Highly Personal Gifts For The Person Whose Birthday You Have Saved In Your Calendar

Long Live Gift Guide 1/3

You know the type—the kind of friend whose location you check when you have thirty-two minutes in Soho before your next appointment. They might just be around the corner and what could be more delightful than an impromptu catch up? This gift guide is high risk and high reward. The candles and cashmere scarves, we’ll save those for later. This is for the people you care enough about to order ahead on behalf of—the true blues.

My husband whose holiday gift I’ve had for months <3

They deserve some foresight, a little attention that reminds them just how important they are to you. Some of these picks are monogrammable, customizable, and others are just downright personal. You wouldn’t buy a colleague a perfume! None of these are secondhand, for the sake of shopping inspiration, but I’d encourage you to stop by your local thrift store with someone you love in mind. My favorite texts to receive are “This made me think of you” following a beat up barn jacket at a Savers.

So put on some tea. Get inspired. And remember that the best gift you can give, all year round, is a handwritten note telling someone how much they mean to you, which leads up into our first pick.

Jaymes Paper

I have quite an obsession with everything Jaymes Paper makes. One of my 2025 goals? Creating a custom collaboration with the team. Until then, opt for bespoke stationery for someone you love or the chicest notepad known to man.

Name Plate Necklace

There are so many takes on this kind of necklace, but Ruby bought me one just like this for my twenty-first birthday and I wear it almost every day. What I like about this option is the choice between 10k-18k gold.

Lands’ End Men’s PJs

You know how I feel about Lands’ End. The men’s pajamas might be my favorite find. I’ve had a pair for almost a decade with my name embroidered on the pocket. Bonus: the tall sizes are delightfully long. And the set is always under $85, even with monogramming.

Maison Flâneur The Alpha Beaker

How about a freaky little initial mug that makes me weirdly nostalgic for the Anthro ones every FIT girl used as a pencil holder on their desk in their dorms in 2014? This is, by far, a better option.

Monastery The Deep Red LED Mask

You better know and love a person before you spend $700 on a red light mask for them. But hear me out: I’ve been using this mask two times a day for the past week and can see a visible brightness in my skin. This could be a fun way to say, “Thanks for, well, everything,” to your mom.

Papier Old School Planner

Here’s the thing: I’ll always live and die by my Gcal. But this year, I ordered myself a spiral bound planner from Papier to try to bring a grounded feeling back to my chaotic schedule. Maybe someone you love is starting grad school or switching careers. This is a really cute way to tell them you’re here for the journey. And these are very affordable, as far as customizable gifts are concerned.

Shinola Octognal Signet Ring

For $225, it’s pretty hard to beat this engravable signet ring. I wear mine from Shinola everyday and have for the last seven years. Shinola is a brand that gets slept on in the jewelry category, but I’m chips in.

Alison Lou Silver Cloud Letter Necklace

An initial necklace that also makes a statement. The best part? You can save $200 and earn a free candle when you shop Alison Lou as a CAKE member. For $100/year, it's perks like this at tons of brands we love. I'll try to do a better job of flagging when I link to something in the program—new brands are being added all the time. You can skip the waitlist with my link here. It's invite only.

Biscuit Laminate Vanity Bag

I saw

Nan

post about these bags and was instantly smitten. The fact that they’re laminated makes them 10x more appealing than a regular pouch. There are lots of monogram/color variations to choose from on the site.

Custom Library Embosser

Book lover gift alert!

Ruby's Recs

just published a great round up for the readers in your life. My contribution? A custom book embosser for their personal library. It’s less messy than ink and this little guy costs under $50. I wish I had a kid in my life who would embrace stamping their book collection wholeheartedly.

FELLOW Carter Move Mug

What? Erika talking about Fellow again? I’m drinking out of this exact bottle right now. I don’t want to hear about any other water bottle. And, you can write a customizable message on most Fellow products, which I find very endearing.

Hill House Mini Pillow

I can still remember a cool British boss who had me order one of these for a baby shower she was attending forever ago. A mini monogrammed pillow keeps a pillowscape from feeling too serious.

Alex Mill The Perfect Weekday Tote

I know multiple people with this bag who think it’s the best tote money can buy. I don’t have one because I have hundreds of other others, but these are people we should take at their word. You can order this bag with painted letters for $50. Alex Mill is also on CAKE, where you'll receive $100 off a purchase of $250 or more. Especially at brands like Alex Mill where discounts are almost nonexistent, CAKE cards come in handy.

