The Ultimate Viva Gift Guide: Presents For Fashion, Food, Beauty Lovers & More
Spoil your loved ones with a present to suit their personality. Plus, a curation of gifts that give back.
In this collection, we’re championing plenty of pieces from local labels.
Some have real utility, encouraging your loved ones to pursue their beloved hobbies. Other are exciting embellishments, that encourage frivolity (because we need both practicality and play).
You might also consider a voucher for various services – a restaurant meal, a local art gallery or a store you know they frequent (or if they love local publications like Viva, consider picking up a subscription through our Black Friday deal).
For The Fashion Fan
For the sartorially sublime, consider pieces from local rising stars and tomes of formative fashion history.
Equally pretty when placed by a plait or dotted haphazardly over beach hair, these whimsical hair clips are crafted using deadstock fabric and mounted on a large snap clip for maximum hold.
Everyone needs a breezy pair of shorts to don in the sweltering summers. Porter James’ offering is 100% cotton and puts a cheeky spin on boxer shorts.
These cups, made by Loveramic, come wrapped in Zambesi’s signature gothic title print: for a referential sip of your morning espresso.
This gold ring from By Tonin features a mother-of-pearl rectangular centrepiece stone, in a clean-lined setting, making it both delicate and timeless.
It’s been a big year for local luxury label Harris Tapper. Mark the occasion with a small trinket – this simple belt adorned with a pearl will suffice.
Sandy Liang’s sweet design aesthetic is encapsulated simply in these long socks. For a more festive adornment, consider the cherry red colourway (there’s also a navy and white pair for high-contrast dessers).
During the sunny season, we should all be mindful of bare shoulders. This tidy cotton button-up is a handy cover-up and features delicate embroidery to soften a crisp silhouette.
Consider pendant necklaces if you’re looking for a gift that plays off someone’s personality. Meadowlark has a great collection (think chilli, crabs and sharks). If you squint, you’ll see that the olive in this mock martini is embellished with a green sapphire.
A fun twist on a classic that recognises a resurgence of polka dots this year.
Treasures of Vivienne Westwood’s archive came to visit Aotearoa earlier this year, with a retrospective showcased in Te Papa. This physical record will delight devotees.
For The Beauty Aficionado
From coveted fragrances and shimmering eyeshadow palettes, through to curated skincare edits and limited-edition hot styling tools, this is an editor-approved list of the best beauty gifts to lavish the loved ones on your list.
You’ll want to add this sensual fragrance to your Christmas list for the bottle alone – a chinoiserie-style flacon befitting the ambery scent inside. It highlights notes of bergamot, blackcurrant, rose, silk, chestnut and cocoa, for a scent that’s as smooth as the silk gowns the fashion designer is known for.
Elevate any summer up-do with this tortoiseshell French pin. Gather hair into a twist and slide the pin all the way through to the opposite side, so the curve hugs your head to secure it.
It’s currently sold out, but we’re praying for an imminent restock of Aesop’s first advent calendar. The Aesop Abode is brimming with scented delights, with 13 doors housing skincare, body care, home fragrance and more, counting in odd numbers up to 25.
This painterly set, created by celebrated New Zealand artist Judy Millar, is the perfect introduction to the high-performance, natural skincare brand, with everything you need to build a daily skincare ritual, including the brand’s best-selling Skin Reset Face Serum.
The ultimate indulgence for the beauty lover on your list, this cherry-coded gift set by Ghd sees two of its top-rated hot styling tools dressed in the shade of the season. Find the Ghd Chronos, a motion-responsive hair straightener, paired with the Ghd Helios hair dryer, for salon-worthy results from home.
Inside this harlequin-patterned box, find Jo Malone London’s new limited-edition scent, Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot. The ambery, woody scent features top notes of apricot accord, a heart of sandalwood and base notes of vanilla to capture the merriment and revelry of the festive season.
Skincare buffs will obsess over local skincare maker Bowie’s at-home microneedling kit, which offers everything needed to roll towards a firmer, brighter, healthier-looking complexion with continued use. Inside, discover the Bowie Microneedle Handle, Microneedle Head, Cleaning Spray and Chill Serum housed in a transparent travel case.
Mists remain a summer skincare must-have, and New Zealand skincare brand Raaie unveiled the gold standard earlier this year. The essence-toner hybrid delivers skin a welcome drink of water, with its blend of electrolyte-rich volcanic water and encapsulated bioactives to visibly brighten and restore a thirsty complexion.
