Let There Be Light
The only upside to living somewhere without Thanksgiving.
One good thing (the only good thing?) about living in a country that doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, is unapologetically sliding into the holiday season as soon as the clocks fall back. Maybe it is the millennia spent living half the year in darkness, but if one thing is true about Swedes, it is that they know how to light up their houses and towns. As we get deeper into November, I have been overjoyed to see decorations start going up, windows and trees being lit, and the flower markets shifting to Christmas trees, wreaths, hyacinths and amaryllis. And it makes me feel way less weird about starting my holiday gift lists. I was an avid shopper long before I was a fashion buyer or store owner. I love giving presents and helped my mom with the bulk of our family’s holiday shopping since I was a teenager. We used to go to Manhattan every December I was in college in New England for holiday shopping, to see the decorations, get manicures, listen to live music and drink martinis. We once got stuck in a blizzard at Smalls Jazz Club until 2am and had to walk back to our hotel in 3 feet of snow, the city eerily quiet and glittering. My mom in Texas feels very strongly that Christmas should hardly be mentioned, and god forbid decorated for, before the final piece of pecan pie is eaten. But in Sweden, when you blink and suddenly the sun sets at 3pm, you need something to live for: key the holiday lights.
Cheers to giving the best gifts and discovering treasures for yourself for the happiest of holiday seasons.
Let There Be Light: Embracing the darkness, but conjuring warm light, celebrating the cold, but making it cozy, the combination of diametric opposites is the age-old Swedish winter pastime. You light candles on the breakfast table before you even start the coffee, cover the chairs and sofa with sheepskins and place glowing stars or faux-candlesticks in every window in the house. But the biggest tradition of all is the Santa Lucia celebration on December 13 with a candlelit procession in the dark led by a woman singer with a crown of glowing candles, followed by singing handmaidens and starboys in long white robes with red ribbons tied around the waist. Midsommar, the holiday edition. It sounds a bit strange, but it is overwhelmingly moving and starkly beautiful and captures the essence of finding and celebrating light and hope even on the darkest of days. Swedish Santa Lucia celebrations happen everywhere in Sweden from schoolyards to cocktail parties, but traditionally they are held in chrurches. In the US they are harder to come by, but there are two, in the afternoon and evening, on the 13th at the Swedish Church in New York. And don’t miss their annual Christmas Market. If you are less inclined to wear real lit candles in your hair, but still want to feel cozy and bright, I recommend stockpiling Jubla candles from Ikea and scooping up some gorgeous new candelabras. A perennial favorite for maximum holiday drama is the 12-arm wooden candelabra from Svensk Tenn. No other holiday decor is even needed if you get one in red. Like a lot of people I know, I am obsessed with everything that ceramicist Suzanne Sullivan makes, and these wonky pairs bring so much joy. Risky Business and The Whole Night Long candlesticks available as part of a new show with Maggie Ryder: One Calls The Tune, The Other Pays The Piper at Mociun in Williamsburg. If you are gifting for a house that is a little more minimal or modern, I recommend the seductively sleek Moor candle holders from Jason Miller at Roll & Hill that combine polished metal and satin ceramic. They are as tall, thin and elegant as his partner Erin Pollard of Underwater Weaving and Baskets for Breakfast. Her wicker star tree ornaments and handmade baskets are very Scandinavian. Her basket making bundles are perfect for the DIY crafter in your life. I never really stop wishing it is summer, so I will keep a Flamingo Estate Heirloom Tomato candle burning all winter. Everything they make is simply wonderful.
