The Female Founded Gift Guide
Gifting is its very own love language and with gift giving as one of mine, I promise I’m taking this seriously.
This year, it’s been such a joy to put this Gift Guide together celebrating some of the female creatives I most admire around the world. I’m lucky enough to have some of these incredible women in my orbit and I know firsthand the hours of work that have gone into each element of bringing their dreams to life.
I love hearing more about why people choose particular things, so I’ve included (maybe too many) notes on the things I have and love and really could have had double the number of items in each section!
From homewares, to substack subscriptions, to a few vintage treasures, we hope you find things to give and, maybe, a few to receive too! We know we have a global audience so [almost] everything is available with worldwide shipping, with a few IRL stores in London, NY, LA and Paris which are well worth a visit for those who still like to shop in person!
1. Bettina Ceramica Tray £115 - They make gifting oh so easy - I love Natalie’s iconic Italian inspired designs and I think this tray would be such a crowd pleaser for women (and men!) alike and make breakfast in bed, or early evening cocktails that much chicer.
2. Studio Bust Gift Card £100+ It’s no surprise that we think a Bust is the ultimate gift for the amazing women in your life!
3. Toast Velvet Throw £260 - I have so many nostalgic memories of these blankets, there was one adorning each bed when we’d visit our oldest friends in the countryside and it always made for the cosiest nights sleep. We now have one on our bed and my daughters love hauling it downstairs to snuggle up in on movie night.
4. Sisterhood Wavy Platter £120 - A versatile dish all year round!
5. Petra Potato Doorknob £64 - Petra Hardware is home to the best curation of design led hardware - this set was designed by LA-based Hopie Stockman Hill and would be so tactile in a kitchen.
6. Matilda Goad Matchbox £50 - You can’t go wrong with MG - I bought my first lampshade back in 2018 and have been adding pieces of hers to my home ever since!
7. Feldspar X Lucy Williams Sconce £198 - We’ve been long term lovers of Feldspar and Lucy William’s eye is second to none - what more could you want.
8. Nickey Kehoe Iron Candle Holders $36 - Just one of many favourites I spotted when I was in LA earlier this year!
9. Maro Butter Dish £54 - Meg champions independent makers and creators. Her Instagram and carefully curated product line reflects this.
10. Compton Marbled Photo Album £37-£80 - I love buying these as wedding gifts for friends, but I think they also make for a great Christmas gift - slower, darker evenings mean there might actually be some time to get photographs printed and stuck in!
11. Oblist Bath Mat $89 - I’ve discovered so many incredible brands via The Oblist, they shine a light on emerging talent, promoting innovation and creativity, definitely worth a follow on IG.
1. Ateljé iPhone Case £48 - A great way to keep your phone safe but look chic at the same time, they have so many combinations but we really have a thing for blue and brown at the moment.
2. Rouje Audrey Earrings £110 - A perfect staple for every wardrobe.
3. Studio Bust Cap £35 - We might be biased but this is a great way to let the world know you’re enough, as you are.
4. Danae Necklace £75 - We could have picked anything from Sezane, but this makes for a lovely gift!
5. Ezie Silver Mules £475 - A silver mule is such a versatile piece.
6. Wind Silver Earrings £79 - Pia Mance certainly knows how to make incredible jewellery, we’d take anything from Heaven Mayhem but particularly these.
1. Big Little Store Personalised Cushions £120 - We adore Big Little Store - they are full of joy! I’m always asked where our cushions are from and their work shines a light on incredible makers.
2. Little Cotton Clothes Blouse £49.50 - I love seeing what’s in store each season, the colours and patterns never disappoint.
3. Baboushkini Romper £94 - Baboushkini is a great go to for gifting, especially for the sometimes harder to buy for little boys. I’d put this romper on my daughter and can imagine it paired with tights or socks in warmer months.
4. XL Mushroom Lamp £48 - I bought one of these for my daughter’s room, having spotted it in @lonikachande’s son’s room, it casts that perfect glow.
5. Melamine Alphabet Cups £5.95 - My children love anything with their initial or name on it - these are hard wearing and fun to mix and match!
6. Super Smalls Bead Kit $19 - It’s super inspiring to see Maria Dueñas Jacobs bringing such a joyful, luxury eye to the world of children’s make believe. My daughters love that their Super Smalls pieces feel just as grown up as the jewellery they normally pinch off me but instead it’s been designed to fit them perfectly!
7. Ruffle Cotton Bib £18 - These are my favourite gift for new babes - as well as being highly practical, by my third daughter, a clean onesie was a success and these made her outfit (or lack there of) look that much sweeter. Another chic but practical buy from Mama Owl are these merino fleece jackets.
8.Milk Teeth Strawberry Trousers $24 - We love our Milk Teeth cardigans and these trousers are irresistible!
1. Austin Austin Hand Cream £16 - Beautiful organic soaps and creams with the very best gift wrapping.
2. Eym Murano Candle £165 - My husband loves it when he can add a refill of any kind to my stocking and the Eden fragrance (£42) is a firm favourite.
3. Ceremonia Hair Care £32 - Ceremonia are our hair heroes. We’re eagerly awaiting another drop of their iconic Frida Headband, but in the meantime would pair their silky scrunchie (No.6) with the Aceite de Moska hair oil for the ultimate nourishing treat.
