"Sunshine and Smiles: Summer Gift Guide for Every Occasion"
While December is decidedly key gifting season, I’m never surprised by the number of guests who come to us in the less obviously festive days of summer. I was putting out some new candles the other Friday morning when a woman burst through our cheerily blue door, luggage in tow. She was en route out East and had just realized she didn’t have a hostess gift. Frantic, she had just a few minutes before she had to leave for the Jitney and didn’t want to commit that cardinal sin: a guest arriving empty handed. We got her promptly sorted out, gift wrapped up, and off to catch the bus. Summer faux pas averted.
Whether it’s a warm weather wedding, a Leo birthday, a housewarming, or a perfect hostess gift, we’re here to make sure you never arrive empty handed. From thoughtful cards and tasteful candles to great games and custom gift wrapping, Feste is your summer gifting destination.
Picking the perfect hostess gift:
I always try to remind myself when I’m shopping that this is not about what I would want for my home (for the record, if anyone is asking, it’s good olive oils, beautiful linens, word games, great books, salts in gorgeous packaging, white Burgundy, simple ceramics, and flowers). Remember that the host or hostess gift is about the receiver.
Somethings I ask myself while I’m browsing or helping guests find the perfect present: What would be considerate for them to receive? Something for their kitchen or bar? For their home? Or for themselves? #treatyoself Are they very outdoorsy? Am I expecting to cook with them? Do they have young children? A pet? Have we traveled together and enjoyed a specific food or wine? Is there a restaurant or shop by their home that they’re always talking about trying but have never gone? What would they NOT buy themselves? What would be a nice treat? It should be a gesture that lives beyond the moment and always accompanied by a card. Homemade dessert, flowers, a thank you note, and nice wine absolutely is never poorly received.
Summer Birthday:
I’m not sure if summer birthday people are all traumatized as they never got to celebrate their birthday with the class (which is not all it’s cracked up to be, let me tell you), but our summer birthdays need extra love. From empathetic Cancers to over the top Leos to disciplined Virgos, there’s a little post-childhood requirement to make it COUNT. As for me, I hold my summer birthdays tight, give them a million extra candles, towering layer cakes, and remind them that I’m not at sleepaway camp, I’m actually here to celebrate.
I always lean into personalized gifts for birthdays. I’m currently absolutely mad for our Macon & Lesquoy pins and patches. I love to take our vintage sweatshirts or Dad Caps and layer them up with a million pins that tell a story of my love and friendship with this person. Mic drop? An irreverent card.
Stock up on cards and essentials:
Growing up, my father religiously maintained a card and gift closet for last minute emergencies. Work dinner party he hadn’t expected? Thinking of you card for a friend who was struggling? Guest arrived at party who ALSO had a May birthday? The closet had all the solutions. A few tasteful essentials, some gift cards, great stationery, and a robust collection of ribbon and wrap were his tools for timely thoughtfulness.
In my own home, I have a similar though absolutely less epic closet. I like to keep a collection of birthday and generic cards on hand at all times as well as generous collection of ribbon and wrapping paper. For gifts, I like to keep our inventory simple: My favorite Flamingo Estate soaps that I buy in bulk, my beloved books that I inscribe with my loopy scrawl of best wishes, a few cherished games for my rowdy friends. I love a personal, emotional, handwritten card and while I always beg Andrew to sign as well, if you’ve received a gift from us, know that I’ve taken 30 minutes to touch your very soul. The wet marks are where my own words have moved me. I’m an Aries rising, Cancer moon, sue me. As a final touch, I’m lucky enough to live next to a park so I’ll duck out to grab a little bloom or sprig of leaves to tuck under the ribbon as I’m racing out the door. My doormen are horrified.
Destination Wedding:
There’s been some concerning rhetoric on the interwebs that if you go to someone’s wedding in Italy that you are no longer required to send a gift. Listen, I know that in this economy, the spend on a friend’s 4 day extravaganza in Sardinia is essentially the equivalent of GDP of Italy, but we can still find ways to recognize the occasion. Gifts may not be necessary, but they’re the icing on the proverbial (wedding) cake. A beautiful note, a nod to the destination (great wine, a little olive oil, a book of great Italian design?), a little gift certificate for the best restaurant in the small town they’re honeymooning in—sold.
A final note on gift wrap:
If you do decide to spring for the gift this summer, there is no need to schlepp presents in your checked bags through Charles de Gaulle. Not to worry—we ship wrapped presents with handwritten notes. Just add gift wrap to cart as you check out. While we’ll happily wrap it with grosgrain and our standard paper, I am loving the artisanal wrapping papers and hand-dyed ribbons as an add-on for all gifts. Gift beautifully; it’s a love language after all.
