Giving the perfect gift is more than a simple transaction. It’s a sign of friendship, or love. It’s a laughter-filled moment. It’s an act of empathy. Because sometimes even the smallest exchange can mean so much. Here are 64 gifts loosely grouped for the men, women, children, food- and tech-lovers in you life, but feel free to break out of the categories.
Go behind-the-scenes to see how this photoshoot came together.
Starry string lights (featured throughout), $15 to $99, from Restoration Hardware (Southcentre Mall, 403-271-2122, restorationhardware.com).
Gifts displayed in vintage bottle crates, $55 each, from Reclaimed Trading Company (845 24 Ave. S.E., 403-399-2903, reclaimedcanada.com).
Shaving stand, $29, Edwin Jagger safety razor, $46, and Kent shaving brush, $216, all from Kent of Inglewood (1319 9 Ave. S.E., 403-457-1595, kentofinglewood.com).
Uniform Wares watch, $275 from LESS17 (930 17 Ave. S.W., 403-228-9199, lessoneseven.com).
Bojesen/Bolling-style teak figure, $45 from Louche Milieu (4 Spruce Centre, 403-835-1669).
Diptyque candle in “pice,” $82, from Holt Renfrew (510 8 Ave. S.W., 403-269-7341, holtrenfrew.com).
Wetterlings classic Scout axe, $159, from Kent of Inglewood (1319 9 Ave. S.E., 403-457-1595, kentofinglewood.com).
Camp Brand Goods toque, $25, from The Uncommons (1325A 9 Ave. S.E., 587-353-9337, theuncommons.ca).
Marvis toothpaste, $8, from Lukes Drug Mart (112 4 St. N.E., 403-266-4142, lukesdrugmart.com).
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean electric toothbrush, $230, from Bed Bath & Beyond (CrossIron Mills, 403-274-9253, and two other Calgary locations, bedbathandbeyond.ca).
Super sunglasses, $252, Field Notes leather case, $85, and Field Notes pencils, $5 (set of three), from LESS17 (930 17 Ave. S.W., 403-228-9199, lessoneseven.com).
Star Light Star Bright bath melt, $7, from Lush (Various Calgary locations, lush.ca).
General Knot & Co. bow tie, $78, from North American Quality Purveyors (1207 10 Ave. S.E., 403-910-9913, shopnorthamerican.com).
Forhold Lamp, $125, from Camp & City (campandcity.com).
Klean Kanteen gift box (comes with whole-bean coffee), $42, from Phil & Sebastian (2043 33 Ave. S.W., 403-686-1221, and three other Calgary locations, philandsebastian.com).
Mast Brothers chocolate bars, $10 each, from Lukes Drug Mart (112 4 St. N.E., 403-266-4142, lukesdrugmart.com).
Forge de Laguiole cow horn folding knife, $265, from Rubaiyat (722 17 Ave. S.W., 403-228-7192, rubaiyatcalgary.com).
Silk tie, $210, from Herms (510 8 Ave. S.W., 403-767-9100, hermes.com).
Wooden bowls, $8 each, from Plant (1335C 9 Ave. S.E., 403-462-6230, plantterrariums.ca)
Gentleman’s Brand Co. foaming face wash, $45, and daily moisturizer, $55, from Leo Boutique (810 16 Ave. S.W., 403-410-9236, leoboutique.com).
One Lamp, $125, from Camp & City (campandcity.com).
Wooden decorative trees, $29.50 and $39.50, from Chapters-Indigo (CrossIron Mills, 403-226-2837, and various other Calgary locations, chapters.indigo.ca).
Starlight sphere pendants, $99 and $129, from Restoration Hardware (Southcentre Mall, 403-271-2122, restorationhardware.com).
Decorative acorns, $15, from Crate and Barrel (Southcentre Mall, 403-278-7020, crateandbarrel.ca)
All gifts set atop a Bronte By Moon mohair throw, $325, from Inspirati (2207 4 St. S.W., 403-244-4443, inspirati.ca).
Jonathan Adler Mr. and Mrs. Fox salt-and-pepper shakers (set of two, one shown), $53, from Kit Interior Objects (725 11 Ave. S.W., 403-508-2533, kitinteriorobjects.com).
Michael Michaud necklace, $282, from Steeling Home (1010 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-0777, steelinghome.ca).
Squirrel nutcracker, $15, from Target (various Calgary locations, target.ca).
Vintage woodland animal decoupage box purse, $75, from Louche Milieu (4 Spruce Centre, 403-835-1669).
Bobbi Brown Scotch on the Rocks warm glow eye palette, $87, from Nordstrom (Chinook Centre, 587-291-2000, ca.nordstrom.com).
