When buying a gift for your best friend, go for things that make their everyday life just a little bit brighter. Our BFF gift guide includes cozy and conscious wardrobe staples, social reading material, travel buddies, and lots of tea-themed items — because who doesn’t like enjoying a warm cup of healing tea and great conversation with someone you love?
ALAS Kerala Quilted Pullover & Teddy
Drawing inspiration from India, where the garments are made (using GOTS certified organic cotton and formaldehyde free inks), ALAS’ newest collection features prints that pay tribute to ancient culture and textile tradition. We love that this set feels equally at home lounging on the sofa with a cup of tea as it would clutching a glass of champagne at a party —just add heels.
Pullover: $99.95, ALAS / Teddy: $79.95, ALAS
Darling Magazine Subscription
Darling is a magazine about the art of being a women. We particularly love this part of their mission: “Darling is a catalyst for positive change; leading women to discover beauty apart from vanity, influence apart from manipulation, style apart from materialism, sweetness apart from passivity, and womanhood without degradation.” That’s modern girl power. Subscriptions are billed quarterly, so you can choose freely how many issues to give.
$20/quarter, Darling Magazine
Mountain Woman Tea
Natural beauty expert Jessa Blades created this calming blend of lemon balm, oats, nettle, damiana, chamomile and peppermint in honor of all amazing women out there. She says it best: “I find myself constantly in awe of all that we do. As caregivers we are so busy, so thoughtful, so tired… it is time that we all take a big breath and start taking better care of ourselves. Whether you are hiking up an actual mountain or just carrying your groceries up a 4th floor walk up after a long day at work… this is the tea for you.”
TriPod Earrings by Kirsten Muenster Jewelry
These earrings are made using the ancient art of lost-wax casting, molded from shapes found in nature. They represent growth, rebirth and change — a perfect talisman for your friend to carry with her into the new year. Each piece is locally cast and hand finished in Kirsten Muenster’s San Francisco studio. We particularly love the beautiful green shades inside the pods, created as the yellow bronze is oxidized.
$120, Kirsten Muenster Jewelry
Black Stripe Mug by Jessica Wertz Ceramics
The importance of owning a perfect tea mug shall not be underestimated. Giving your BFF one as a gift will ensure they think about you every time they enjoy a cup of tea. This mug is made from raw black clay and hand-thrown in Berkeley, CA. We love the rustic handmade quality, and the fact that it’s still dishwasher and microwave safe.
$40, Makers Market
Punjammies
These pajama-style pants are not only comfortable, cute and fun, they also do good. The International Princess Project employs over 150 women, formerly trapped in the sex trade, in their three sewing centers in India. Available in a variety of bright, beautiful sari fabrics, Punjammies bring hope and freedom to our sisters in some of the darkest corners of India. Why not buy matching ones for you and your BFF?
$42, International Princess Project
A Splash of Hope by The Unity Closet
A luxurious silk scarf is a must-have wardrobe staple for any classy lady. The design of this Splash of Hope scarf is inspired by the world’s ongoing water crisis, and your purchase provides one year of safe drinking water for ten children in Southeast Asia, Africa, or South America. Look good, feel good.
$69.50, Modavanti
Organic India Holiday Cheer Gift Basket
Wrapped up in an eco-friendly gift basket is a box of Organic India’s signature Tulsi tea, which soothes, relaxes and boosts the immune system (who doesn’t need that around the holidays?), a box of Tulsi Sweet Rose tea, a bottle of Joy! (literally), perfect for staying positive, motivated and energized during the cold months, and a bottle of Tulsi essential oil. Put a few drops on the mala (also included) and spread Tulsi’s healing benefits — and earthy scent of clove, licorice, mint and lemon — wherever you go. A friend that is into herbs and teas will definitely appreciate this.
$42.99, Organic India
Mercado Global Matea Weekender
Encourage a friend who lives far away to come visit you by giving them a beautiful weekend bag. We love the mix of colorful brocade weavings and indigo-blue tie dye — because traveling should be fun. Mercado Global employs indigenous female artisans in Guatemala, empowering them to overcome adversity and become agents of change in their communities.
On sale for $230, Mercado Global
Fika: The Art of The Swedish Coffee Break by Anna Brones & Johanna Kindvall
As one of the world’s top consumers of coffee, Swedes cherish the social coffee (or tea) break known as fika. Fika can be had alone or in groups, indoors or outdoors, while traveling or at home. It’s about slowing down to appreciate life’s simple pleasures and take time to rest from work and chat with friends or colleagues over a cup and a sweet treat. In this beautifully illustrated cookbook, Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall share nearly fifty classic recipes from their motherlan — from cinnamon buns and ginger snaps to rhubarb cordial and rye bread — allowing all of us to enjoy this charming tradition regardless of where we live.
$17.99 (pre-order), Random House
Alden
December 18, 2014
These are super cute gift ideas! I especially love how they aren’t just stereotypically feminine items, but all have a message of female empowerment or friendship embedded within. You can be my friend anytime!