Editor Obsessions: Gifts We’re Hoping to Get This Year

I’ve told anyone who will listen that Apple Gift Card is at the very top of my list. Mostly because I want my Apple TV+, App Store game addiction, and TBR list covered for as long as possible. And if I get a couple of extras? Well, that means new AirPods, AirTags, charging cables, and maybe even a new iPad. An editor can dream. —Elizabeth Smith ($10+, Apple)*

Full disclosure, I already have this bag. But I’m putting it on here because it’s what everyone should want this year. I’d been searching for a new work bag ever since I noticed my last one was looking like the Velveteen Rabbit after he’s left outside all night, and this one from Cuyana is perfect. When I first got it, I thought it might be too big (it also comes in a smaller size if you’re worried about the same thing), but ultimately I realized I actually need the extra room. This tote makes me feel powerful: Whether I’m heading to the office or using it as a carry-on, I love being the woman with the “ludicrously capacious bag.” The leather is soft and supple, the hidden top zipper is a nonnegotiable for me, and the colors are so beautiful it was hard to choose. I got the Cappuccino, which looks even better in person, but the new Cherry color is definitely something to dream about. —Martha Upton ($298, Cuyana)

I’m a huge proponent of little treat culture, so I’m basically begging someone to get me this limited-edition gift box of 25 bite-sized Baked by Melissa cupcakes. Our People Team orders these cupcakes to Skimm HQ pretty regularly (hashtag spoiled…I know), and I love how I can have three or four different flavors throughout the day without feeling sick or experiencing a sugar crash. There are a few different assortment options (including vegan and gluten-free), but it’s the Festival of Bites assortment for me. I’m especially eager to try the Chocolate Babka, Marshmallow Hot Cocoa, and Caramel Cake Batter flavors. My mouth is truly salivating just thinking about them all. Pro tip: They ship nationwide and you can schedule your order to arrive on a certain date. Friends and family, if you’re reading this, I’d love mine ASAP. - Elizabeth Smith ($47+, Baked by Melissa)*

Every year my mom asks for my Christmas list in what seems like early October, and this year, these are first on that list. Anything Cozy Earth makes, I know I’m going to love, so I was excited when they released their first pair of slippers. These look like absolute heaven for your feet, with a sheep fur upper and plush shearling lining. I love the minimalist look and rubber bottom that makes these perfect for walking to the mailroom or grabbing coffee outside the house. You may be dreaming of sugar plums, but I’m imagining myself padding around my apartment in full cozy mode with my new slippers. —Martha Upton ($150, Cozy Earth)

I am that person who needs their morning cup to be piping hot. The minute it cools to be lukewarm, I’m popping it back into the microwave. Admittedly, if I’m having a really busy morning at work, I sometimes have to reheat my mug multiple times. This ends in burnt-tasting coffee. I’m so excited to ask for this mug from Ember. You can select the temperature you prefer, and the mug will maintain it for up to 1.5 hours, depending on which size you get. —Alexandra Napoli ($149.95+, Ember) ($111.89, Amazon)

I am a dark chocolate person through and through. And Vosges makes some of the most delicious, gorgeous-looking truffles I’ve ever bought. I love getting a pack around the holidays. It’s the perfect sweet treat to nosh on while spending time with friends and family. If you have someone in your life who is a dark chocolate fanatic, buy this. —Alexandra Napoli ($50, Vosges)

I despise overhead lights at night. I swear by soft mood lighting, so having a desk lamp is a must. This portable option is so cute and can be brought into the living room or kept by a bedside. The head rotates, so you can pitch it up toward the ceiling or focus it downward if you’re reading. I want to keep it by my bedside because I sometimes watch Netflix while in bed before going to sleep, and having a supplemental light to ease eye strain is important. —Alexandra Napoli ($169, Urban Outfitters)

At my friend’s birthday party last year, I met a girl who wore these knee-high, square-toed Vagabond boots with a pleated mini skirt, a band T-shirt, and a chunky chain necklace. I literally haven’t stopped thinking about that outfit since. Why haven’t I bit the bullet and bought these boots for myself? Great question, but it’s my parents’ problem now. —Caroline Goldstein ($235, Nordstrom)

I’ve been on the hunt for some art to hang above my couch since I moved into my apartment nearly three years ago. Aside from indecisiveness, it’s the price of said art that’s been holding me back. But I just discovered that Lulu and Georgia has an incredible selection of eye-catching prints at a range of prices. I keep coming back to this poetically titled “Study of Clouds With a Sunset Near Rome.” There’s just something about it that makes me feel calm. Believe it or not, the small, unframed version is under $100, even though it looks like something you’d find at a gallery. —Caroline Goldstein ($94+, Lulu and Georgia)

I make matcha lattes pretty much every day, so I’m always wanting accessories to amp up my at-home setup. This chasen (aka, a matcha whisk) is made of resin instead of the typical bamboo, so it’s a touch more durable and easier to wash. If you also have a matcha lover in your life, get them this. —Margo Ghertner ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

I rarely buy eye gels for myself, but anytime I receive them as a gift, I’m excited. These Copper Rays from Live Tinted are some of my favorites because I actually notice results with them. They’re packed with copper peptides and banana extract to depuff, cool, and brighten my under-eye area. While the zig-zag shape is adorable, it’s functional, too, since they won’t slip and slide around. —Margo Ghertner ($22/5-pack, Amazon)

I’m all for a good dupe, but when it comes to hair-styling tools, quality matters. I’ve seen this ceramic air styler blowout kit from T3 all over my inbox, and finally added it to my wish list after my less fancy hot brush wore out. This 360 kit helps create glossy, long-lasting curls and waves sans heat damage. It also comes with a vegan leather storage bag and four separate attachments to help with whatever look you’re going for. —Alessandra Rey ($299.99, Sephora)

There’s a reason they call these cutie glasses from Anthro “icons.” They’re unlike any other drinks glasses I’ve ever seen, thanks to their tiny hand-pressed glass beads in a huge variety of shapes. Each glass is hand-blown and completely unique, which makes me love them even more. They’re the perfect size for my morning iced coffee or a fun beverage at the end of a long work day. Personally, I’m hoping to get either the cherry or the mushroom beaded ones, but if someone wanted to get me a set of a few different designs, I wouldn’t complain. (Wink.) —Alessandra Rey ($16, Anthropologie)