F L A U N T
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for those with impeccable taste.
Unfortunately, for the vast majority of the consumptive public, the encroaching week and a half may be shrouded in a cloud of bad feeling… the act of giftgiving should be a joy… even for those who aren’t fluent in Gary Chapman’s arbitrary archetypes, the art of giftgiving is widely equivocated to an endeavor of LOVE. So, sorry babe, if you’re struggling to find the correct manifestation of love by way of trinket or toy or kitchen utensil—if you’re feeling the slight pressure that you may not be able to find a gift that will unequivocally and unquestionably brighten the lives of the people you love—YOU need to turn inwards and realize that you probably don’t love them that much.
At least that’s how it feels for those whose taste in presents is…admittedly… a bit impeachable.
The FLAUNT team has had brushes with this type. Perhaps there are even some of us in this very editorial office who may struggle with the enormous pressure placed upon us when exercising season-based generosity. Perhaps some of us love our families and friends so deeply that we feel overwhelmed by choice and terrified of failure. Perhaps some of us truly don’t care about gift-giving. Who knows? This is neither here nor there. On this occasion, the FLAUNT team reaches out from the mild climes of our office on Sunset and Hollywood to our gift-insecure readers across the nation and all nations beyond to say: WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU!
We certainly can’t allow our readers to flail in the face of the greatest season of the year. We can’t manufacture love, and we certainly can’t manufacture taste, but we CAN help spread holiday cheer. And, for you, our dear readers, we will do anything to lighten the load. So, see below, our holiday gift guide, in which you will find a number of character sketches one encounters on a daily basis, and our compilation of the small offerings you can provide them that may make their lives a little bit better.
We won’t venture as far as to say everyone has a relationship like this—but, if you’re reading this in a metropolitan area like Los Angeles in which SIXTY FOUR PERCENT of the populace rents their place of living and rent price increased a staggering FOURTEEN PERCENT in the fiscal year from 2023-2024—there’s an overwhelming chance you have a roommate. And, if you’re working tirelessly in the Creative Industry, we’re going to venture the guess that mostly everyone has a roommate, close friend, or lover employed as a freelancer. The question is—what can you gift the roommate who freelances? They likely work odd hours; they quite frequently cook elaborate meals at home while everyone is caught in a dreadful amount of early evening traffic; their lives can be traced through the bricolage of goodies strewn about the space taken from different gigs. Oh, you like that snacking on that Costco box of individually wrapped Fritos? They got it from a job. Oh, you want to hang out on Saturday? You can come on set with them as a PA from 4am-9:30pm. You love your freelancer. Maybe you are the freelancer. What can you do to show a hardworking, modern laborer some love?
Traditional Round Chef’s Oven is an investment piece. The aforementioned elaborate dinners, the recipes for which are gleaned from short-form internet content, cooked in the odd hours of the afternoon, and prepared for the whole house to share (hopefully your freelancer roommate does this, if not, maybe you should reconsider your living situation), should be made with the faith that the food is imbued with love. When one is using Le Creuset —a legacy French cookware brand known for its beautiful, vibrant enamel and decades-long functionality—there’s no question of love. For the person in your life whose schedule is irregular, there’s no better gift than that of longevity. This particular piece is conducive to a good soup or curry, or casserole—we personally love Le Creuset’s Pork Shank Pozole. Eat up!
Tank Air is ubiquitous across what we like to call the “hot girl internet.” And yes, the elevated basics are unequivocally worn by practically every gorgeous individual with esoteric taste and a penchant for ecommerce— see: Bella Hadid, babyxsosa, patiasfantasyworld, Tyla, Myha’la, Kim Kardashian, the like—but the LA-founded brand is, on a serious level, actually worth investing in. Inspired by founder Claire R-M’s Thai heritage, all of the pieces are exquisitely made and long lasting (sensing a theme here?), and seem to have been endowed with the power to transmogrify the body into the shapely image of the Divine Feminine…the editorial office jests that the Spill Halter is the “boyfriend catcher,” (but it’s also just cute and practical!); the clingy Circle Top is great layering material for when the Los Angeles temperature drops below 75—but the star of the show here is the Moth Toe Sock. At the risk of sounding exactly like legendary fashion writer Liana Satenstein, toe cleavage is sooooo in. In the case that your freelancer roommate isn’t seeking the Divine Feminine, let Tank Air hug their little toesies while they gallivant around the city in flip flops!
