For those who consider gift-giving an art form, wrapping accoutrements sourced from CVS simply won’t do. Best to import such things from England—specifically, stationer Fin Fellowes’s Kensington Paperie, whose paper, gift tags, made-in-Italy scissors, and note cards are among the finest in the land. Now Fellowes brings her marbling and chintz to the design-loving masses in a collaboration with the furniture-and-housewares brand Sharland England. Together they bring the Everything Set, which includes six sheets of wrapping paper, six gift cards with adhesive labels, and two spools of hand-dyed ribbonin rich shades of caramel and buttercup. (Pro tip: keep those seams tidy and invisible with a Crafter’s Companion glue-tape pen.) Your mother-in-law might despise whatever present you get her, but at least she’ll appreciate the packaging. (from $21, sharland-england.com) —Ashley Baker

Following a flurry of activity from the dB’s (reissues, a reunion tour) and the Continental Drifters (a retrospective, tribute CD, book), singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Peter Holsapple, the common denominator in those two fine bands, has put out a witty, wise, and rocking new solo album. On The Face of 68, Holsapple’s superb songwriting—the trademark hooks, melodies, and wordplay—is on abundant display. Most notably on the sly “That Kind of Guy”—a hilarious (yet empathetic) character study of obsessive music nerds—and the lovely “She and Me.” Holsapple’s vocals and guitar have never sounded better. He’s still playing shows this winter, mixing the new material with many of his earlier gems. Go! (spotify.com) —George Kalogerakis

Edward Gorey made his money by working as a theatrical designer and commercial illustrator, but his first passion was writing books—116 of them, in a Gothic, Victorian, or Edwardian setting—with titles like Amphigorey, The Wuggly Ump, and The Lavender Leotard (a nod to his love for New York City Ballet). In E Is for Edward, Gregory Hischak has assembled a generous selection of the novelist and artist’s macabre yet whimsical pen-and-ink drawings, many of them from his unpublished notebooks, accompanied by illuminating essays that explore Gorey’s major themes and obsessions: haunted houses and death. As for the volume itself? It’s so stunning that it might as well be titled S Is for Sumptuous. ($60, amazon.com) —Jim Kelly

War photography is no easy task, to say the least. Add on being a female photojournalist and the task seems nearly impossible. The recipient of a Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur Fellowship, Lynsey Addario knows this all too well, as her assignments covering conflicts in numerous countries (Afghanistan, South Sudan, Ukraine) have led to her getting kidnapped—twice! A new documentary from National Geographic and Academy Award–winning directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin is a matter of life and death, covering the delicate dynamic between the personal sacrifices Addario makes each time she goes on a risky assignment. “When I return home and rationally consider the risks, the choices are difficult,” she writes in her memoir. “But when I am doing my work, I am alive and I am me. It’s what I do.” (disneyplus.com) —Maggie Turner

If you see me on the holiday-party circuit this year, there is a good chance that I’ll be wearing a green gilet from Le Tre Sarte, the renowned Roman tailor. And if you see me in the Eternal City anytime soon, you’ll very likely find me staying at Casa Tre Sarte, the brand’s apartment that is available for rent. It’s in the heart of the Monti neighborhood and is a stone’s throw from the Colosseum and Rocco Ristorante. The interiors are gorgeous—the bedrooms feature lovely murals and are appointed with linens from Lisa Corti. The apartment can accommodate up to five people and is the perfect place to lay your head after a day of traversing the city. (letresarte.com) —Michael Pescuma

The Advent calendar is, for many of us, a cherished childhood memory: open a tiny door and indulge in a square of chocolateevery day for the month of December. But now that we’re grown, we can do a little better than milk chocolate in red tinfoil, don’t you think? Luckily, this year Sisley has teamed up with British designer Luke Edward Hall on a sculptural, tower-like calendar filled with skin-care, makeup, perfume, and hair-care products, including favorites like the rose-cream mask, the Tonique aux Fleurs, the anti-aging cream, and the cleansing milk. Just promise you won’t cheat and open all the doors at once. ($860, sisley-paris.com) —Elena Clavarino