310: The $50 and under club

Part III of IV.

Care and thoughtfulness in gifting—and being a quality gift-giver—has no correlation with price. If anything, it’s the less expensive gifts that show we’ve been paying attention and worked hard to find that something that’s just so for them.

For me, personally, most of the gifting I’m doing is for family who I’m traveling far to see (plus there are a lot of them). Small, sweet things that fit in my luggage and won’t break me in numbers will characterize this year’s generosity.

In the third of Magasin’s four-part gifting series, we’ve culled an edit of under-$50 objects and edibles that surely someone somewhere would appreciate?? JK, these are all great and easy to love.

Shop our sub-$50 picks below the fold.

Casa Bosques Chocolate Domino Set

A $40 box of chocolates isn’t something we buy everyday—that’s what makes it special to receive. Casa Bosques chocolates are beautifully crafted, packaged, and presented. They’re also delicious. And maybe it’s a gift-giver’s fantasy, but wouldn’t it just be the ultimate satisfaction to have your recipient crack open this domino set and play a round with you before taking a bite out of a dark chocolate tile?

Puebco Handloomed Recycle Yarn Bath Mat

I love the rustic frankness of this bath mat: “BATH.” Others, like “KITCHEN” and “CAMP” are equally literal, but the handwoven, self-identifying rug in my own bathroom is the one that keeps me entertained each time I step out of the shower. It’s funny, but not goofy, and imparts a comforting roughness through its hand-loomed texture.

Wasara Paper Serveware

I devil’s advocated my mother lately, who took a stance against using disposable plates at a party. The Japanese brand Wasara makes paper plates, bowls, cups, and single-use bamboo cutlery that’s more precious than most ceramic styles I see in a year. I’ve spotted it in the wild on several instances—from a Super Yaya preview to an Ezekias Gallery cocktail. Ogata in Paris has one of the more extensive collections I’ve found (from whom you can order online), and an assortment of the pulpy serveware—or just one of the slightly pricier lacquered Nuri styles—would be a delight for the design-head who thinks they’ve seen it all.

Brass Kiridashi Knife

I first saw this handy little Japanese blade at Marseille’s Maison Empereur, and as someone who’s always opening boxes, it struck me as a really elegant solution to a mundane task. It’s made of carbon-hardened blue steel, which is stronger than stainless and maintains its sharpness for longer. And it’s just $10 on Amazon.

Everyone’s Mother Handmade Lace Ornament

Tree or not, plenty would appreciate the beauty of these handmade lace pieces from designer Emma Larimer’s Everyone’s Mother. About half of the 17 one-of-a-kind styles remain, each featuring a doily-like shape strung on a red ribbon, sometimes adorned with wooden beads or pierced shells, finishes that ground the holiday with a more analog feel. (For a full and intolerably cute serving of the brand’s nostalgic sweetness, check out this patchwork dog pillow.)

Hawkins New York Chainmail Scrubber

Another hallmark of a smart gift is that your recipient doesn’t know it's necessary—or just life-enhancing—until it’s in hand. A very chic pan scrubber, like this chainmail one from Hawkins New York, hits that target hardily. Whether or not the Paco Rabanne-y vibe transmits, they will now enjoy ridding the cast iron of steak remnants, one more quotidian task elevated.

DAE Home Slippers (size S, size L)

Carroll Gardens’ DAE is one of those spaces that, upon entering, you want to take one (or two) of everything home. And you can! The elegant cafe and wine bar is also a homeware and design shop with a recently launched ecommerce site. An otherworldly collection of goblets and trays won’t make the under $50 cut, but these quilted cotton slippers will. Give them as a way to support and enable your homebody friends.

Service Projects The Arlo Espresso

Danish brand Service Projects has taken the Italian espresso experience and distilled it into a suite of sleek, affordable, and just-industrial-enough accoutrements, like this cup and saucer set, complete with a dainty steel spoon. The brand has racked up a network of culturally ascendant names—Hands London, Canyon Coffee—which matters to the extent that it’s not just a quality product, but a nod to those in the know.

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