For the roommate who technically works for themselves, is still figuring it out, and could use a little more structure, consider a gift that brings a little order to the chaos. In the blur of “circling back tomorrow,” trips to Canyon Coffee, and chasing unpaid invoices, perhaps they could use an anchor of sorts. Enter LE LABO’s CEDRE 11 Home Scent, a grounding fragrance that gives shape to time and place, even when employment is a bit … conceptual. Or maybe FLEUR D’ORANGER 27 for those post-yoga scratches in Echo Park, or the classic JASMIN 17, to keep their endless hunger evergreen while they're creating moodboards. The freelance life is not for all of us, and only the truly passionate can endure the quiet existential panic that sets in when rent is due. After all, LE LABO believes fragrance comes from the intention with which it is created–and maybe this one gently reminds them to clock in and begin again, even if it begins at 3pm on a Wednesday.
We at FLAUNT do not equivocate beauty with virtue. That being said, we do absolutely condone the use of Virtue Labs hair products as a means to get fabulous tresses. The axiom of this brand is recovery: like the body and the mind, the hair must too properly recuperate from the dangerous, damaging outside realm. The Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner combo does wonders to thicken and reinforce the hair (and by wonders, we do actually mean science-based chemical reactions that protect your precious locks from UV rays and deposit keratin into the hair cuticle). The Damage Reverse Serum is of particular note, too, especially for an individual who finds themselves working outside at odd hours. Your roommate will thank you after coming home from a job at 1am with their hair still perfectly smooth.
Augustinus Bader is the real deal. Founder Augustinus Bader is revered biomedical scientist and physician, and his skincare creations have been winning awards for over 30 years. Currently the director of Cell Techniques and Applied Stem Cell Biology at The University of Leipzig, Mr. Bader’s skincare line is built on decades of research and a mission to understand the revitalization of skin cells. He trademarked TFC8 (Trigger Factor Complex), a concoction of peptides, lipids, and vitamins to rejuvenate and hydrate the skin by supporting the skin cells' natural communication processes and life cycles. We love the Hydrogel Face Masks, which are packed in the aforementioned TFC8, and can be applied to hydrate, nourish, and replenish the skin. It’s perfect for event prep and especially useful to help balance out the dryness and redness that comes with the winter chill. Put it in the fridge beforehand for extra cooling effect.
Filial piety can be applied in the loosest of terms in this day and age. A mother delivers their offspring nourishment and unconditional love, her graciousness and discipline transcending temporal and geographical boundary. The mother is the giver. The mother is the boss. Your motherrrr figure could, perhaps, be your actual genetic mother, but for countless people across the globe, the motherrrr is not matronly—she’s just aspirationally glamorous. How can one ever expect to give the appropriate gift to someone like them? Forget a woman who has everything…what in the world do you give the person who is everything? We don’t care if this is corny…there are mothers everywhere for the eyes to see. And there are mothers everywhere for the eyes to see.
Soo, there’s this sumptuous Alice and Olivia sweater coat that can double as a dress that’s begging to be draped on a body. In the office, we’ve been loving the white colorway—the faux fur (which, by the way, is detachable!) feels so ridiculously soft that people have come up to pet some of the editors while they’re out at various holiday functions. Alice and Olivia is a great brand to gift anyone in your life who you admire: there’s a timelessness to the silhouettes that gives anyone who dons the brand an air of authority. If one happens to be wearing Wharton graduate Stacy Bendet’s designs, they’re guaranteed to assert themselves as the most sophisticated in the room. Whether one is wearing the chic holiday classic or experimenting with their recent Grateful Dead limited edition capsule collaboration (another fantastic choice for any tasteful music fanatic in your life), Alice and Olivia delivers, every time.
