Hi everyone!
I think I worked 100 hours this week, so I’m writing to you from my bed, pretty much unable to move, relieved at how much actually got done but also somewhat feeling the shock of the hours on my body. My coach recently said that I don’t even know how to relax anymore, and he’s unfortunately always right. I should have spent today napping or eating very well deserved lasagna, or Christmas shopping (I’m in Paris, after all!). Instead, I decided to aggregate all the notes from my phone from the last few months and put together the 400s gift guide you’ll read this week.
For the first time since we launched the company, the proverbial Ghia “office” will be closed between Christmas and New Years - this feels like tremendous growth, being ahead enough on our Dry January plans that we can prioritize rest for our team.
It’s also officially a year since I started this very inconsistent stream of consciousness, and I have learned and enjoyed it so much - it is the safest and most supportive community I know on the internet. Thank you for being here <3!
I’ll be spending the holidays with my family in the South of France, in a smaller committee than usual, probably force feeding my siblings with random leftover-tatin, begging my brother to go on walks with me, and worrying about our depletion at Whole Foods next year. I hope you get some version of that: really happy holidays, lots of rest, just a little bit of thinking time and too much chocolate.
xx
Melanie
My wishlist includes a fancy vase and design books for my Paris shelves, a cover for my poor passport, the Canoe Mocassins by Old Stone Trade (or really anything Melissa designs). Oh also this jacket I really should have bought 3 years ago, and my name in Charlotte Chesnais diamond letters - a girl can dream!
Lie Studio Hair Pin $240 - I started swooning on hair pins the minute that I chopped my hair into a bob last year and when Jenny Walton did her collaboration with Gioielleria Pennisi. The Lie Studio hair pin feels very sculptural and modern. Maybe this is more of a wishlist item!
Casa Bosques Chocolate Dominos $40 - Designed by Savvy Studio these chocolates are a sweet and beautiful stocking stuffer.
Yuni Buffa silver flats $475 - I’ve officially decided that silver is a neutral so you can gift your beloved these gorgeous neutral ballet flats and explore the world while shining together.
Louise Roe tableware, $30+ I love pretty much anything from the minimal brand Louise Roe, and am swooning over her large vases. This espresso set is a great gift for the one who already has it all.
The Important Flowers Planner, $28 by Sofia Coppola. This one is super beautiful and still available at a lot of museum stores and ebay.
Great Makeup Brushes - While I have no problem buying makeup, brushes are always something that I want but hate spending money on. This Westman Atelier set is obviously the dream but a beautiful japanese kabuki is an affordable gift they’ll use all year!
Handmade Seashell earrings- A beautiful touch of the beach even when you’re far from one. You prob want to dm to get those in time!
Initials AirPod case with carabiner - Obviously I love bag charms, and personalized gifts that are somewhat sustainable. Etsy has some great options that also double as bag charms.
Jewelry by Emma Milne Watson (~$120). First spotted on my very cool friend Julia Sarr-Jamois this summer in Ibiza, I now see a different variation everywhere I go. They’re not fancy (which I love) and fully customizable.
Everything pointelle ($30-75) These lie on the very thin line where cozy and cute touch. Coucou, Leset, or Madewell x Leset are favs.
Dries van Noten sparkle scarf $370 - For the friend who doesn’t have room for a christmas tree because their closet is too big.
A great pepper mill. I love pepper mills and dads usually love pepper mills, too. Every gift guide for the rest of my life will include special pepper mills. I love them, I can’t get enough of them. I need more real estate so I can justify buying more pepper mills! Alessi x Michael Graves is on the swoon list always, but if you must know, my LA pepper mill is this vintage Dansk one (which sadly does not grind super well). My Paris pepper mill is the Peugeot Mignonnette, I love how shiny and heavy it is! I need a house to go with these?
Crumbs by Ben Mims $45 - A gorgeous book dedicated to cookies. The real gift will be baking them together afterwards.
Eadem lip balm $24 - My lips feel like a crocodile’s in this cold, so truly any lip balm is invaluable, but the Eadem one has a metallic spout that glides and feels really nice.
Edible gifts: Stuzzi hot sauce $15 Fiery flavor with Italian flair. Yes! Apples $46 - Really great apples from upstate NY. And obviously the Holiday Host Box $99 that contains treats from Ghia, Brightland, Canyon Coffee, Sqirl, Fishwife and more!
Nice ceramics! There are still Shane Gabier soap dispensers at Gem in NYC, and I cherish my flower plate from Anne-Sophie Matrella, and my sun from Mellow. That last one was a birthday present from my friend Alyssa and I think of her every time I use it.
Kallmeyer striped tee $120 x 2. I haven’t craved a short sleeve tee over a long sleeve ones since 1998 but this combo lives rent free in my head and I must have it.
Really Great Dog Toys $68 from Flamingo Estate (everything else they make is really great, too).
