With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s time to get started on gift shopping — and it’s always a good time to shop locally! Read on for my 2023 Bay Area Gift Guide for ideas on what to buy for all your loved ones this year.
- Tasteful statement jewelry for your main character friend
Consider giving your loved one the gift of specialty jewelry that will bring a refreshed look to one of their favorite outfits, and a pop of color that’ll serve as a great conversation starter over the New Year.
Dorian Webb is a jewelry designer based in Oakland, and was recently a finalist in the Next Now jewelry design competition in 2021. Her craftsmanship celebrates African American culture, perfection in imperfection, and liveliness. Check out her stunning cool-toned accent pieces here, perfect for Winter and festivities ahead.
- Corporate-esque bags for the workaholic
Corporate fashion has been everywhere this past year, from the everyday styling of slacks, blazers, and watches… And it’s only right that handbags receive the same C-Suite treatment.
Chau Sáez is a leather artisan based in San Francisco, dedicated to bringing functionality and quality to the luxury handbag industry. Her bags are adaptable, helping your outfit transition effortlessly depending on the setting: from day to night, work to travel, or even everyday to special events. We love creative takes on classic designs like the Emme Belt Bag in any of their three colors.
- Bloke-core Sneakers for the street fashion lover
You may have seen an explosion of nylon sports team merchandise being worn on your Instagram feeds, and a strong presence of hike-worthy traction in the soles of everyday shoes. Inspired by the British school-boy aesthetic, “Bloke-Core” is a specific tomboy look often composed of baggy or fitted soccer (aka football) team merch and athletic sneakers. Our favorite Bloke-Core styles are the Adidas Gazelles and the Salomon XT-6 GORE-TEX: check out your local secondhand stores for some hidden gems!
- Floral arrangement classes with a loved one
Looking for an experiential gift for the romantics in your life, or those with a strong curatorial eye? Floral arrangement is the perfect gift for spending relaxing, quality time.
24:01 Florist in Los Altos is a Korean-style flower shop, which offers floral arrangement and candle-making workshops in addition to high-end custom designs for events. You can find three tiers of in-person classes available on their Classbento here.
- Earrings for the art collectors in your life
For the bright and fun modern art lovers that seem to bring joy wherever they go, there’s no better gift than some wearable art inspired by some of their favorite paintings.
Clouds + Ladders is a jewelry company based in the Bay Area, which produces handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by natural landscapes, the solar system, vintage jewelry designs, and artwork from a variety of different cultures. The founder Kate’s pieces have been featured in a number of museums such as SFMOMA, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Boston Museum of Art. Shop from her Confetti Collection here.
- Rororiri for the dog-owners
I love a good matching set and a well-dressed dog. Now imagine if these two worlds were to combine in the form of chic matching outfits with your furry best friend. It’s just TOO CUTE.
Perfect for you and your fabulous pet or for the dog owners in your life, consider getting matching teddy jackets from Rororiri, a luxury human and dog clothing company from San Francisco. Founder Rita Li is a San Francisco Academy of Art University alumni, and created Rororiri to bring timeless silhouettes with high quality materials to our dog-loving homes. Shop the Teddy Coat Hudson and Hoodie Hudson jackets online today, or browse in-person at their location in Stanford Shopping Center!
I hope you enjoyed this curation of small businesses in the Bay Area, and that I inspired new gift ideas for those hard-to-shop-for people in your life. Check out last year’s Bay Area Small Businesses Gift Guide for even more of our favorite gift suggestions!
Need help with shopping? Leave it to the pros! Click here to book your complimentary phone consultation to learn more about our seasonal shopping services. Until next week, happy holidays, and happy shopping!
