Ah, a week filled with intentional and wholehearted gratitude—
for food, for family, for friends, and for unabashed, unapologetic shopping.

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I’ve been deep in a practice lately: opening myself up to both giving and receiving. Every morning, sometimes multiple times, I start with my hands in prayer position and say out loud, “I am open to giving and receiving love.” Then I open my arms wide—full hug formation—and repeat, repeat, repeat until the words settle into my system.

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And while I may say “love,” let’s be honest: gifts are absolutely included in that love language.

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My feed has been flooded with every kind of gift guide imaginable—from the chic millennial to the adored dad—but I have yet to see one for the aesthetes, the collectors, the sensory seekers. An art lover’s gift guide that actually resonates.

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So today, I’m making one.
For your viewing pleasure, your inspiration, and your cart.
Buy what you love—and tell me about it.

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**All links are imbedded in the photos

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For the Home Collector

Objects that hold space, shift atmosphere, and spark conversation.

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▪ Sculptural Candle
Think poured beeswax twists, hand-dipped altars, or sculptural forms that melt into abstract shapes. Functional art. Currently very into :

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▪ Hand-built ceramic vessel (small-batch)
Support potters who make vessels that feel alive—slightly irregular rims, smoky glaze, thumbprints visible. A piece that gets better with patina.

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▪ An Art Subscription (the gift that keeps curating)
There’s something luxurious about having art arrive at your doorstep every month—like getting a little gallery opening in the mail. It’s thoughtful, ongoing, and perfect for the person who already has everything

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▪ Textural throw or art blanket
Jacquard-woven throws inspired by landscapes, paintings, or abstract geometry—an artwork for the body.

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For the Sensory Aesthete

Gifts for someone who feels through their environment.

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▪ Design-forward incense & holder
Think brass, marble, or sculptural forms by Cinnamon Projects, or Seth Rogan’s brand Houseplant.

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▪ Scent inspired by an artwork

There are fragrances inspired by Rothko’s color fields, by ancient Greek vases, even by the quiet sanctuaries of Japanese temples. Scent as artwork, mood as medium. One of my favorites is Portrait of a Lady by Frédéric Malle — dark, opulent, and emotional in the way a painting can be. A whole mood, bottled.

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▪ A weighted object for the desk
Bronze spheres or stone paperweights—small enough to hold, heavy enough to ground.

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For the Devoted Reader & Thinker

Books that open portals, deepen curiosity, or make a coffee table look like a gallery.

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▪ A seminal art book

• The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

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• A chic vintage coffee table book

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▪ A poetry collection that feels like a relic
Ocean Vuong, Mary Oliver, Rilke, Ada Limón.

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▪ A museum membership
The most underrated gift—unlimited access to beauty. It’s an invitation to wander, to linger, to return. Choose something local to your city or to theirs. Some of my favorites to gift:

• The Met — encyclopedic, majestic, endlessly explorable.
• The Guggenheim — for someone who loves architecture as much as the exhibitions.

• The newly reopened Frick — intimate, jewel-box quiet, a sanctuary for the slow-looking aesthete.

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Bonus points for adding a gift certificate to Café Sabarsky—because nothing completes a museum afternoon like an unapologetically decadent Viennese dessert in one of the most elegant rooms in New York. 🍰✨

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For the Traveler & Wanderer

Experiences and tools that turn the world into a living gallery.

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▪ A guided architecture tour
Chicago, Barcelona, Mexico City, Glasgow — gift someone a new lens.

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▪ A beautifully designed travel sketch kit
A portable invitation to notice more.

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▪ A weekend art retreat or workshop
So many under-the-radar places offer pottery, painting, and sensory design intensives.

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For the Aspiring Artist (or the Artist at Heart)

Things that spark creativity, ritual, and play.

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▪ The Bordeaux Studio Set by Nickey Kehoe
A desk setup so beautiful it practically asks you to create something. Deep Bordeaux tones, sculptural curves, and that old-world, atelier energy. It’s the kind of gift that turns a workspace into a studio—and makes even the most mundane to-do list feel like a creative act.

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▪ Rare pigments or handmade watercolor pans
Lapis, ochre, or volcanic earth. Pure material joy.

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▪ A beautiful palette or mixing stone
Like giving someone a stage for their imagination.

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▪ Marbled paper, notebooks and photo albums
It’s impossible not to feel inspired.

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Final Thought

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Artful gifts don’t have to be expensive. They just need to carry intention, beauty, or the unmistakable fingerprint of care. Give something someone will want to touch, hold, light, read, or keep out—even when the holidays are over.

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Thank you, truly, to everyone who keeps coming back each week to see what we’re cooking up over here at RAREculture/ RAREform. You keep me creating, questioning, and occasionally oversharing.

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Wishing you a Thanksgiving full of carbs and calm—and a Black Friday where every cart, wish list, and impulsive click works squarely in your favor.

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💌 Elle

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P.S. if you end up buying something deliciously unnecessary, DM me immediately so I can cheer you on.

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