peanut brittle, too, for good measure. $65, mahzedahrbakery.com
If you’re staying at a friend or relative’s house this season, how about a gift that will come in handy for your hosts? Snake River Farms has assembled a highly satisfying one: the Breakfast Box. This carnivore’s delight has something for everyone—as long as they like pork. It includes 2 pounds of gently spiced sausage, 3 pounds of melt-in-your-mouth thick-cut bacon, and a nutty, lightly smoked, boneless 3-pound ham. They’re all made from American-raised Kurobuta (aka Berkshire) pork, the heritage breed prized for its tenderness and superior flavor. Add some coffee, eggs and biscuits, and that’s a Christmas-morning breakfast that might well see you through ‘til suppertime. $120, snakeriverfarms.com Corrections & Amplifications: The Breakfast Box from Snake River Farms costs $120. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the price as $143. (November 22, 2019)
Any serious host needs napkins, but not more boring napkins. This set, representing a range of reds that darken from a brilliant scarlet to a brooding crimson, adds subtle variation to a tablescape without abandoning utility. The cotton textile, made in Eastern India on bamboo looms, is super-absorbent and machine washable. Now if only every dinner conversation could be as easy and interesting. Handwoven Gradient Cotton Napkins, $45 for 4, food52.com
Japanese designer Issey Miyake is known for his pleated polyester garments, whose creases are made permanent when they’re subjected to heat and pressure. Fashionable frequent fliers cherish the functionality of these classic pieces; they outwit wrinkles and are easy to wash. A prima donna en route to a New Year’s bash abroad would welcome any package under the tree that held this packable party dress. Pleats Please Dress, $525, Issey Miyake, 212-226-0100
Things you could put inside this tiny Louis Vuitton leather wristpack: a lip balm, a wad of cash, a set of car keys, provided they are of the newfangled fob variety. The caveat? You may not be able to fit all of these items at once, so you’d have to choose between moisturized lips, currency and transportation. This deeply impractical yet incredibly adorable mini-sac—modeled after the brand’s "Palm Springs" full-size backpack—is a gift for the person who finds humor in luxury for luxury’s sake. $730, Louis Vuitton, 212-758-8877
For decades, the almost pathologically functional Thermomix kitchen appliance has won devotion abroad. Now the German brand’s new TM6 model is poised to win counterspace stateside—and the lasting gratitude of the cook on your list. This überblender can make smoothies and pulverize grains, but it’s the heating element that really makes it cook (and steam and sous-vide). And the machine’s touch screen links to Thermomix’s Cookidoo database, with more than 50,000 autopilot-guided recipes. $1,499, thermomix.com
Giving a guy a patterned silk button-up shirt implicitly says: Go ahead, take a vacation! "In my opinion, silk is often best enjoyed in a place where there is a warm, light breeze in the air," explained Charaf Tajer, the designer of Casablanca, a Paris, France-based brand that makes sumptuous men’s silk shirts in graphic motifs. It’s not a shirt for work. It’s a shirt to wear while indolently lounging on a chaise during a much-needed escape to St. Tropez or should you take the label literally, Morocco. $663, casablancaparis.com
The ultra-fuzzy Teddy Bear coat by MaxMara, first introduced on the Italian brand’s 2013 runway, has been paraded by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Julia Roberts. And now, a delectable miniature version can be seen on a teddy-bear ornament, which works equally well on your Christmas tree or attached to your handbag. Like Kim, this fashionista teddy is a real attention-hog. $285, maxmara.com
No skier technically needs skis that sport edgy imagery by Jean-Michel Basquiat, but hear us out. Bomber Ski, whose slick sticks are handcrafted in a boutique factory outside Cossato, Italy, offers four attention-getting pairs based on the legendary graffiti artist’s 1980s works. Mikaela Shiffrin wannabes might fancy, for instance, this set based on Basquiat’s "Third Eye" for a weekend jaunt to Vail. $2,500, bomberski.com Corrections & Amplifications: An earlier version of this article misspelled the ski resort Vail as Vale.(November 22, 2019)
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