In the spirit of Edward Said’s keeping an extra apartment on the Upper West Side to stash a mistress and his pianos, I implore you this holiday season to elevate and refine your taste, for posterity’s sake. Gifts should be memorable and slightly absurd.
At the very least, unreasonably priced versions of everyday essentials are a solid option. My wish list is full of them: an unholy-level, tacky Paris-themed Le Creuset set ($388 for a braiser), Richard Ginori porcelain china in a harsh colorway ($210 for a set of two dessert plates), art world–style tortoise glasses from Les Opticiens du Bac ($275), and fur-lined Ludwig Reiter boots ($900) for winter—someone fucking stole mine; otherwise, they would have lasted forever.
