14 wonderfully offbeat gifts to give this holiday
Neck ties, slippers, a terry-cloth robe...if year after year of holiday shopping has become a bit predictable, we’re here to help shake things up. Because no matter what kind of gift you’re looking to give — whether practical, adorable, or totally unique — we’ve found unexpected options to impress even the most jaded of recipients this holiday season.
Ahead, find the little-known, cost-saving (and comfort-boosting) answer to overpriced athleisure; stylish finds from up-and-coming brands; and even wearable tech that looks nothing like that rubber wristband your dad wears.
SHOP: Honey's Ultimate Gift Guide
It’s the built-in cub ears that does it for us. Win the World’s Best Auntie or Uncle Award by giving the little in your life the cutest hoodie around. Made with recycled materials and ultra-soft sherpa fleece, this hoodie will keep the family cutie feeling cozy and looking sweeter than she or he sometimes acts. Bonus: Score an extra $10 off orders $100+ with code HONEY10.
SHOP: Girls’ Infant The North Face Campshire Bear Hoodie, $55, available at Finish Line
A hybrid sneaker that can go from street to business casual is in itself a rare find, but this style includes a few other hidden gems: a woven upper is breathable while still keeping feet warm, and a lightweight, padded, and contoured footbed is engineered to boost foot-to-midsole comfort. The result: a water-resistant sneaker that makes going from daytime to a dinner reservation feel like walking on a cloud.
SHOP: Rally Mens Water-Resistant Knit High-Top Sneakers, $140, available at Fitflop
This isn’t just a more beautiful version of a fitness tracker. The slim bracelet tracks mindfulness, diet, and nutrition goals while factoring in a woman’s monthly cycle to automatically adjust eating, sleeping, and exercise recommendations (so the algorithm doesn’t push a HIIT class when you have cramps, for example). Thanks to smaller sensors, this is achieved all without a chunky design or digital display.
SHOP: Bellabeat Ivy, $249, available at Bellabeat
We’re about to let you in on a big secret that only medical professionals know: Shop like them for maximum comfort. We're not just talking about modern-day scrubs that look and feel like the kind of joggers sold by athleisure brands. Scoop up nursing clogs that give an It shoe like Crocs a run for its money. From now to Nov. 23, get $20 off on orders $125+ with code HONEY20. This promotion excludes previous purchases, tax, and shipping and applies to regular priced apparel only.
SHOP: Kane Pearl Iridescent Molded Nursing Clogs, $79.99, available at Scrubs & Beyond
More than 15 years of organizing research has gone into making this planner, which is broken out into weekly, monthly, and yearly sections to boost productivity no matter how big or small your goals. Add stickers, a section for contacts (plus materials sourced and printed in the USA — including sturdy, 80-pound text weight paper), and you have the perfect gift for visual learners and creative types for whom endless scrolling and calendar searching on a phone just doesn’t cut it. Plus, from now until the end of the year, new customers can get $10 off their first purchase of $35 or more with code BLACKFRIDAYEC10. Not to mention, between now and Nov. 18 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, get 30% off sitewide.
SHOP: Flora Blush Vegan Leather LifePlanner, $64, available at Erin Condren
For those re-entering in-office work, give proof that corporate-ready clothing doesn’t have to be basic. This machine-washable silk shirt, from London atelier The Fold, incorporates winding pintucks and pleats for unexpected style that elevates the average button-down to something far cooler than work wear tends to permit.
SHOP: Symons Blouse Saffron Silk, $325, available at The Fold
Elder millennials collectively guffawed on social media when they started to see unforgiving, ultra-low-rise jeans start to trickle back into fashion. But another denim brand that’s resurfacing as a major trend for 2022: straight leg jeans. This pair is made with 10% hemp and a touch of stretch for extra comfort. Good news: Now until the end of the year, get an extra 15% off orders $75+ plus free shipping with code 15OFF75.
SHOP: '90s Super High-Rise Straight Hemp Jean, $59.95, available at Aeropostale
Most humidifiers emit a mist that contains its own particles. But this one uses a mist-free technology, in which water evaporates through a paper wick, and filters pathogens along the way. What’s more, this unit is designed to continue to run even when no water is left in the reservoir and contains embedded UV LEDs to prevent mold from growing while the unit is in use. Add in dishwasher-safe cleaning and you’ve found the easiest way to keep a 500 square-foot room at an optimal 40%-60% humidity. Better yet, this limited-edition bundle comes stocked with three signature Prose fragrances for an aromatherapy boost (thanks to a built-in puck for essential oils).
SHOP: Canopy x Prose Humidifier Kit, $150, available at Canopy
Let’s face it: Vegans often get the short end of the stick when it comes to holiday treats. From turkey dinners to edible stocking stuffers, animal products abound. Which is why your favorite vegans (and health nuts) will especially appreciate stocking stuffers made with their particular palates in mind, like this dairy and gluten-free bag of sweet, yet superfood-rich, snacks. Better yet, loading up on healthy bites won’t break the bank. From November 25-27, get $10 off orders of $50 or more.
SHOP: Navitas Organics Cacao Goji Power Snacks, $14.99, available at Vitacost.com
OK, not so much hidden, but this is truly a gem in a sea of holiday beauty bundles. Cult-favorite hair care brand Oribe partnered with Parisian artist Antoinette Poisson to create packaging that not only negates the need for wrapping, but is gorgeous enough to keep on hand for odds-and-ends storage. Of course, the goods inside are plenty beautiful themselves: full-sized Signature Shampoo and Conditioner, Replenishing Body Wash, and Restorative Body Crème — all luxuriously laced with the brand’s famed citrusy floral Côte d’Azur scent.
SHOP: Oribe Signature Experience Collection, $175, available at Blue Mercury
Those who can’t imagine a showerhead being gift worthy haven’t met hai. The smart showerhead is app and bluetooth enabled to help track water conservation and energy usage, but it also kicks out a spa-worthy water flow (thanks to an indulgent mist setting, among three others). The kicker: It’s made in six happy shades to punch up any boring stall.
SHOP: hai 4-Spray Bluetooth®-Enabled Handheld Showerhead, $249, available at Bed Bath & Beyond
While the gift of flowers is perfect to highlight a celebratory day, the temporary nature of fresh blooms can fall a bit short when it comes to holiday giving. Enter the house plant, which boasts the staying power of other made-to-last gifts while literally adding life to your loved one’s surrounds. Even those with a black thumb will benefit from this green fixture: a garden of hard-to-kill succulents expertly arranged in a modern slate pot.
SHOP: Teleflora Desert Beauty Succulent Garden, $79.99, available at Teleflora
The most underestimated gift of the season: soup. Just think of how comforting it makes your feel. And, it's even better when you can make it yourself with a high-tech blender with a 10-year warranty, variable speed control, and pulse functionality, so you can make thick sauces or smooth-like-butter soups. The drizzle on the top: get $50 off all new Legacy Series benders and A2300, A2500, and A3300 models from Nov. 19 until the end of the year.
SHOP: A2300, $449.95, available at Vitamix
Sure, holiday cards and custom mugs are great. But, let's be real, you want to give gifts that'll actually engage. For this, look to a pandemic pastime that's still a perfect winter activity: doing a custom puzzle with your big, beautiful face on it. Plus, new customers can get 10% off their first order with code HONEY10...you know, just in case you do want to print those holiday cards after all.
SHOP: Puzzle, visit site for pricing, available at GotPrint.com