The Best Holiday Gifts According to the SSENSE Staff

Presenting 28 perfect gift ideas from people who know how to shop.

The true joy of gifting lies as much in the act of giving as in receiving. With that spirit in mind, we’ve gathered the best picks from some of the best shoppers we know: SSENSE employees. Here are the items we’d love to gift to someone special this holiday season—and the gifts that we secretly hope to receive ourselves.

For someone special:

Tekla SSENSE Exclusive Taupe AURALEE Edition Robe Coat

This magnificent robe coat is versatile and practical, and I believe it should be in everyone’s closet as it is quite a staple. With the cold weather rolling in, staying cozy is on everyone’s wishlist and this coat is versatile to dress down with a pair of comfortable pyjamas, cashmere socks, and slippers, or dress up with a nice turtleneck sweater, well-tailored trousers, and a pair of nice heeled boots.

For me:

Bottega Veneta Brown Medium Andiamo Bag

For this coming holiday, I would like to receive this Bottega Veneta Andiamo Bag. A must-have in everyone’s closet, this bag holds a ton and it is such a great item for all occasions, for day to night, nine to five, and even a cinq à sept. A versatile piece, it could be styled with a great overcoat, a cashmere V-neck sweater, nice-fitting jeans, and a pair of loafers. It would also look great with a leather aviator jacket, turtleneck, pleated trousers, and nice boots. Very Samuel Beckett vibes.

For someone special:

Sophie Buhai Nautilus Choker

Nautilus moves through the passage of time and witnesses the transformations of the world; to me, it carries deep and profound meaning. So I would love to give this piece to someone very important. It would pair perfectly with an all-black outfit, like a black evening gown or a matching suit.

For me:

LU’U DAN 80’s Club Shirt

I’d like to go a bit bold rather than try too hard to look effortless. Personally, I would pair it with a black ankle-length skirt and black leather boots with a heel.

For someone special:

doublet Gray ‘Power Nap’ Hoodie Dress

My girlfriend is the “siesta” queen so this one pretty much hit the nail on the head. It also has to be one of the coziest items on the site, so I’m hoping it’ll make winter a bit more bearable for her too.

For me:

Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Black Buttons Shorts

Shorts for winter might seem a little absurd, but a pair this good really doesn’t come around often. I’d rock these with my most disgusting hoodie, a skully, and some calf-high boots.

For someone special:

MM6 Maison Margiela Blue Anatomic Ballerina Flats

My girlfriend loves MM6 and most of the flats they make. This pop of blue would compliment her wardrobe nicely. I also think she’d look great in them.

For me:

Commission Beige & Black Midtown Tote

I’ve been on the lookout for a boxy leather bag that’s big enough to fit my laptop and all the other random stuff I carry, and this Commission tote fits that criteria perfectly.

For someone special:

Canada Goose Black Elie Blanket Down Coat

I would like to gift this Canada Goose Blanket Down to my mom during the holiday season because she adores items that are practical. Currently, the weather in Toronto is getting chilly, and this will be perfect for her to walk around in the city.

For me:

VETEMENTS Navy Embroidered-Logo Jacket

One item I would like to receive during the holiday season is this VETEMENTS Navy Logo Jacket. I have wanted a perfect oversize-fit sweater, and this will be perfect with the items that I have in my closet. The sweater could be worn casually or elevated with these pieces I have.

For someone special:

Bobo Choses Baby Purple Funny Face Cardigan

As a proud aunt who also happens to work at SSENSE, I feel it is my duty to buy cute clothes for my siblings’ kids—and I’ve yet to find a Bobo Choses creation that’s not simply adorable.

For me:

Completedworks White Squeezed Small Vase

But being child-free myself means that I have nice things (read: fragile and expensive things) at home… and this perplexingly gorgeous vase from Completedworks—which delicately stands out with or without flowers—is right up my alley.