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A mother figure isn't just defined by biology alone, but by the care, wisdom, and insistence they can bring to your life. They don’t just deserve a gift, but something that also carries weight, history, and meaning. Something that doesn't just sit on a shelf, but sparks memory, conversation, and reflection. Diptyque, the Parisian atelier that has been shaping fragrance and design since 1961, has a way of doing exactly that. Every object they create is imbued with an understated elegance–a careful attention to detail that suggests someone thought long and deeply about what it means to bring beauty into everyday life. Their limited-edition lacquered wood collection is no exception. It’s a piece that invites touch, evokes curiosity, and lingers in the mind long after the moment has passed. And isn’t that what a Mother deserves?
On a chilly, prematurely dark holiday evening, the classiest thing imaginable is sitting by the fireplace, sipping sunshine in a glass. That being said—sometimes, the sunshine comes from within. That’s why alcohol-removed wine line FRE is the perfect gift: FRE focuses on enjoyment, not behavioral outcome. Long removed from the wine-replacement grape juice of yore, FRE Winemakers use spinning cone columns to remove the alcohol while preserving all of the notes, body, and aromas of traditional wine. Their fruit-forward FRE Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Brut is a perfect way to harken the New Year without overloading the palette with copious amounts of sweetness, and their FRE Alcohol-Removed Cabernet Sauvignon pairs with a holiday meat as well (if not better) than the alcohol-implemented counterparts. Sipping FRE is a power move—anyone qualified as a motherrrr
Forget the flowers that wilt! This is a gift for the Mother who nurtures everyone else and somehow still shows up radiant as ever. For mothers who runs on intuition, power, and maybe a bit of liquid magic there is WishGarden Herbs. Mother doesn’t want clutter. This Mother wants function. Mother wants results. Mother wants something that feels intelligent and intrinsic. WishGarden Herbs is America’s #1 selling liquid herbal blends supplement brand women-owned and family-run since 1979. Now B Corp certified, the brand has been quietly perfecting harnessing the power of plants for nearly 50 years as they are ethically wild-harvesting herbs that truly make a difference.
The person who has it all together needs a gift that is sophisticated, vetted, classic, and generational. If it’s new, it must be intentional, well researched, and immune to trend or fad. This person takes their belongings and their personal products as seriously as they take themselves–no–more seriously than they take anything. The fact is that no one actually has it all together; it’s just that some are better than others at keeping up the illusion. And, perhaps that illusion-keeping is just as impressive and as deserving of a thoughtful gift as doing it for real, anyway!
Imagine the person you know who goes to the bar and orders straight jetfuel, no tonic or soda or syrup or cocktail, “it’s healthier and better for the hangover,” they say. After ordering 4 or 5 of these, they make it home only to actually accomplish their nightly routine–be it skincare, teethbrushing, supplement taking, water drinking, haircare, the like. They undo their made bed, settle into a pillow, and fall peacefully asleep without so much as a brief scroll in sight. Worldly, cultured, and somehow seeing discipline as an integrated part of their day rather than a tasked pursuit, you cannot just gift these people what everyone else might love. Alas, see below, a unique and truly meaningful curation.
Kraum Brush Set is perhaps the best set of detailed eye makeup brushes you can get your hands on. Founded by Glossier’s former executive editor Annie Kreighbaum, this brush set includes a micro angle brush, a micro saber brush, a micro swab brush, a micro square brush, a micro taper brush, brush soap, and a dedicated user guide. Handmade in Kumano, Japan–the brush capital of the world–the meticulous design of each tool in this micro brush collection considers bristle shape, density, and length to help its user perfect the glam step that people tend to struggle with the most. In caring for the Kraum Brush Set as directed by the user’s manual, these should last for at least 10 years. In addition to their excellent functionality, they look beautiful too; we love the coloring and the straightforward design, and feel it adds a beautiful touch to anyone's vanity. Beyond the fact that those who wear makeup love nothing more than a good applicator, this gift truly allows for the enhancement of a fabulous look, and is reserved not only for professionals, but rather democratizes the confidence that one can execute the vision they have for their eye makeup, granting them the skill to do it, too.
