Thoughts on gift giving

Winter outfit with dark tartan scarf — Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Tartan scarf winter outfit with black cashmere sweater — Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Holiday outfit with tartan scarf and green corduroy pants — Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Holiday style with dark tartan scarf — Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Tartan scarf, black cashmere sweater, green corduroy pants — Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

For the past couple of years, when the holiday season rolls around, I get kind of a nagging feeling about gifts. I absolutely love giving gifts. I love picking out items that my family and friends would truly love and find useful, but I also know that as a society, we consume way too much. (I'm working on reducing my own consumption.) We just don’t always need more stuff. And even though I love picking out physical items to gift on Christmas (there's something nostalgic about a tree decorated with wrapped presents), I often wonder how we can move away from physical gifts—in my own family (and in society as a whole, but that’s a separate conversation).

I’m not the only person to buy whatever I want or need whenever I happen to need it (with some exceptions), and I know many of my family members are the same way. I do try to think of practical gift ideas whenever I’m asked, and I like to give practical gifts, but I also love the idea of pooling the money into an experience versus giving multiple gifts. But how can we make giving experiences feel as special as wrapping and giving physical gifts? With every year, I realize that time spent with loved ones is infinitely more important than anything material.

It’s hard when gift giving is so ingrained in you at Christmastime. It’s hard to get family members on board with the idea of fewer gifts…and fewer things, in general. (They would probably laugh at me if I suggested the idea, considering I’ve got multiple boxes scattered around the house full of things that I’ve yet to donate and a few boxes that I still need to go through.)

Anyway. Rambly post today! I’d love to hear your thoughts on gift giving / giving experiences vs. physical gifts / what you do at Christmas that may be different from “the norm”. And speaking of gifts, I need to figure out what to give my dad (the hardest to shop for, always) and then wrap everything! Ah!

OUTFIT DETAILS

Grana sweater / similar by Everlane
Trouve top / old; similar by Karen Kane or Bobeau (last seen here)
J.Crew pants / old; similar by Kut from the Kloth
J.Crew flats / similar by Clarks
J.Crew Factory scarf / exact (last seen here)
Moorea Seal sunglasses / old; similar by Le Specs
Dior Addict Lip Glow in pink / exact