For someone special:

Dries Van Noten Taupe & Yellow Neon Print Refillable Lipstick Case

I love giving gifts with room for subtle tailoring—like the Dries Van Noten refillable lipstick case, something that feels effortless yet hand-picked down to the smallest detail.

For me:

KHAITE Black Inga Sweater

If I were to hint at a gift for myself, it’d be something classic, like this KHAITE cashmere sweater, the kind I’d wear forever. I’d style it with loose-fit dark-wash jeans and a heeled boot, or a low-rise midi skirt, sheer tights, and tall boots for when it’s cold.

For someone special:

Bless Black & Gray Nº26 Multiplug Extension Cord

Production team essential—always charged!

For me:

Chopova Lowena Red Crochet Net Socks

And no shoes on the cyc!

For someone special:

GmbH Black Ergonomic Riding Boots

For me:

HELIOT EMIL Black Ankle-High Boots

Both my partner and I can pull up to the concert with extra height in the crowd to better see the stage, in style of course.

For someone special:

Tekla Brown & Off-White Classic Bathrobe

Tekla makes beautiful lounge basics that I think would be useful for everyday life during the tough Montreal winters. I would gift the Tekla bathrobe along with some fuzzy socks and a weighted blanket.

For me:

Maison Margiela Black Tabi Mary Jane Heels

I chose the Margiela Mary Jane pumps due to their beautiful and unique rusted metal appearance. I would wear them with a long black dress for a holiday outing or family dinner. I think this piece is very special and will elevate any outfit.

For someone special:

Burberry Tan Reversible Check Cashmere Scarf

To help my mom get through the never-ending Canadian winter, I would gift her this soft and cozy cashmere scarf. Because it’s reversible, the scarf can be adapted to various outfits (or moods). On one side, there’s the timeless Burberry check pattern for a classic look and, on the other, the contemporary logo pattern for when she’s feeling a sleek and clean vibe.

For me:

Bottega Veneta Brown Long Andiamo Clutch

There’s nothing quite as chic and tasteful as an Intrecciato Bottega bag. This elegant dark chocolate brown clutch can elevate any look during and after the holidays. I can already see myself going from Christmas market shopping to lavish dinner parties with this bag in hand. Do I already have the brown Jodie? Yes. Do I need the brown Andiamo clutch? Duh, of course.

For someone special:

Diptyque Advent Calendar

To me, this is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only is the packaging—designed in collaboration with Lucy Sparrow—so adorable and festive, but it’s filled with 25 incredible candles, fragrances, and body products that they can open each day leading up to the holidays.

For me:

Augustinus Bader ‘The 12 Days Of Bader’ Set

With the cold weather upon us, there is nothing I crave more than to indulge myself in great skin care to stay hydrated and dewy. “The 12 Days of Bader” Set gives me everything I need and a little more.

For someone special:

LU’U DAN Pink Cropped T-Shirt

I love this cropped pink kitty T-shirt from LU’U DAN, especially the unexpected softness of it among the label’s harder silhouettes. I’m considering gifting it to my wife and then immediately borrowing it.

For me:

POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) Black 7.0 Center Down Jacket

Meanwhile, I hope I’m lucky enough to be gifted a new toasty down jacket for the winter months, preferably something that steals second glances, like this semi-cropped asymmetric one from POST ARCHIVE FACTION—which, in all likelihood, would get stolen right back.

For someone special:

Ginori 1735 Pink Oriente Italiano Teapot

For as long as I can remember, my mom has been collecting teapots. Her collection is quite eclectic including everything from classic Herend porcelain (from her home country Hungary) to Alessi postmodern pieces. This Ginori teapot would be a great addition to her collection with its classic design but vibrant colour.

For me:

Bottega Veneta Burgundy Small Sardine Bag

A classic Bottega Veneta bag has been on my dream list for a long time. I picked this one because it’s a bit of the classic weave with a twist and in the color of the season, burgundy (which I LOVE). It would just style itself and become my everyday bag!