Christmas shopping may still be months away, but retail experts say some of the season’s most desirable gifts are already emerging — and waiting could mean missing out.
uncertain
waiting → say → gifts
From elevated everyday essentials and beauty favorites to luggage, bedding, specialty foods and screen-free experiences, this year’s strongest gifts are less about chasing the latest viral product and more about finding something useful, personal and built to last.
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gifts → chase → something
“The gifts that will hit this year are the ones that clearly show the giver actually paid attention, and didn’t just ask AI for generic recommendations!” says Chris Schmicker, Vice President of Marketing at AfterShip.
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Schmicker → hit → AfterShip
“I’m betting we’ll see more personalized gifts, like monogrammed accessories, as part of the preppy style revival; more vintage gifts, from upcycled fashions to antique home decor; and gifts that help people spend quality time offline.
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people → bet → time
For a closer look at what shoppers should put on their lists — and what they should buy before it sells out— I spoke with six retail and consumer experts on the hottest gifts and how shopping is looking different this year.
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shopping → put → gifts
The drive for gift-giving intentionality
Across retail, consumer research and creator commerce, experts are seeing a common theme: shoppers want gifts that feel intentional.
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that → see → gifts
Beauty, wellness, travel and home products continue to attract attention, while nostalgic, offline activities are making a comeback.
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activities → continue → comeback
At the same time, consumers are increasingly using reviews, social platforms, editorial gift guides and AI to research purchases before committing.
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consumers → use → purchases
That makes timing just as important as the gift itself.
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timing → make → gift
Limited-edition beauty products, popular apparel sizes, small-batch handmade goods and celebrity-backed fashion campaigns can sell through quickly.
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products → back → ?
Experts recommend buying early when a specific color, size or personalization matters — and checking return policies and delivery dates before putting a present under the tree.
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color → buy → tree
The good news is that thoughtful gifting doesn’t necessarily require a luxury budget.
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gifting → require → budget
Across price points, experts recommend looking for quality materials, attractive presentation and products that upgrade something the recipient already uses.
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recipient → look → something
“A $30 gift that references an inside joke or a recent conversation will always feel more premium than a $150 gift plucked from a generic top-10 list,” Schmicker told The Post.
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Schmicker → reference → Post
The biggest gift trends to watch
Schmicker says experience-enabling gifts are poised to remain popular.
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gifts → watch → trends
AfterShip data showed suitcases were up 172% year over year last holiday season, while luggage accessories rose 104%.
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accessories → show → year
“We looked at order volume trends across millions of tracked shipments from North American retailers who use AfterShip, to see which categories are growing or shrinking from one holiday season to the next,” Schmicker noted.
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Schmicker → look → next
The Away Carry-On Flex is a sleek, durable suitcase designed for easy organization and versatile travel.
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Flex → design → organization
Its expandable design gives you extra packing space when you need it, while the smooth wheels and thoughtfully designed interior make traveling more convenient.
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traveling → give → it
“The gifts that will hit this year are the ones that clearly show the giver actually paid attention,” Schmicker says, pointing to personalized accessories, vintage finds and products that encourage people to spend time offline.
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that → hit → time
Lauren Kleinman, Founder and CEO of Dreamday, also expects “elevated utility” to define the season.
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utility → expect → season
“People want to give something that feels special to open but also has a clear purpose long after the holidays,” she says.
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she → want → holidays
At LTK, beauty is another major category to watch.
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beauty → watch → LTK
Ally Anderson, Senior Director of Brand Marketing Strategy at LTK, says makeup, fragrance and skincare sales on the platform rose more than 40% year over year last holiday season, information which was pulled from an internal study and its previous 2025 Holiday Shopper Study.
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which → say → study
Bedding and linens are also gaining momentum, with sales up more than 20%.
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Bedding → gain → sales
The Valentino Mini Born in Roma Donna 4-Piece Discovery Gift Set lets you explore four miniature fragrances from the iconic Born in Roma collection.
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you → let → collection
It’s an elegant gift for anyone who enjoys discovering sophisticated, floral and feminine scents.
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who → ’ → scents
What to buy at every budget
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buy → buy → budget
For smaller gifts, experts recommend consumables, beauty and stocking stuffers.
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experts → recommend → consumables
Schmicker suggests specialty food under $25 and beauty or self-care products under $50.
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Schmicker → suggest → 50
Kleinman highlights Compartés chocolate, Glamnetic press-on nails and ILIA beauty products.
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Kleinman → highlight → chocolate
Between $50 and $100, jewelry, wellness products and elevated everyday essentials stand out.
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jewelry → elevate → 50
For budgets up to $250, experts point to luggage, premium bedding, home goods and products that can become part of someone’s daily routine.
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that → point → routine
A favorite we reviewed, the Cozy Earth Bamboo Luxury Bed Sheet Set is made from premium bamboo viscose for a soft, smooth feel that’s especially comfortable for sleeping.
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that → review → sleeping
The breathable fabric and luxurious finish make it an easy way to elevate everyday bedding.
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it → make → bedding
“The more you’re spending, the more important it becomes to think about cost per use rather than simply the initial wow factor,” Kleinman says.
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Kleinman → spend → use
“Hand-crafted gifts — like ceramics, embroidered apparel, pet portraits — are so special, but they have longer lead times and production is limited,” Schmicker says.
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Schmicker → craft → times
A custom embroidered crewneck from Etsy offers a personalized take on a classic everyday sweatshirt.
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crewneck → embroider → sweatshirt
With custom embroidery, it can be tailored with a name, word, phrase or design to create a thoughtful and unique gift.
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it → tailor → gift
Taylor Cunningham, VP of U.S. Marketing at Trustpilot, similarly recommends buying early when a gift is tied to a major fashion campaign or specific size and color.
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gift → recommend → campaign
…and 43 more, not listed.
The Aporia
