Ask Rachel: Haute Hostess Gifts

With many years under my belt of both hosting and attending festive soirêes, I have a few foolproof ideas of what to give to an entertainer. Read on for my advice and you will sail smoothly through the holiday party season!

For starters, no matter what your hostess’ individual style, you can never go wrong with a deluxe candle set or hardcover coffee table book. My latest favorites for both are Diptyque’s Holiday Set and American Fashion Designers At Home by Rima Suqi. Other equally elegant crowd-pleasers are soap collections—I love MOR’s Soap Opera Set—and cool coasters, like Anna Rabinowicz’s Agate Coasters.

Now, if your party-giver likes to cook, they are sure to love Jonathan Adler’s Fondue Set—such a retro chic find—or Williams-Sonoma’s Cooks’ Oil.

Saving my favorite hostess gift for last, I am partial to bringing fresh flowers in a big and beautiful vase a la SEA Glasbruk’s Candy Recycled Glass Vase…hydrangeas, peonies and calla lilies are all lovely options! As a closing note, remember just because you are getting shopping for your hostess doesn’t mean you can’t get yourself a life of the party-appropriate something too! xoRZ

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