Monastery is a natural, independent skincare company founded by career esthetician Athena Hewett. Hewett and her team source, create, and test all of their products out of their lab based in San Francisco, where they also offer spa treatment services (of which the likes of Sofia Coppola, Kirsten Dunst, and Chloë Sevigny are patrons). In the whirl of a skincare and wellness-obsessed market, Monastery truly cuts through the noise and brings the skin real, natural, thoroughly-vetted ingredients to result in whatever it is you need: hydration, acne care, brightening, etc. As stated on their site, "There’s a lot that goes into Monastery and a lot that never will." We love Attar & Flora for this dry winter season: Attar, a nutrient-dense moisturizing balm that includes ingredients like rose, jasmine wax, and hazelnut, is versatile enough to be applied as a full-face moisturizer, can be applied to the undereyes and lips, and leaves a beautiful, healthy glow. It also smells incredible. Flora is a hydrating, brightening, creamy serum with hyaluronic acids that can be used night and day. It also looks chic as hell on your bathroom counter or nightstand, in fact, all of Monastery’s packaging offers a beautiful silver touch, and is embossed with an image of Greek goddess Athena. Lastly, the Discovery Kit has a small piece of everything that Monastery has to offer, and it also comes with a guide on how to use each product and give yourself the signature Monastery facial. The cherry on top of this kind of gift is the aforementioned product design, especially the 008 Lab Edition Universal Balm, which can almost be featured as an accessory, and is perfect for the hands, body, and face.
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Cashmere is cashmere baby. It is nearly impossible to go wrong here. These Guest In Residence pieces are a cherished holiday offering that will grant their wearer years of warmth and comfort. What tops that? We’ve been wearing cashmere for centuries, and Gigi Hadid’s creative direction here checks both classic and style-forward silhouettes. It’s no secret, people feel that the quality of clothing has been on a decline, which is why when you get your hands on a truly, carefully crafted piece of clothing, even something as simple as a sweater, it feels like finding gold. Alas, consider the jackpot Guest In Residence, where every item is made of 100% cashmere. We love the Tipped Cozy Turtleneck, perfect for a ski trip or everyday wear, elevated enough for a cozy dinner or for the office. The Stealth Cardigan is soft, comfortable, and still sexy enough for date night. Consider the Soft Socks for movie night in, or the Grizzly Reversible Hat for any occasion, really.
Award-winning Perro Verde Mezcal will warm you up from the inside out. This spirit is co-founded by Mariana and Juan Santiago Rodriguez and produced by Porfirio Chagoya, whose mezcal manufacturing has been a family practice for over 100 years. Backed by Benicio Del Toro, Perro Verde’s sustainable harvesting liquifies into a smooth, tasty mezcal; their Espadin offering is a great gift for someone who loves mezcal or is only getting started. Tasting notes here include the likes of apples, nuts, and mint. If you really want to go the extra mile, top off this gift with their gorgeous green copitas.
Julien Sprecher created French Haute Perfumery Parfums De Marly with dreams of royalty in mind, recreating the luxury and allure of 18th-century aristocratic residence Château de Marly. Founded in 2009, the maison seems to have made itself a classic in the luxury perfume space, having been worn to modern-day royal spaces such as the Met Gala. Their famous Valaya is soft and long-lasting, with notes of white peach and bergamot, undertoned with woody memories of ambrofix and musk. Elegant and feminine, this is an if you know you know perfume for the worldly and notable women in your life.
It’s been literal months, hasn’t it? Let’s be serious. For the majority of this year, you’ve stood fully glammed at the bottom of your apartment stairs waiting for a text back. You’ve sent screens to every group chat, consulted with TikTok tarot, moon phases, attachment-style IG therapists, and even Chat GPT when your friends stopped replying, literally everything except having the dreaded talk. And through it all, you’ve been so chill. Painfully chill. Chill in the way that deserves a congressional medal. And we are so proud of you. Truly. But time is ticking. The deadline you gave yourself–the “after their birthday,” the “once Mercury goes direct,” the “when work calms down”–has officially expired. The question now isn't if you need to have the conversation, but how to make them think it was their idea all along. How do you say what are we, shared lease, or how about forever, without sounding like a whiny plate of mashed potatoes? But don’t worry, this isn't about ultimatum (if you want to revisit some stragglers next year, we won't blame you). For this sticky situation(ship), it’s about the art of suggestion. It’s about sending vibes. It’s about strategic symbolism. So yes, it’s time to face the music. And the music, is “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” by our Issue 202 cover star, RAYE. But don’t panic. These signals are far more subtle than a big, shiny diamond ring. Consider them gentle nudges. Tastleful breadcrumbs. The kind of clues that say I’m ready without saying a word.