Glass Bauble - $125 The only thing I can afford from the amazing Suna Fujita x Loewe Collab
Sports sunnies by French Brand Izipizi ($80). I’m partial to their Glacier mountain glasses, which I own in chocolate, but they also make great reading and blue light glasses that are sustainable and all under $100.
This amazing grocery bag is $70 and looks like it could be The Row - you could even fill it with gardening accessories!
Iris & Romeo Weekend Skin $50 - My staple! It’s skin enhancing and makes you glow without looking like you’re wearing makeup. I’m stuffing my sister’s stocking with it because she needs to wear sunscreen.
Notes de bas de paje - We are living in the era of niche fragrances. I recently met the owner of this small brand because he is the Maitre D’ at my favorite Paris restaurant (Ojji - you should go!). He showed me some samples and I’ve been obsessed with the Wakeme scent since.
Ghia Le Fizz obviously. At < $20 / bottle there is no better hostess gift: our new flavor is a blend of tannic strawberries and orange blossom, and it’s also the delicious gift of not being hungover tomorrow.
Rothy’s for everybody $159 - Thankfully my family doesn’t read my Substack. I got the 5 of us matching Rothy’s clogs for Christmas, with a pair of Comme Si Cashmere socks tucked inside. My mom has been stealing all my Mary-Janes because they’re so comfortable, and I think the minimal design of the clogs will be a hit for my dad and brother, too.
Lenys World Slippers $85 - my very hard to please armchair dad loved these last year, and I happen to wear my suede ones out in the world a lot.
Loewe Candle $120 - One the list for the second year because it’s the prettiest there ever was!
Carly Home Jaipur Pajamas $160 to wear from Dec 22 to Jan 31st without interruption (I actually wear my pants during the day, but then again I live in LA).
Maison Masarin tea towels $26 - These are made out of recycled linens in France by my little sister, which is reason enough to buy them all. They are so pretty and really make doing the dishes much better every day of the rest of the year.
Rinestones Jelly Loafer Randall $295 - If you have a surfer girl friend who wishes to spend January in Costa Rica you should definitely send her these. (Maybe that friend is me!)
Dolce Gabbana Panettone $110 - I can never get too many Panettone’s! Partially because in my deep covid era I watched Massimo Bottura grind his leftovers into flour and make Panettone souffle, and partially because there is nothing better than a slice of Panettone with a scoop of our Crunchy Ghianduja.
Fara Homidi Holiday Kit is now on sale for $152. I went through my “Doux” lip liner in a couple of months, it gives this lovely just-kissed effect (not the 90s Hailey effect which I sadly can’t pull off).
Anything silver. This tumbler from Christofle would be my first pick if I was very, very rich. This $59 Georg Jensen water bottle is a close second. You can also try typing up “Vintage Silver” in Home & Living on Etsy and shooting a note to the vendor to make sure your gift arrives in time.
Really Good Bath Salts $24 My sister makes fun of me that I buy Epsom Salt by the kilo, but a masseuse once told me to put 6 cups per bath because it’s scientifically exactly the same as meat tenderizing, and I haven’t been the same since.
If you like to know where your garments come from, Baserange is a sustainable french company that makes really, really cute things and traces each fabric. Their lingerie is also highly wearable and not, you know, Skims, and their website is fun to get lost on.
All my chic friends in Paris have custom lighters ($52) and silver cigarette boxes. Also this lighter is still one of my favorite things I own and it will be very hard to steal.
Bally Pathy Loafers $950 if they’ve been really nice.
Art Life Practice Guided Sketch Book $45 if they also don’t know how to relax anymore.
A subscription to Pyro or Sky Ting Yoga because we’re here for a good time and a long time.
This very well priced intro kit by U Beauty $88 - I can’t seem to escape their instagram ads about my tech neck *sigh!*
Using Roz (Santa Lucia Oil $45 wow) and Crown Affair (Dry Shampoo $45, Towel $45, anything else really, their gift sets are super well priced) has transformed my hair so I know anything from them will be a welcome gift to friends.
Leveree all natural laundry detergent and the magic stain remover! And generally fancy home things that feel too utilitarian to spend money on but feel so nice to use daily.
The only beauty product my mom has ever stuck to, now in a delicious scent: Soft Services Theraplush - $62
The children version of one of my favorite cookbooks, and the added forever memory of your child / niece learning to cook with you: The Silver Spoon For Children - $21
Speaking of gifts… My mom is about to hit the big 5-0, and we’re throwing her the celebration of the century! I want to treat her to the best pre-party facial in LA (or Pasadena?), and I know you once dropped a gem of a recommendation. A friend mentioned it to me ages ago, but God forbid both our brains are failing us. 😵💫
I’ve been on a deep internet dive for the last three hours (seriously, I deserve an honorary research degree at this point), and stumbling upon your Substack felt like an SOS—aka a total lifesaver. 🙌 So please, help a Ghia-loving daughter out: where should I be booking this golden-year glow-up? Bonus points if they do electrolysis too! 💆♀️✨