Conventional wisdom tells us it’s the thought that counts, but some thoughts count more than others. A generic candle or uninspired gift card might say “I remembered,” but a one-of-a-kind present that’s been painstakingly customized says “I see you, I get you, and I went to extreme lengths to prove it.” In bespoke gifting, luxurious keepsakes are even more covetable with the addition of custom details, ranging from hand-painted monograms to pillow portraits of the family pet.
There are iconic tote bags elevated by embroidered initials, custom tabletop pieces that demand entertaining and home decor so specific you’ll be tempted to redecorate entire rooms around each item. Herewith, the very best personalized gifts to give this holiday season, or as we like to think of it: a roadmap to cementing favorite child status through the shameless art of monogramming.
One-of-a-Kind Presents to Delight the Most Discerning Recipients on Your Gift List.
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Lingua Franca Bespoke Cashmere Sweater -
Commissioned Recipe Painting by Abbi Kenny -
Mr. Boddington’s Monogrammed Notebook -
Custom Golf Swing Sculpture -
Olympia Le-Tan Personalized Book Clutch -
Sarah Wiley Custom Pillow -
Olivet Monogrammed Garment Bag -
Custom-Embroidered Cocktail Napkins -
Alex Mill ‘Perfect Weekend’ Tote Bag -
Rolling Cube Ring -
Salt & Straw Custom Pint Pack -
Weezie Monogrammed Robe
Lingua Franca Bespoke Cashmere Sweater
You cannot go wrong with Lingua Franca’s bespoke cashmere. The brand was founded in 2016 by Rachelle Hruska, who, years earlier, had become a household name in discerning zip codes as the chronicler of early-2000s New York society, thanks to her website, Guest of a Guest. Why is this important? Because the cool kids follow Hruska, and it didn’t take long for Lingua Franca to become the “next cool thing.” (But that was nine years ago, so if it’s the first you’re hearing of Hruska’s sweaters, act like you’ve been there.) Lingua Franca’s 100 percent cashmere knits are adorned with pithy, playful and often provocative statements, hand-stitched in a cool-girl font that is just the right amount of lopsided while remaining legible.
For moms and dads, consider gifting a bespoke crewneck or cardigan emblazoned with a shrunken version of their child’s most adorable doodles. If your loved one does not love children or at least does not love them enough to want kid scribbles on cashmere, dream up a message that’s utterly, uniquely them (“Ask me about anything but children!”) and embroider that on the front, instead. The softness is unparalleled, yet the fabric has a weightlessness and delicacy that almost belie its keepsake-in-the-making durability.
Ships in 3-4 weeks. Order by early December for holiday delivery.
Courtesy of Lingua Franca
Commissioned Recipe Painting by Abbi Kenny
Emerging artist Abbi Kenny, whose evocative acrylic paintings have graced the walls of Deanna Evans Projects in New York and are currently on display at Main Projects in Richmond, Virginia, has a gift for capturing the sensory delights and nostalgic charm of food. For the discerning gourmand who treasures family traditions as much as flavor, Kenny offers a rare opportunity to immortalize a beloved recipe or meaningful dish in a bespoke work of art.
The process is as personal as the finished product. Kenny, a rising star in the art world with an MFA from Boston University and a BFA from RISD, begins each commission with a conversation, delving into the significance and memories behind the chosen recipe. From there, she creates sketches and reference images that capture the essence of the dish, from the colors and textures of the ingredients to the presentation and ambiance.
Recent commissions showcase Kenny’s range and skill: Catena (Learning to Like Malbec) (2022) is a rich, textured exploration of a memorable wine, while Roast Chicken (and Some Things From Nonny) (2024) pays tribute to a family recipe, complete with rice and glass beads. Sightseeing at the Prudential Center Fish Counter (2023) elevates an everyday moment into a glittering, multi-dimensional scene.
With each brushstroke, Kenny celebrates the profound connections we forge through food and the stories we tell around the table. The resulting paintings, which take up to three months to complete depending on size and complexity, are deeply personal masterpieces destined to become treasured family heirlooms. For a truly unique gift that nourishes the soul as much as the palate, secure a slot in Kenny’s sought-after commission schedule before they’re all gobbled up.
Allow 1-3 months.
