Gifts to make the women in your life smile — what to buy

There are women in your life who deserve the moon and the stars — your partner, your mom, your best friend, your travel buddy, your roommate or even your therapist. The list goes on. Somehow, these women keep it all together for both of you and you regularly wonder what you would do without their presence. 

So, now that it’s time to give this woman (or women) a gift, the pressure is on. Even though she says she would be happy with anything, you know better. Here are some recommendations that the women in your life may not expect, but will surely brighten their day.

Why we love it: A non-stick, oven-safe pot and steamer that deep fries, sears, steams, strains, stews, sautés, bakes, braises, broils, boils and roasts that are beautiful enough to serve in.  Created by a Canadian company and crafted sustainably in Italy. If you’re really aiming for the wow-factor, include The Flatware Set in a brushed black or gold. Check out our Everything Pan review for more on the brand.

Price: $250 Where to buy: Kilne

Why we love it: Think coffee machine, but sub out your Arabica beans for an old fashioned. This cocktail maker uses cocktail pods (sold separately) to mix your drink of choice in seconds from real juice concentrates and has an automatic cycle to self-clean after each use.

Price: $399 Where to buy: Amazon

Why we love it: For the ladies who use aromatherapy to destress, this LED and the nearly-silent diffuser will fill a small room with your favourite Saje blend for four to eight hours, all while blending right in with your home’s aesthetics and decor.

Price: $78 Where to buy: Saje

Why we love it: If your wife loves to belt out her favourite boy band hits in the shower, this waterproof speaker comes with a 360-degree sound to make her feel like she’s headlining Scotiabank Theatre. Even better, it’s beach-ready — it floats on water, can be submerged up to 1 meter and has a 15-hour battery life.

Price: $200 Where to buy: Amazon

Why we love it: These 100 per cent leather boots are on trend and ultra-comfortable. The side zipper makes them easy to slip on and off and the lug sole adds a contemporary edge. The system has been designed for breathability and the enhanced cushioning will make your lady’s feet sing all day long.

Price: $230 Where to buy: Geox

Why we love it: Beautiful, functional and affordable — perfect for any woman who loves to host with mood lighting.

Price: $8 Where to buy: H&M

Why we love it: What better way to show your wife you care than to give her a way to keep warm? This plush scarf from Acne Studios is made from alpaca, wool, nylon and mohair, and has 2 printed colorways to add some brightness to those dreary winter days.

Price: $430 Where to buy: Simons

Why we love it: In our opinion, there is only one item in a wardrobe that is truly timeless: a leather jacket. This vegan leather aviator-style jacket from Canadian brand Oat + Fort has a medium-length cut and comes in a lovely coffee bean hue or classic black. It’s sherpa-lined to keep the wearer nice and toasty during chilly winter evenings.

Price: $168 (currently on sale for $98) Where to buy: Oak + Fort

Why we love it: Whether she’s a coffee or tea drinker, this glass mug from David’s Tea is going to be your giftee’s new favourite mug. It comes with a stainless steel infuser and a matching lid that doubles as a saucer. Pair it with one of David’s Tea’s top-selling holiday blends.

Price: $30 Where to buy: David’s Tea

Why we love it: This set by Oribe, which includes a full-size shampoo, conditioner and hair oil, brings the luxury salon experience to your personal hair care routine. Each product is vegan and cruelty-free and uses ingredients like Bio-Restorative Complex and Mediterranean cypress extract to repair and restore dry, damaged hair.

Price: $155 Where to buy: Sephora

Why we love it: For the travel enthusiast, this completely collapsible waterproof duffle bag transforms into a hanging garment bag that keeps suits, dresses and other long garments wrinkle-free. Use the top handle when it’s light or attach the crossbody strap when it’s a bit heavier, and your giftee will be ready for her next vacation in no time.

Price: $68 Where to buy: Amazon

Why we love it: This piece is beautiful and bold yet understated at the same time, making it a great choice for many women. It’s gold-filled and comes in at an accessible price point, it’s hypoallergenic and waterproof, plus your purchase will help support a small Canadian business from Courtenay, B.C.

Price: $68+ Where to buy: Wildflower Mercantile

Why we love it: Perfect for women with all hair types and textures, this fast-acting trio targets dandruff, flakes, psoriasis and other scalp concerns. Ideal for postpartum hair loss and complete scalp renewal. Your giftee will thank you for hair reinvigoration during cold weather months that can be harmful to our hair.

Price: $145 Where to buy: Act + Acre

Why we love it: For the enthusiastic, but beginner plant mom, this 6-plant herb garden is a foolproof way for your wife to grow her favourite herbs indoors. Not only is this a soil-less option, but the ‘vacation mode’ feature ensures that her herbs stay alive while you’re gone for your week-long vacation.

Price: $220 Where to buy: Amazon

Why we love it: Clunky blenders are out,  sleek blenders are in. This Beast blender takes up minimal space on a kitchen countertop and blends soups and smoothies in no time. It even comes with a Hydration system, so your giftee can enjoy a refreshing cucumber mint water on the go.

Price: $207 Where to buy: Amazon

Why we love it: For the woman who is always the first to notice if the air is dry, say no more. Dyson’s voice-controlled ‘purifier humidifier’ senses, reports and destroys harmful chemicals and odours in the air, and uses a filter (that never needs to be replaced) to destroy formaldehyde.

Price: $1200 Where to buy: Dyson

Why we love it: If your lady is a bookworm, but has an overflow that no longer fits on the shelves, a six-month Audible membership may be the perfect way for her to listen to the newest novel in her favourite trilogy without taking up any space. 

Price: From $15 Where to buy: Audible

Why we love it: Let’s be honest, if you’re buying for your wife or partner, this gift is for both of you. You both deserve to sleep on a cloud, and it’s about time for you to make it happen. This bouclé bed — one of the most popular furniture fabrics of the last few years — has detachable cushions with removable covers, and for those low on space, there’s even an option that has storage underneath. 

Price: $1990+ Where to buy: Sundays

Why we love it: This kit includes four full-size body care essentials “packed with facial-grade actives for better skin neck down”.  And they aren’t lying! Each product includes advanced nutrients and moisture on contact making your skin feel replenished and renewed. A multi-award-winning beauty combo.

Price: $130 Where to buy: Necessaire

Why we love it: This kit works hard to strengthen and repair the most dry, damaged hair. Great for deep hydration, split ends and preventing future breakage, this kit comes with a Deep Conditioning Mask and Super Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner to strengthen and repair damaged hair.

Price: $67 Where to buy: Sephora

Why we love it: Nothing spruces up a table like a statement centrepiece. Each plate in this collection looks beautifully unique. Bubbles and craters are a natural occurrence in cast glass, giving the appearance of the surface texture of the moon. Designed by Laura Bilde and Linnea Ek Blæhr for the well-loved Canadian brand EQ3. The plates come in three sizes and can be used for serving food, as decor or as catch-all dishes for things like keys and jewelry.

Price: $20+ Where to buy: EQ3

Shopping Essentials is a category that features highly researched products and reviews, new and exciting launches, plus behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands — learn more here or sign up for our newsletter.