The Ultimate Hostess Gift Guide
by habituallychic
08 . 09 . 19Now that we’re in the dog days of summer, that means many people will be taking advantage of the generosity of their friends with weekend houses. If you wanted to be invited back, you can’t arrive empty handed so I’ve put together some chic options that will have you declared the best house guest.
As I’ve mentioned in previous gift guides, I think it’s lovely to bring a permanent gift along with something ephemeral. I would bring these Light Blue Island Wrapped Pitchers & Carafe with ingredients for watermelon lemonade, mimosas, Bloody Marys, or all three. They are also available in navy and have matching glassware if you really want to make sure you get invited back next year.
Take lots of photos during the weekend and send one or three in these Aerin Wicker Scalloped Gallery Frames after your trip. Bonus points, if the photos are artsy black and white images of your host’s children and pets.
I always think it’s nice to bring food and drinks so you’re not eating and drinking your hosts out of their house. How about bring this Ginger Jar Party Bucket with bottles of rosé for the adults and Spindrift flavored sparkling water for the kids?
I’d bring one or two of these chic wicker Amanda Lindroth Island Trays with healthy grab and go snacks like granola bars and bags of popcorn.
Bring a basket of blueberry muffins from the Sconset Market or a fabulous dessert from Carissa’s Bakery and include a set of these chic D’Ascoli Calico floral-print napkins they can keep as a remembrance of your visit.
I think it would be very nice to bring a book or books that you think your host would enjoy like Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl. If you’re having a girl’s weekend, it might be fun to bring one copy of the book for everyone and have a relaxed book club over the weekend.
I would bring this Spongeware Pitcher with a pretty bouquet of flowers for my host.
The ship on one of the bars of soap in this Claus Porto Deco Soap Trio of Favorito, Deco & Cerina would make them perfect for a coastal town host. For bonus points, include some new white fluffy towels like these Aerin Scalloped Towels that are on sale right now.
Bring some lemon bars or other lemon flavored food and this set of four Seville Appetizer Plates.
I haven’t seen Gardens of Style in person yet but the tagline “Private Hideaways of the Design World” makes it sound intriguing. Give it to your host with a new pair of gardening gloves or a pretty vintage pot.
I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love this Lettuceware Crudité Dish with delicious dips and chips from William Poll.
If you’re headed to a friend’s beach house, I think it would be fun to bring them a stack of new beach towels, especially if they have a big family. I’d also add a beach bucket filled with sunscreen so they never run out.
Headed to a British friend’s house, I bet they would love this Fortnum & Mason Superb Hamper filled with tea and other products.
It’s always hard to figure out what to give people who already have everything. I doubt that most of them own chic ceramic vegetable tureens, bowls, or plates from Bordallo Pinheiro. I’m obsessed with all of them but I especially love the watermelons and artichokes.
I’m not allowed to buy myself Ninth Street Women until I make a dent in the stack of books I already have beside my bed but this would be perfect for the art lover in your life.
I would pair this Tea Forté Tea Tasting Assortment Gift Box with some vintage tea cups for a lovely hostess gift.
Your fashionista friend would appreciate these La Double J Libellula six-piece dessert plate set probably minus the dessert.
These Island Wrapped Votives would be a nice gift for a host who’s having a party during your stay. Don’t forget to include candles.
Another great gift for the fashion loving hostess would be Tonne Goodman’s book Point of View.
Bring this Beehive Cheese Gift Crate with a nice serving platter on which to lay it all out at your host’s house.
Some people think scented candles are a boring gift but I don’t know anyone who would turn up their nose at a Diptyque Candle. I especially love the Baies and Figuier scents.
How about bringing a Handpainted Tile Cachepot with a nice topiary with you for the weekend?
The Boredom Box Activity Set includes 250 games and puzzles to keep the children of your hosts entertained for hours, especially on rainy days.
If money is no object, this Aerin Cane Backgammon Set would definitely get you invited back for years to come.
Bon week-end!
XOXO,
HC