Courtesy of Abbi Kenny
Mr. Boddington’s Monogrammed Notebook
Mr. Boddington’s monogrammed notebook is the perfect gift for those who refuse to surrender entirely to the tyranny of digital note-taking. Crafted from premium vegan leather in colors with personality—sky blue (a particular triumph in a sea of drab office supplies), cherry red, emerald green, cognac and linen—each can be personalized with up to two hand-painted letters, applied by artists in Mr. Boddington’s Brooklyn workshop. At 8″ by 6.5″, it’s substantial enough to gift independently but compact enough to qualify as a stocking stuffer—which is useful when you’re trying to justify buying one for yourself while shopping for others. For anyone who’s ever craved the quiet superiority of pulling out a beautiful notebook in a room full of laptop typists, this delivers on that promise without apology.
Ships in up to two weeks.
Courtesy of Mr. Boddington's Studio
Custom Golf Swing Sculpture
Swing Sculpt turns your loved one’s golf swing into a permanent work of art (or at least home decor)—video analysis meets proprietary 3D modeling to capture the exact mechanics of their form. Mounted on walnut with optional engraving, these keepsake pieces skip the gimmicky trophy aesthetic in favor of clean lines that let the swing’s fluidity speak for itself. The result works equally well in a formal office or den, and for the golfer who cares as much about form as score, it’s the rare, one-of-a-kind gift that creates entirely new reasons to talk about golf—as if they needed more. Sometimes the best presents immortalize something fleeting—in this case, the split-second grace of a well-executed drive that their friends will now have to admire on repeat.
Ships in 3-4 weeks.
Courtesy of Swing Sculpt
Olympia Le-Tan Personalized Book Clutch
For the stylish woman who tied the knot in 2025, an Olympia Le-Tan custom clutch is a gift that is as unique and memorable as her special day. The Parisian brand is renowned for its exquisite, hand-embroidered “book” clutches. With their custom design service, you can create a one-of-a-kind gift that celebrates significant life milestones. Imagine presenting a newlywed bride with a clutch featuring the book cover from which her wedding reading was taken, or a design incorporating elements from her bouquet or wedding invitation. Perhaps it’s a favorite love poem, rendered in intricate stitching, or a scene that captures the essence of where the couple first met. Every detail can be customized, from the base color to the cover artwork. With the option to add personalized touches like initials, a name, a date or a special message, the clutch becomes a keepsake.
Allow 15 days for in-stock items and 60 days for fully custom designs.
Courtesy of Olympia Le-Tan
Sarah Wiley Custom Pillow
Sarah Wiley’s custom pillows are a delightful anomaly—whimsical, deeply personal and utterly charming. These are not your standard accent cushions, but storytelling vehicles, each a vibrant vignette of a life well-lived. Wiley teases out the tales that make a house a home. A beloved dog with a penchant for mischief and a taste for luxury handbags. A family portrait that captures the quirks and personalities of each member. The architectural details of a childhood home, lovingly rendered in thread.
From there, Wiley weaves her magic, translating these stories into one-of-a-kind gifts with designs that are as tactile as they are visually stunning. Her pillows are feats of craftsmanship, the stitches so precise, the details so vivid, that you can almost feel the softness of a pup’s ear, hear the laughter around a dinner table, smell the roses climbing a garden trellis.
Ships in 4-6 weeks.
Courtesy of Sarah Wiley Art
Olivet Monogrammed Garment Bag
A well-appointed garment bag makes even the most hectic travel feel chic. In gifts for her, Olivet’s sumptuous deep navy poly moiré catches the light just so, with a black flocked bow and coordinating black piping and embroidery. Olivet’s Classic Garment Bag is extra-long to accommodate even the most formal of gowns, with two interior pockets for keeping accessories and essentials close at hand. The ability to transition from full-length to half-fold to compact suitcase fold is a stroke of genius, and with handles at each length, it’s a breeze to carry. Perhaps the most luxurious touch is the option for custom embroidery over the right interior pocket.
In gifts for him, try Hudson Sutler’s Hunter Green Charleston Garment Bag, a nylon and leather version with a spill-proof liner, contrasting zipper and accent piping. It fits two suits or three full-length garments (and is also monogrammable for $180).
Ships in 10-14 business days.
Courtesy of Olivet (L) and Tuckernuck (R)
Custom-Embroidered Cocktail Napkins
There’s a specific moment at a dinner party when you realize the host has actually thought things through—usually it’s some small detail that signals effort without announcing itself. Custom embroidered cocktail napkins qualify. These Threads & Honey linen napkins are crafted in Louisville and feature minimalist script embroidery with your choice of text (family name, monogram, a cheeky phrase—your call) in thread that’s designed never to bleed or fade. At six by six inches with a hemstitch border, they’re the right size for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres without overwhelming the table setting. The 100 percent linen has that crisp, substantial feel that cheap paper cocktail napkins can never replicate, and the personalization elevates them from functional to genuinely thoughtful. They work equally well as a housewarming gift for someone who actually entertains or as an upgrade to your own hosting supplies.