4. Verden x Beata Heuman Candle £45 - When two dream brands collide!
5. Mirror Water Bath Salts £38 - Estee is the queen of self-care and now that she’s made these bath salts I simply won’t use any others.
A Substack Subscription is the gift that keeps on giving :
EDITED by The India Edit
Jessie Loves by Jessie Loeffler Randall
A Considered Space by Eleanor Cording-Booth
Every Shade of Grey by Katherine Ormerod
Remotely by Lucy Williams
Add to Wishlist by Otegha Uwagba
The Good Bones Life by Leanne Kilroy
Plus Sharmadean Reid’s Newsletter - New Method’s for Women is exceptional.
Cookbooks, tried and tested!
Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman - I love her food, but her cookies are my go-to. I’ve gifted them to new parents either ready baked, or in a log ready to cut and cook fresh!
Make More with Less by Kitty Coles - The Queen of Aioli.
Always Add Lemon by Danielle Alvarez
The Ducksoup Cookbook by Clare Lattia & Tom Hill - My favourite restaurant in Soho enjoyed at home.
Simple by Diana Henry - For fail safe classics.
10 Minute Suppers by Poppy Fraser - For when children’s suppers need a injection of inspiration.
A Table for Friends by Skye McApline - For wholesome and delicious crowdpleasers.
If in doubt, you really can’t go wrong with a Coffee Table book
The Tulip Garden - I've loved visiting Polly’s garden and this book is an inspiring introduction to growing and collecting Tulips.
Every Room Should Sing by Beata Heuman - When I say I read this from front to back I mean I actually *read* it - it was such a treasure trove of useful advice that you could really put into practice, I would recommend to any budding interiors lovers!
The Modern Life Charlotte Perriand - A pioneer of modernism and a classic to refer back to.
Home Art Soul by Studio Ashby - Ashby always advocates to start with the art, a sentiment I couldn’t agree with more!
Perfect English by Ros Byam Shaw - Well live English interior Inspo from the noughties.
Rattan by Lulu Lyte of Soane - A heritage craft getting the attention it deserves.
New English Interiors by Elizabeth Metcalfe - A feast for the eyes.
A Year in Bloom by Lucy Bellamy - I have a sneaky feeling this might be in my stocking this year (my not so subtle hints have been received!)
1. Formula Fig $25+ - give the gift of skin confidence! A Formula Fig facial is the most restorative way to spend 30 minutes, with long lasting effects, but they also have an online store with the best skincare, we love Dr Loretta and NuFace.
2. Aime Collagen Set €25 - I discovered these when we hosted a pop-up in their Paris store, such fun to drink your skincare!
3. On Demand Fitness Subscriptions - Where would we be without the ability to work out at home [often in PJs] with access to the world’s best trainers? Our faves are:
4. Bala Bangles $55 - I’ve been using the Bala Bangles for so long they don’t even do the colour I have! Now they also do beautiful hand weights, mats, everything for the perfect home setup.
1. Roy Choc Knit Jumper £215 - This jumper has me all over it!
2. Carina Skirt £165 - A skirt and a shirt has become a bit of a uniform for me after multiple years either pregnant or breastfeeding, this is a firm favourite.
3. Rampling Trouser £225 - Take one size up and you’ll feel like you’re in PJs but look nothing like it.
4. Coligny Coat £645 - Chocolately perfection that would look good for years to come.
1. Abask - I’d be happy with anything from Abask under my tree!
2. Alix Dreynis - We stumbled across this in Paris just last week and instantly fell in love with their ceramics.
3. The Hambledon - My favourite shop in Winchester, they always have a fantastic array of Christmas decorations, especially good stocking fillers for children and a well curated menswear section downstairs.
4. Cutter Brooks - I am going to miss their Cotswolds store, but online is just as inspiring. Home to the original mushroom adorned tree I so adore, I've currently got my eye on their paper geraniums and their kantha oven mitts are sure to be a crowd pleaser.
5. Shop Merci Milo - I have a couple of godchildren in America and love supporting Shop Merci Milo from afar, they have a selection to suit every child in your life, with very helpful age appropriate suggestions!
6. Couverture and the Garbstore - my go-to in Notting Hill, it’s consistently beautiful with brands such as Rejina Pyo, Souer and Sophie Lou Jacobsen plus the likes of Kapital and YMC for the men in your life.
Vintage One of a Kinds
And last, but by no means least, if you’re a treasure hunter like me, I love the thrill of finding something one of a kind and this festive season I’m excited to combine vintage homewares with the best local produce I can find… think this vintage swan toast rack with a loaf of seeded sourdough wrapped in brown paper, this cork ice bucket with paired with your favourite bottle or this walnut shaped nut cracker, with an accompanying bag of nuts.
If trawling Ebay isn’t your thing, fear not! Below are some of my favourite sellers who’ve done the hard work for you, click through to see what’s caught my eye, but, you’d better be quick!
We hope you’ve discovered some new brands, found gifts for the loved ones in your life, or some treasures for your own wish list. As always please let us know if there’s someone or something that you think we’d love!