The best gift you can give or receive in 2025? Warmth. Security. A little bit of “please don’t ghost me” energy wrapped in a cozy hug of wool. Because let’s be real: the outside is frigid, dating prospects are icier, and honestly… who wouldn't want a little permanent thermostat of affection? Now enter the Trudel Cardigan from Parisian brand Octobre Éditions. Carefully crafted, thoughtfully cut, and soft enough to make you question all past romantic decisions, this is less a sweater and more a wearable love letter. Slip someone into it, and suddenly “staying close” doesn't feel like a favor. Maybe it's destiny? Perhaps even Forever? Maybe. But at the very least, its warm, its soft, and its way better than leaving them shivering alone in the cold. It’s a gift that says: I got you. I’m here. And also, maybe stick around a little longer.
Want your partner to notice you a little more… intentionally? How about Our Place’s tableware because people who eat together tend to stay together. Or at the very least, start leaving toothbrushes behind. Rooted in the belief that home cooking brings people closer, Our Place pieces are meant to be shared, passed across the table, and used nightly. We are particularly inspired by the Classic Stacking Set and the Tall Night & Day Glasses. Share a meal on these once or twice and suddenly nearly, “Your place or mine?” becomes ours. Hopefully.
If you can get someone to commit to a scent, maybe, just maybe, the rest will fall into place. Think about it: perfume is like a first date in a bottle. Start with Byredo’s Bois Obscur–clean, woody, unmistakably dependable. Crafted with rare raw materials and heightened concentrations, each fragrance unveils the self beyond expectation, instinctive, unguarded, and free, when night strips down to its purest essence. First introduced in 2015, Night Veils now expands its legacy across five extraits de parfum, welcoming the new Bois Obscur alongside the reimagined Rouge Chaotique, Casablanca Lily, Vanille Antique, and Cuir Sellier. And for yourself? Byredo’s Rose of No Man’s Land Eau De Parfum. It’s soft, yet insistent. A little rose, a little rebellion, and a reminder that you are always on your way and never too far away. Founded in Stockholm in 2006, Byredo was born from a desire to translate emotion into experience. They believe scent is memory—and memory is just attachment in disguise. Because once you haunt their senses, you’re already halfway there.
Thinking about taking the next step? We’re not talking rings… yet. We’re talking moving in together, building a home, and finally having more fridge space after kicking out your two roommates. Caraway is the cookware brand that turns every meal into an unspoken invitation. One day you're sharing meals, and before you know it, you're sharing a life. Sleek, non-toxic and thoughtfully designed, the Cookware Set makes cooking at home feel effortless and undeniably tempting.
Well, at the end of the day, you need to choose yourself before they choose you. And there's no better way to pit yourself first than with Cou Cou Intimates. Founded by Rose Colcord in 2021, Cou Cou Intimates bridges the gap between lingerie and everyday wear with 100% GOTS-certified cotton pieces that are as ethereal as they are stunning. Cute, functional, and fully compostable, these are the undies that remind you that comfort, style, and self-love don't have to be mutually exclusive. Picture this: you, in your room, wearing the most delicate, cosy, and beautiful undies and bralette, listening to your favorite record on the turntable you snagged from that influencer event. You realize you're kinda the shit. You look incredible. And even if they don’t commit because they “blah blah blah,” you've got Cou Cou to hold you at night, and maybe… just maybe, that’s enough.