Sometimes the difference between a good party and a great one comes down to whether you bothered with the details, and monogrammed linen napkins definitely count as bothering in the best possible way. If you really want to wow your loved one, gift the napkins in this 8×8″ mirrored tray, so the recipient doesn’t need to figure out how to store their new favorite conversation piece.
Ships in 1-2 weeks.
Courtesy of Threads & Honey
Alex Mill ‘Perfect Weekend’ Tote Bag
The ‘Perfect Weekend’ Tote from Alex Mill isn’t your average canvas bag; it’s crafted with the kind of obsessive attention to detail that transforms an everyday essential into an heirloom-worthy Christmas gift. The 100 percent cotton exterior is garment-washed for a gently worn-in texture and rich, saturated color that looks like it’s already accompanied you on a thousand getaways. Choose from an array of classic shades, including military olive, golden khaki, navy and black, or make a statement with a bold burst of firebrick or cobalt. A generously proportioned interior features a zip pocket to corral smaller essentials, while the exterior boasts a discreet snap closure that expands or contracts the silhouette as needed. Double handles offer a comfortable grip, but it’s the addition of adjustable shoulder straps that takes this bag from basic to brilliant. Tuck them in for a streamlined look or wear them proudly when you need to go hands-free.
And because a bag this perfect deserves a personal touch, Alex Mill offers the option to monogram your tote for a subtle yet impactful flourish. Your loved one’s initials, embroidered in a classic serif font, transform a flawlessly designed tote into a bespoke accessory that’s unmistakably theirs.
Ships in three weeks.
Courtesy of Alex Mill
Rolling Cube Ring
Anna Lou of London’s 14kt solid yellow gold rolling cube ring offers straightforward personalization: two letters of your choice, whether initials, a partner’s monogram, or whoever the recipient wants to carry around. The cube rotates and converts to a pendant, which is practical without being precious. Since 2004, Anna Scaife has built her brand on contemporary pieces that balance whimsy with wearability, working with materials ranging from acrylics to solid gold and recycled silver in her family-run studio in the UK. Made in-house with bold colors and clean lines, these pieces reject the tired notion that accessible means compromised. For someone who appreciates personalization but finds traditional monogramming overly formal, this delivers without the sentimentality.
Ships in 1-2 weeks. Order by December 5 for holiday delivery.
Courtesy of Anna Lou of London
Salt & Straw Custom Pint Pack
Forget the foil-wrapped pears and send your loved ones a customized gift box of five hand-packed pints of artisanal ice cream from Salt & Straw. Will you play it safe and send the classic richness of sea salt caramel or honey lavender ice cream? Will you push boundaries with Salt & Straw’s olive oil flavor, showcasing exquisite Arbequina olives sourced from Rio Bravo Ranch in California’s Central Valley? Or will you be so bold as to send the brand’s ‘Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce’ ice cream, which—yes, really—combines savory turkey brittle (made with humanely-raised turkeys from Diestel Family Ranch in Sonora, California) with subtly sweet cranberry sauce and house-made stuffing, capturing the essence of a Thanksgiving feast in every scoop?
Whatever you choose, every pint is handmade in small batches using organic, sustainable, and locally sourced ingredients. Include a personalized note card for an extra touch of thoughtfulness, transforming this delightful delivery into a truly memorable gift that speaks volumes about how well you know and appreciate your recipient, curated to reflect their unique tastes.
Courtesy of Salt & Straw
Weezie Monogrammed Robe
Weezie’s robes are a welcome departure from the bulky, shapeless options that often define the category. In gifts for her, the brand’s luxuriously soft French Terry Scallop Robe drapes elegantly, featuring a scalloped edge with contrast piping that elevates the overall look. In gifts for him (and her), Weezie’s Signature Robe is crafted from 100 percent organic cotton in Portugal. Both designs feature roll-and-button sleeves, a stroke of genius that allows the wearer to customize the length depending on the task. The attached belt ensures that it never goes missing in the wash or gets tangled in a drawer. Adding embroidery or appliqué transforms the brand’s best-sellers into personalized gifts that feel genuinely unique. It’s a touch that elevates the robe from the realm of the everyday into something more meaningful, a luxurious keepsake to be cherished for years to come. (Note: the brand also recently launched custom-embroidered Christmas stockings.)
Ships in two weeks.
Courtesy of Weezie
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