Michael Michael Kors gold-tone crystal box clutch, $298, from Michael Kors (Chinook Centre, 403-537-0093, michaelkors.com).
Wood, lacquer and gold leaf cuff, $480, from Herms (510 8 Ave. S.W., 403-767-9100, hermes.com).
Beaver Canoe antler candlesticks, $16 and $20, from Target (various Calgary locations, target.ca).
Blackbird Ballard incense in “Blood Countess,” $30, from The Uncommons (1325A 9 Ave. S.E., 587-353-9337, theuncommons.ca).
Victorinox Swiss Army Alliance watch, $495, from Calgary Jewellery (1201 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-3131, calgaryjewellery.com).
Bird call necklace, $30, from Plant (1335C 9 Ave. S.E., 403-462-6230, plantterrariums.ca).
Jo Malone London Cologne Intense collection, $150 (set of five), from Nordstrom (Chinook Centre, 587-291-2000, ca.nordstrom.com).
Gifts displayed in vintage kitchen hoosier, $2,500, from Inside Avenue Antiques (3419 8 St. S.E., 403-287-1988).
Salvaged wood cutting boards, $80 to $200, from AdrianMartinus Custom Woodworking (adrianmartinus.com).
Calgary Cooks, $35, from Cookbook Co. Cooks (722 11 Ave. S.W., 403-265-6066, cookbookcooks.com).
Krups FL700 tea maker, $130, from Sears (various Calgary locations, sears.ca).
Stackable mini tins, $15 (set of three teas), from DavidsTeas (Aspen Landing, 403-727-0786, and various other Calgary locations, davidstea.com).
Produce candle in “Kale,” $30, from The Uncommons (1325A 9 Ave. S.E., 587-353-9337, theuncommons.ca).
Waring milkshake and drink mixer, $199, and Rosti meat tenderizer, $50, from Crate and Barrel (Southcentre Mall, 403-278-7020, crateandbarrel.ca).
Just the Basics spice set, $61 (set of 10), from The Silk Road Spice Merchant (1403 9 Ave. S.E., 403-261-1955, silkroadspices.ca).
Pie bird, $10, from Le Creuset (Chinook Centre, 403-262-1128, lecreuset.ca).
Jadeite salt-and-pepper shakers, $160, and measuring cups, $75, from Spanky’s Corner at Inside Avenue Antiques (3419 8 St. S.E., 403-287-1988).
Rifle Paper Co. recipe box, $35, from (Lukes Drug Mart, 112 4 St. N.E., 403-266-4142, lukesdrugmart.com).
Kate Spade New York Zoo Drive porcelain mugs, $25 each, from Hudson’s Bay (various Calgary locations, thebay.com).
Salvaged wood bowls, $70 to $120 each, from Adrian Martinus Custom Woodworking (adrianmartinus.com).
Rainbow espresso mugs, $49 (set of six), from Le Creuset (Chinook Centre, 403-262-1128, lecreuset.ca).
Iosis tapestry owl and cat bags, $125 each, from Inspirati (2207 4 St. S.W., 403-244-4443, inspirati.ca)
Vintage Pendleton blanket teddy bear, $175, from Louche Milieu (4 Spruce Centre, 403-835-1669).
Sleigh backgammon board, $72, from Steeling Home (1010 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-0777, steelinghome.ca).
Marble tic-tac-toe game, $30 (marble board included, not shown), from Crate and Barrel (Southcentre Mall, 403-278-7020, crateandbarrel.ca).
Hay Wooden Wonderland building blocks, $96 (set of 16), from Kit Interior Objects (725 11 Ave. S.W., 403-508-2533, kitinteriorobjects.com).
Aromabreeze nebulizer, $70, from Saje (CrossIron Mills, 587-352-3322, and three other Calgary locations, saje.ca).
iPad Air (“skating rink”), from $519, from Apple (Market Mall, 403-648-4865, and Chinook Centre, 403-444-3759, apple.ca).
Good Hair Day (ghd) Birds of Paradise hair styler, $282, from Sephora (The Core, 403-263-4461, and two other Calgary locations, sephora.ca).
Perforated votives, $12.50 each, from Chapters-Indigo (CrossIron Mills, 403-226-2837, and various other Calgary locations, chapters.indigo.ca).
Philips Wake-up Light alarm clock, $100, from London Drugs (various Calgary locations, londondrugs.ca).
Crosley Cruiser record player, $100, from Lukes Drug Mart (112 4 St. N.E., 403-266-4142, lukesdrugmart.com).
HBC Collection coyote fur cushion, $995, and multi-blanket stocking, $50, from Hudson’s Bay (various Calgary locations, thebay.com).