The holiday season can put undue strain on the art of gift-giving. Calendars suddenly fill to the brim with parties and cocktails, shops get crowded, items sell out. But don’t let the pressure of the season influence your purchases. Consider each person on your list and ask yourself what they would genuinely love. It doesn’t need to be expensive or extravagant—the best gifts often aren’t. Something thoughtful and perfectly tailored is the goal. It really is the thought that counts.
The best advice I have when it comes to giving gifts is to buy things that the person would buy for him- or herself. This might seem obvious, but, surprisingly, it happens far less than it should. People tend to give gifts for the wrong reasons, often to signal something about themselves rather than provide enjoyment or even utility to the recipient.
