Gifts to Give the Minimalist
A handful of superior-quality staples. Clean cuts. Polished, monochrome palettes. A daily uniform that somehow never feels repetitive. Rarely over the top, always intentional. Effortlessly curated. A soft spot for Brutalism and Japanese design. A calm, composed aura. The list goes on.
Everyone knows somebody who's fully embraced the minimalist aesthetic, in style matters, its ethos, and beyond. But so, when it comes to gifting this somebody, how does one avoid getting them more of the same, over and over, or something too left-field that won't land either?
Enter here our in-house minimalism nerds, who've curated a selection of contemporary pieces the paired-back folks in your life may haven’t considered yet but'll take a liking to: tops, footwear, accessories, and refined interior design picks included. With the holidays fast approaching, consider this your go-to guide for surprising the typically un-surprisable.
Their Taste May Be Simple, Gifting Them Is Anything But:
Sea Island Cotton T-Shirt
It doesn’t get more essential than a white or black cotton tee. But when it comes to quality and the feeling on the skin, entire volumes could be written on the subject. Stripping away the complexity, we suggest giving Sea Island cotton a try. It’s by far one of the softest t-shirt anyone will ever wear, made from one of the silkiest and rarest cotton yarns in existence.
MM6 Maison Margiela Anatomic Sneakers
When it comes to Maison Margiela, the fashion label wastes no time on unnecessary ornamentation. This signature pair of low-profile sneakers combines a discreet silhouette with premium materials like grained calfskin and suede. A shoe that doesn’t scream for attention but gets it nonetheless.
Courrèges Belt-loop trousers
Chances are, the person top-of-mind here's already fawning over a classic pair of anthracite workwear-inspired pants. But these ones from Courrèges are next level, transforming a traditional silhouette into something quietly assertive.
The North Face Hydrenalite Down Jacket
This pearl-grey down jacket features one of the slickest colorways ever released by TNF, a dream come true for anyone who loves elegant, muted tones.
Sunflower Yellow Frederik Cotton Sweater
Make it an off-white ribbed sweater if they're lacking in the knitwear department. Infinitely versatile and fuzzy.
Lemaire Small Soft Shoulder Bag
How not to include Lemaire on this list, one of the undisputed pioneers of quietly luxurious and downright good clothes? This laced shoulder bag is an ever impressive entry to Christophe Lemaire's catalog of stripped-back and cleverly tailored products.
Acne Studios Crystal Hoop Earrings
Hoops have the equal capacity to elevate or derail a look. The wrong size or material can really (re-)set the tone of what one's actually trying to convey. With these, the message is crystal clear. Literally.
NM3 Incense Holder Silver
A superbly brutalist incense holder? Why not?
NM3 Small podium
Matching the aforementioned incense holder, here is a Brutalist-style metallic coffee table that stoically commands attention and offers the right podium for the giftee's best magazines and art books.
Rick Owens L’APPARITION Candle Set
It takes a moment to unravel what this shiny glass vessel by Rick Owens contains. Spoiler: it’s a lush candle with notes of lotus flower. Safely stored in a tall black and chimney-style container, it doubles as an object of dark, futuristic decor.
Tom Dixon Portable Lamp
Unless you have one, you don't know just how much of a gift it is to own a portable lamp. Fancier than a flashlight, handier than a proper plug-in, something like this Tom Dixon fav is safe to become any Scandi interior freak's new most-cherished houseware piece.
Muecke Wooden Chair
An icon of the furniture category, the Muecke chair is (or should be) of historic significance to anyone who claims allegiance with the minimalist design movement. If you have the money to spare (and a dealer close by), this will indeed make the gift to end all gifts.
TOYO Steel T-320 Toolbox
And finally, Japanese design philosophy applied to a classic... toolbox. To build one's own chair, perhaps?
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