Into Thin Air: Edible, drinkable, fleeting gifts for those of us that don’t want or need anymore stuff that takes up space, at least for long. For any friend living in the North Fork, Shelter Island or the Hamptons, even just on the weekends, a gorgeous weekly delivery of peak-bloom farm flowers from May-October from floral CSA North Fork Flower Farm. For the tequila lover, a personalized bottle of shockingly smooth sipping tequila from Casa Dragones. For your favorite hostess, or party lover, boxes of bite-sized sweet or savory cookies from The Rounds, hand-painted in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. For your favorite sweet tooth, stock-pile goodie boxes of Swedish cult candy from Bon Bon. For yourself and your beloved, a long winter weekend wisely spent at Hotel San Cristobal in Todos Santos, Mexico, where the sun is always shining. Conceived and designed by Austin-based hospitality legend Liz Lambert, their motto: all good things are found at the end of a dirt road. To help keep the dream of a sunny, warm winter alive, check out the obsession worthy scents from Moreno California. I am partial to Lost Coast with hints of yuzu, red mandarine, clary sage, green tea, jasmine, and sandalwood. But if you are more of a traditionalist, and want to conjure a cozy winter in a chic cabin in the woods by a roaring fireplace, they just launched a new Lake Tahoe scent with hints of pine, grass, cinnamon, carnation, vanilla and caramel. But what you should really be spending all of your money on this season is holiday donations to NYC’s most essential non-profits compiled in an annual list by by beloved writer, activist, community leader, fashionista and all around know-it all (in a great way!) Anja Tyson. She also publishes a year-round directory of non-profits called Never Sleeps to help connect New Yorkers with their local organizations and aid efforts in the hopes of making it easier for families and individuals to adopt sustainable, integrated, support for the city’s most marginalized citizens.
Printed Matter: Every year I order calendars from The Dolphin Studio, handmade by multiple generations of the ffrench family in the Berkshires for 55 years. I buy them by the dozen and gift them to everyone I love. Each month is designed by a family member and hand screen printed so it is a rotating piece of art throughout the year. I never look ahead, and we all love the reveal on the 1st of every month. Two highly-anticipated new cookbooks dropped recently from arguably the most influential cookbook authors and chefs of our generation. Something from Nothing by beloved Brooklynite Alison Roman. I received a text about it last night that sums it up: it SLAPS so hard. And Good Things by the joy-spreading Samin Nosrat. The ricotta lemon pancakes really are a game changer. Feed the people you love! You can probably still get signed copies at Books Are Magic, imo the best bookstore ever. Or just buy and read whatever Emma says to by joining her new first editions book club. I recently purchased a half dozen Ito memo blocks when I was visiting Los Angeles for hostess gifts. Honestly you could purchase anything at all from tortoise general store and it would be a thoughtful, crafted-to-last gift. But I love these substantial paper blocks that are minimal enough to almost be like a little sculpture and are perfect for leaving on the kitchen counter. I have never used ChatGPT and I am not about to start for making grocery lists. I also still write everything for myself and my kids in personalized Smythson notebook calendars. My faves are the Panama for me and the Soho for the boys. Every other page is blank so I have just enough space to jot down funny stories and milestones, unlike a traditional journal that has so many bank pages that I tend to get overwhelmed and end up not writing anything at all. And I recently discovered Topdrawer, a modern stationery shop from the fourth-generation owner of Japan’s revered Itoya paper company. The Japanese watercolor and sketch set has everything someone needs to keep their creative practice going strong, even when traveling. And I am a sucker for the vivid professional quality pigments in Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors sets.
Wine Club: Gifts for the ladies in your wine club, or any casual or serious oenophiles in you life. You can never have enough classic double-hinged foldable corkscrews, and I love these monochromatic ones from True Truetap. Or get the holiday red and green combo and customize it! Another all-round smarty-pants you should always listen to is culinary consultant slash food and travel writer Christine Muhlke. She co-wrote my favorite wine book Wine Simple with renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm in 2019, and they have come together again just in time for the holidays with their hot-off-the-presses Wine Simple: Perfect Pairings. When you need to graduate beyond “pizza wine”. Some of the prettiest artist wine labels out there (I will admit that the label plays and outsized role in my decision to buy a wine, or not) are from the vineyard Vietti in Piedmont. They are a fairly large producer, but still with a small producer mentality. I recently did a tasting at their shop in Castiglione Faletto and was happily surprised, especially by their white grapes including the Roero Arneis and the less common Timorasso. Of course you can’t go wrong with their Barbera, Barbaresco or Barolo. But if you are looking for something truly spectacular, get your hands on a bottle of Rinaldi Barolo, save it for ten years- good luck, or splurge for one that has already been aged if you can find one. You will not regret it. Gift it with a pair of jewel-like hand-blown Miami goblets, or classic paper-thin hand-blown crystal Patrician glasses from Abask.
