Gifts That Combine Style and Practicality

Right, so, I thought I’d finished shopping, and then someone hits me with, “I want something useful but stylish.” Ugh. Most “useful” gifts are junk drawer bait. I’m only interested if it won’t get regifted at the next Secret Santa. Durability? Yes. Actually impressive? Sure. But let’s be honest, most of this is trial and error.

Portable Charger Picks for On-the-Go

My phone’s always at 7%. Always. It’s like the universe knows. Stylist Janelle Wong basically waves her Anker PowerCore at me every time we meet, claiming she’s rescued a dozen “battery orphans” this year. I’m skeptical, but Forbes put Anker on their travel list, so maybe she’s onto something. I’ve left my charger in a hotel room twice. Compact is non-negotiable. But why are most of them so ugly? I mean, do I want to carry a brick?

What about colors? Or—wait—is that a mirrored finish? Belkin’s Rose Gold one looks like jewelry in a sea of cables. USB-C, USB-A, whatever, it works. I saw someone with a lipstick-shaped charger at the airport. Why? Who asked for that? CNET had stylist Elena Mora saying, “If your tech can’t fit a clutch, it’s not stylish.” She’s right, but also, ouch.

Everyday Essentials Made Special

AirTags—yeah, I know, but how many keychains is too many? I shoved an AirTag in a Bellroy leather luggage tag and, honestly, it felt like a decent wallet splurge without the guilt. Practical gifts should actually fix a problem, not just give you another app to ignore. I keep losing my gym bag and I’m too stubborn to admit AirTags are magic, but… okay, maybe they are.

Pajama sets confuse me. Why do the “luxury” ones feel like cold hotel sheets? Stylist Cassandra Lee told SELF the Eberjey Gisele set is the only one she’d photograph. Modal fabric, doesn’t pill, machine-washable. My washer’s basically a torture device, so that matters. “Sateen” blends look nice but wrinkle instantly. Is it weird to give the same pajamas every year? I do. Nobody’s complained.

Budget-Friendly Birthday Gifts That Pack a Punch

Supposedly, I’m meant to buy expensive birthday gifts, but honestly, under $25 is where I live. Not dropping $100 on a “thoughtful” candle, sorry. I’ve seen stylists and friends get way more excited about tiny, clever gifts than anything pricey. Curation beats splurging every time. No contest.

High-Impact Gifts Under $25

Do people really want a $20 gift card? I’d rather get an infrared head massager or those bamboo socks everyone claims are “cozy.” (Sock sizes are a scam. One-size fits nobody.)

Mini stash kits win. I’ve thrown together baskets with prosecco minis, sheet masks, novelty teas (yeah, some get regifted, but so what). Tacky? Maybe. But stylists like Janelle, who’s styled actual celebrities, swear the creative bundle always beats generic perfume. Themed snack bundles get devoured first at every party. Last December, I gave refillable travel atomizers—heard “these are brilliant!” twice. Practicality wins.

Enamel pins with puns? They get more attention than $50 candles. I once mixed up tags and my cousin got resistance bands meant for my sister. Still a hit. Under-$25 doesn’t have to mean “budget” in a bad way.

Affordable Finds That Look Expensive

Here’s what gets me: “affordable but looks luxe” is a total mind trick. $20 for a cocktail shaker set? Wrap it right, and it passes for fancy. Half my “expensive” homeware is discount stuff with the tags torn off. Curated gift baskets on a theme somehow look like you spent hours and a fortune.

Stylists always hype jewelry under $25—zodiac necklaces, minimalist hoops, even that retro Casio watch every influencer wears. People with expensive taste still like good design. Face roller? Glass straw set? Someone’s going to call it “aesthetic” and assume it’s from a boutique.

Want to make a $15 candle look like a million bucks? Velvet ribbon. I bought two yards for $4—suddenly, people ask where I “sourced” it. I just say, “Trade secret. Also, clearance bin.”