Custom Cocktail Napkins

My pal

Tori Simokov

gave me custom cocktail napkins last year and since then, I’ve become very staunch in my position that all cocktail napkins should be customized. This seller has a ton of styles, but this simple black and white one is my favorite.

Rent The Runway Subscription

Give the gift of discovering your personal style. I can think of so many people in my life who would be thrilled at the idea of getting to try on new pieces from brands they've only ever followed online. Getting dressed for EV Salon last week was a breeze. In fact, I was deciding between dresses until the last minute—I loved my picks that much. Using code RTRXEV, you can get 50% off the first month of the subscription plan or 40% off one Reserve item (min $30). Terms and conditions apply.*

erikaveurink

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Petite Plume Men’s Twill Three Pack Boxers

These are boxers for the girls, for wearing with big grey sweaters and sneakers. I mean, I can’t stop you if you’re one of my six male readers and you want them for yourself. I don’t blame you! Petite Plume boxers…just the notion feels luxurious. They’re monogrammable, which is cheeky x 100.

Lands’ End Beach Towels

One of my fav father in law gifts to date was getting Christian’s dad these towels embroidered with his favorite place on earth, Long Beach. It’s so fun for a beach house or even some place you all love visiting together.

Dorsey Large Bar ID Bracelet

You know how I feel about Dorsey. In fact, Christian gave me this necklace for Christmas two years ago. I wear these all the time. And this engravable bracelet feels like the grown up friendship bracelet I’d be thrilled to receive.

Blank Supply Stocking

Imagine a flock of these hung from the mantle with care. Willa and the team at Blank Supply can embroider them, too. Start a family tradition early. We always got socks and underwear and iTunes gift cards in our stockings.

Abbode Custom Recipe Tea Towel

I love what my friend Abby has built at Abbode. This custom recipe tea towel feels like the perfect sentimental option for the person in your life who passed on a love of cooking. Or maybe you’re just sick of misplacing your chocolate chip cookie recipe. Either way!

Hedley & Bennett's Essential Apron Foodie

Speaking of food-related gifts, who wouldn’t want a butter-themed apron with their name on it? What’s more universal than butter? There’s one with tinned fish and lots of plain ones too for the serious chefs in your orbit.

Chanel N°5 L’eau Eau de Parfum Purse Spray

Something classic and of the moment—a Chanel °5 L’eau Eau de Parfum Purse Spray. I hope my mother in law has stopped reading by this point so I can tell you all about my plans to tie this on her holiday gift with grosgrain ribbon. Jane simply adores grosgrain ribbon and Chanel. Who doesn’t?

Toyo ST-350 Tool Box

Boys and their toys! I would love this tool box for stamps and stationery, but maybe your father in law has other plans. Try adding this and this for max dad points.

Olympia Provisions Happy Hour Kit

I married into a family of men who love one thing more than anything else: meat. It’s just the reality! So why fight it? Christian and really any man he’s related to would love an impromptu happy hour kit, complete with cured meat.

Recess Design Your Own Paddle

Being a good gift giver means removing yourself from the equation? Do I want pickleball paddles with a custom message on the back? Not really. Would my mom burst into tears (Mom, I did not get you this. Don’t get your hopes up)—of course.

Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, and shop my Notion template. Get matched at EV Salon. And if you want to partner on a future Long Live, email evan@communite.co x

*Code reduces the price of 1) 10 item/mo RTR Membership to $72/mo (+tax)(1st month only) and 2) any one-time Reserve rental item by 40% (one time use, minimum of $40 pre-discount/pre-taxes). Additional taxes and fees may also apply. At the end of the promotional period, the RTR Membership will renew automatically each month at the then applicable membership price listed on RTR's website or mobile application. Memberships can be paused or canceled any time by visiting your membership settings. Cannot be applied to Pro, existing memberships, existing orders, purchases of gift cards/credits, bridal packages or services, or other items for sale. Cannot be combined with other offers unless otherwise noted and has no cash value. Enter code at checkout, additional terms apply. Codes that are auctioned, bartered, sold, obtained through unauthorized or illegitimate channels or not redeemed by the intended recipient may be void. Void where prohibited. Offer may be modified or canceled at any time. Code must be redeemed by 12/2/24 at 2:49AM EST.