Sporty Spice: Tennis is life! Follow along with The Second Serve for everything racquet related. And for the tennis-obsessed magazine lover in your life, a gift-subscription to their Open Tennis is the way to go. They also have excellent merch and a grand slam inspired, court-colored poster I want to get for my boy’s room. I was recently recommended a pair of sport shorts from LNDR by my friend Currie (the brilliant, bad-ass, queen of all design and travel related itineraries, founder of home gallery Spartan). I am intrigued, but had to admit I am of the cute tennis skirt and dress persuasion. I love the start-up Spence and its retro inspired, technical knits, especially the Court dress. And Wilson has been killing it lately. Their Retro racquet cover comes in a rainbow of colors and is now on sale. You can get it in tennis ball green and pair it with the same shade of 18 oz Rambler from Yeti. You can have your Yeti customized now too! And one of my favorite tennis gear gifts is a case of balls. I love my Apple watch and have worn one every day since they first came out. I got addicted to it when I was a very frequent runner. It weirdly keeps me more connected, but less anxious about being connected, because I don’t have to be as tethered to my phone. The Hermès collaboration is a very, very nice upgrade, and the leather bands far nicer than anything you can get from Apple. I am partial to the 42mm Double Tour in Etoupé. They also come with a signature orange silicone sport band. As someone usually very quick to jump on new trends, I have not yet tried the Oura ring. But have friends that swear by it, so maybe this is the year I gift one to myself? I like the new Jordan almond colored ceramic finishes. Though I am still not convinced that having data that you sleep poorly (I am a terrible sleeper!) will help you sleep better. Ok every text in my ladies text thread today was about skiing, so I feel like I have to mention it. For the ski fanatic in your life, or for yourself if you never want to wear an uncomfortable pair of rental ski boots again, make an appointment at Surefoot in Manhattan and get yourself fitted for a pair of custom ski boots. They start with a digital 3D scan plus a proprietary 538 location point blueprint of your feet then make custom orthotic in-soles for your boots. Then they fit you for boots with your custom orthotic in place and inject foam to create a custom liner for your foot and calf. “It’s a game changer!” “Worth every penny!” “The only way to go!” And Panda in Bay Ridge is meant to have the best selection of skis in NYC.
Toys: I love toys and don’t think they are just for kids. I used to do all my holiday shopping for my nieces and nephews at Acorn toy shop on Atlantic Avenue and I was heartbroken when they left Brooklyn. But luckily, you can still get their incredible, handcrafted, ethically made toys online. Bonus: they are often rainbow hued like this magic wood mini rainbow marble tree. The twins are old enough now for Yoto screen-free mini audio players. I will get them each one with a different colored adventure case and stacks of cards of music and audio books. I don’t know how you do it yet, but recently saw creative mastermind Piera Gilardi make a mix-tape card for her daughter’s Yoto with a customized playlist for her birthday. It will be amazing for them to be able to play their own tunes and series, without needing me or my phone. And let’s admit it, all streaming music platforms are the pits! For older kids I think we should bring back the ipod. You can find loads of refurbished ones of every make, model, and color on the world wide web. I wish I still had all my old ones! My kids (and so many of my friends and my sister) are obsessed with crystals and rocks. I will get some special little ones as stocking stuffers. National Geographic and Smithsonian make amazing crystal garden growing sets for science lovers. One is never too old for a prank toy. Fredrik wants a whoopie cushion (fart balloon is how you translate the Swedish name), fake poo and anything else I will spring for. He is also little enough to still want a jumbo, plush stuffed animal dog, big enough he can sleep on it, complete with dog bed, food bowls, collar and leash. He really just wants a dog, but that is not happening, this year at least. Axel, on the other hand, could spend every waking moment that he’s not reading, building Lego. He really just likes to build his own creations, and I try not to buy too many branded sets, so we generally stick to the Classic brick collections, or the Creator 3-in-1 sets like this space Robot. And I got these ornaments to include in their advent calendars. I also LOVE the wreath. It can be repurposed and re-decorated for every holiday! Musical instruments are the best gift! Loog and Fender got together to make this cool ukelele-sized 3-string electric guitar, and I am really hoping Santa brings us a Roland upright digital piano.