Let’s start with the truth: You’ve been a bitch this year. You canceled plans last minute and called it “low battery.” You left texts on read for days, then replied with “omg just seeing this!!” You said you'd come to the birthday dinner and somehow ended up at home in your Brandy minishorts watching a comfort show you've already seen three times. You missed Thanksgiving because it was “too far,” ghosted when your ghoster reappeared, and definitely forgot at least one major life update because you were “offline” (but still somehow posting). You blamed work. You blamed the full moon. You blamed the group chat being “overwhelming/” And yet, miraculously, your friends stayed. They showed up with matcha lattes, listened to the same story again and again, and never once threw your flakiness snack in your face. Which brings us to the holidays. A season of generosity, yes–but also accountability. Because these gifts aren't just thoughtful. They’re reparations. They're a quiet apology wrapped in tissue paper. A way for saying I know I disappeared, but I see you, I appreciate you, and I will absolutely try harder next year. Consider this your atonement arc. No long texts. No emotional speeches. Just excellent taste and very good gifts.
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Nothing is as reliable as your favorite pair of jeans, which is more than you can say this year. For the friend who answered every 11:48pm vice memo, showed up with iced coffee after your situation-ship ended (again), and never once mentioned that you “forgot” their birthday dinner or mysteriously couldn't make it past La Brea for Thanksgiving, there is at least this. FRAME’s Amelia Gray collaboration is a true friend: flattering, supportive, and always there when it matters. The kind of piece they’re grabbing for errand days, bad dates, and last-minute plans you will actually attend next year. Wrap these up nicely and, with any luck, they'll associate you less with apologies and more with excellent taste. Like the friend it’s meant for, it earns its place–and sticks around.
Some people say the best gift is getting someone something they want, that they need, even, but might never actually buy for themselves. Enter the Knuckle Table Lamp by British lighting company Tala, which is cute and sophisticated and sized small enough to be placed practically anywhere in the home. This one is from Lightology, a lighting retailer that works closely with international, design-forward vendors from the likes of Japan, Italy, Germany, and more. This lamp in particular is customizable in cylinder, where you can select oak, walnut, or satin brass, as well as in bulb shape and size–a square, oval, square, and more. It also comes with a dimmer, so lighting can be adjusted to something low and moody or bright and focused. This lamp, simple yet striking, immediately elevates a space and makes even the most mundane parts of our home–the desk, the bedside table, the bookshelf–feel more intentionally decorated.
So you need a gift fabulous enough to distract from the terrible friend you've been this year and remind them that, deep down, you've always meant well. Enter the ultimate receipt button. French fragrance house Matière Première (literally meaning “raw materials”) does what you could not: show up clean, intentional, and unforgettable. Founded between Paris and Grasse, the brand builds each scent around a single natural ingredient, pushed to its highest, purest dosage–no filler, no excuses, no mixed signals. When they catch a whiff, they'll also remember you at your most heartfelt, sincere self… and conveniently forget the chaotic moments in between. We like to be as sweet as can be, so we recommend Vanilla Powder. One spritz, and suddenly you're not the friend who cancelled, disappeared, or forgot to Venmo. You're thoughtful. You're supportive, you're memorable in the best way. And if the scent helps them forget everything else? That’s just good perfumery.
Unfortunately, everyone has to work to make a living, even the sweetest and most earnest, open, caring people in your life. Why not lighten their load? We personally love the SEGA X HIGROUND: REDEFINING NOSTALGIA WITH AN UPGRADED COLLECTION, a Sonic- and Dreamcast-inspired drop that blends pure nostalgia with upgraded, ultra-reliable performance. For the friend who was there for you all year long, consider a keyboard that shows up every day just like they did—fast, steady, and built to last.
It is appropriate, when describing Dita Von Teese’s Sweet Gwendoline French Gin, to excerpt a passage from Luis Buñel:
“Connoisseurs who like their martinis very dry suggest simply allowing a ray of sunlight to shine through a bottle of Noilly Prat before it hits the bottle of gin. At a certain period in America it was said that the making of a dry martini should resemble the Immaculate Conception, for, as Saint Thomas Aquinas once noted, the generative power of the Holy Ghost pierced the Virgin’s hymen ‘like a ray of sunlight through a window—leaving it unbroken.’
We agree. A good dry martini should resemble the Immaculate Conception, and there’s nothing so apropos for such a martini as Sweet Gwendoline, which features a variety of fig grown in the South of France called Figue de Solliès alongside numerous botanicals. This gin is great to imbibe mixed with anything, but the true indicator of a great gin is that it’s perfect when it’s clean. The person in your life who has been too kind to you deserves to let loose a bit—don’t you think?
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