Husband: Like his classic vinyl, he goes round and round with his favorites, wearing them until they wear out, and only wanting to replace them with the exact same thing. If it ain’t broke….So he will get new stout brown Bludstone boots. The heather Marlon sweatshirt from Alex Mill is perfection. Ditto Sunspel and Jungmaven t-shirts. The latest edition of The Well-Tended Perennial Garden book and Niwaki Mainichi Japanese pruners and snips from groovy garden mecca Gardenheir. I would like to recreate an alpine après-ski vibe in our back yard this winter, so maybe he will finally get a Solo stove. I recently bought an aesthetically pleasing, but not very functional paper towel holder and it makes him crazy. I think I will invest in a gorgeous AND functional paper towel holder handmade by master furniture maker Paul Hatch Birch. Everything he hand makes is the nicest thing you have ever seen. In a dream world I would gift him a flower print from Shaniqwa Jarvis and a Piet Oudolf field print.
Soft presents: There is a name for the dreaded soft present in Sweden: mjuk present, historically used to mean underwear and socks and all the things kids don’t want for Christmas. But these days, all I really want to give or receive is soft. I have piles of pillows from Garza Marfa. They have a gorgeous selection from Gregory Parkinson and Cathy Callahan, and their own collection of striped canvas and cotton block printed pillows are like catnip for me. And if you know anyone doing a renovation, gift them these fun powder-coated wall hooks! I am a sucker for socks. Like I have to forcibly stop myself from buying dozens of socks on my travels. Japanese socks in particular. In fact, I love Japanese socks so much, despite not having any socks to mend or being remotely crafty, I watched this mesmerizing video tutorial for darning socks featured on Nishiguchi Kutushita. Toast carries their wool jacquard socks and they are the perfect soft present. My mother-in-law hates wearing hats, and I used to always gift her scarves instead. But this year I will gift her the ingenious cashmere Grace triangle head scarf from Crimson Cashmere so it will be very easy for her to pull it up over her head if she gets cold. Maybe the only thing I collect more than pillows, socks and cashmere is Birkenstocks. The new shearling 1774 Berlin collection Arizona Birkenstocks may be their coziest shearling style ever. I plan to find out! And if you are gifting to a couple, perhaps newlywed, or still just sexy as hell, they will love these marbelized silk robes and pajamas from the By George outpost in the Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans.
Mom, sisters & myself: For the ladies I love most! Bird Brooklyn alum-Lindy McDonough is making the best leather handbags made in the USA with her 5 year old brand Lindquist Object that just last week opened an outpost on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Artisan-made, vegetable tanned leather, heritage-quality bags handmade in Rhode Island, all small batch and can be monogrammed. For my mom I am hoping to get a persimmon colored Po or Faba bag with custom gold rodeo charms to match her infamous red cowgirl hat signed by Tito Beverage (yes that Tito), Bill Clinton, Barak Obama and Willie Nelson! For my sisters and myself, the Lina wallet monogrammed in a range of colors. And I think every woman should always have flowers, so I will gift them Bodega Bouquet prints from photographer Jessica Antola. I love everything that designer Ann Edgerton of Edgerton Studio in Austin designs and makes. I try to use something from her collection of objects Muhly Studio in all my design projects. What I really think everyone needs is one of her mahogany phone boxes, so you have a beautiful wooden object on your desk or kitchen counter and you are less tempted to mindlessly pick up your phone and scroll! I have been collecting Makato Kagoshima ceramics for at least a decade and I would like to add a piece to my collection. Also one of my favorite Brooklyn via Japan ceramicists that I have known, worked with and collected for more than two decades is Shino Takeda. Her bowls and small plates bring so much joy to everyday acts. It is also our 20th wedding anniversary this holiday season, and I think a Swedish iconic Engelbert Legacy Knot ring would be perfect to symbolize our forever union. Hint hint Nik. But seriously, like most self-respecting women I know, I buy my own jewelry!
And if you run out of time or ideas, leave it to the professionals. Shop Cette approaches gifting like an art. Gorgeous, personal, thoughtful gifts, for the holidays or anytime of year.
Thanks for reading. I am glad you are here.
Happy Holidays!
Jen
Thank you for sharing your excellent taste!!! I miss that tiny iPod too....More tennis content please. :)
thank you for liking my pillows!