Every year, Bobbi Brown unveils its limited-edition eyeshadow palette, and this year’s take certainly didn’t disappoint. Discover eight pigmented matte and shimmer eyeshadow shades inside this candy-striped case, ranging from Warm Cream – soft off-white – through to Dark Chocolate, a neutral soft brown.
A perfect treat to spoil a fragrance fanatic, find four of Tom Ford’s cult favourite Private Blend olfactions immortalised in miniature. There’s a scent for every mood and moment, with Lost Cherry, Soleil Blanc, Oud Wood and Tobacco Vanille reimagined as 4ml eau de parfums.
For The Ultimate Foodie
Kitchenware, niche tools and accessories for a crowded bench – these gifts will bring joy to those often in the kitchen. If you’d like to offer them a break, consider a restaurant voucher or a home-cooked meal.
Spice up your life with Maison Balzac’s fiery tumbler set, which draws inspiration from the chilli-spiked Picante cocktail available at Soho House. Each tumbler is hand-blown using 100% Borosilicate glass, meaning no two glasses are the same (further adding to their charm).
For a keen baker, consider this teensy pan. The interior is white, making it easier to assess the colouring of brown butter. You’ll be rewarded with endless caramel-ish desserts.
House your reusable coffee cup in this braided, beaded carrier from Tanchen. The playful design recruits a mix of wooden beads and nylon elastic yarn to keep your flat white safe when toting it home from your local cafe.
Coral is always a good idea, and these serving spoons will look at home on the festive table. Made from bamboo and inspired by lobster claws, they also make the perfect gift for the host, paired with a thoughtful cookbook.
This collection, arranged by The Kitchen Project, features treats and pantry staples from upcoming local makers. This year, you’ll find hot sauce, Sarsarap, granola and Cook Island doughnut mix.
This recipe book works from harvest to serving, providing guidance on how to cook the produce you forage.
It’s picnic season and the great outdoors awaits. This pop-up table will allow for slick service, no matter the location.
Well-loved recipe books are often covered in stains and splashes. Elevate a loved one’s set-up with this tidy wooden book holder.
A linen apron will offer busy cooks a little more breeze at the hottest time of the year. This one is covered in tiny spring bouquets.
There’s a reason Le Creuset is an eternal staple of gift guides; the cookware is known to last a lifetime and be passed down through generations. The harvest collection adds a pop of colour and fun and will be much loved by collectors.
For The Bookish Types
From sturdy carryalls that accommodate hardbacks to storied homeware.
Make regular library hauls a little easier with a roomy and sturdy tote bag. The key to carting around such tomes? Ensuring the straps have a reassuring heft and width.
Creating a ceremony around time spent reading can make the activity all the more transporting.
For a creative collaborator. A series of oil paintings done in reference to Penny Sage’s collection offers up a warming example of artistic exchange.
This distinctive vase is inspired by the pop art works of Andy Warhol, whose pieces will be displayed at Auckland Art Gallery this summer.
This lush carryall will certainly fit your loved one’s book of the moment (and the suede texture resembles something out of a Donna Tartt novel).
An extended and rich visual examination of artists from all over the globe. For those who were outraged at the dropping of art history in the curriculum.
Keep your beloved cosy with a warming blanket. This one is made of mohair.
For the homebody. These lightweight seersucker PJs are soft to the skin. They come in a range of playful hues, feature a relaxed oversized fit and are available from a size XS-3XL.
Mini robes are always a good idea. The mini length makes it effortlessly easy to wear, and it’s made from 100% organic cotton terry, making it great for warmer months.
For The Earthy & Outdoorsy
Gardeners with green thumbs and people who like to get their pulse racing will enjoy the opportunity to get outdoors.
Wool socks will be a welcome addition to the wardrobe of avid hikers and will provide comfort as an after-match pair for more dynamic sports.
Can they name native trees during your ambles outdoors? Celebrate their wisdom with a bounty of the botanical.
DoC huts demand you leave your boots at the door. These light slides will be a comfortable replacement for end-of-walk activities.
For the forgetful traveller, consider this bright orange passport holder in the shade “marmalade”.
This trug, made in the South Island, will cradle precious produce from a healthy harvest. It’s also long enough to contain spindly flower stems.
This high-quality beach towel will accommodate long days spent on the sand this summer.
For those who enjoy signalling their interest in the outdoors, go beyond gorpcore to consider earthy accessories. This recycled clay pendant from local maker 0palization will do the trick.
Fend off the sun’s rays no matter where summer adventures lead with this durable cotton drill hat, complete with a draw-cord to adjust its fit in windy or wild weather.
This curation features everything you need to get started: a ball, bands and weights in earthy tones.
The gold Milanese strap means this watch looks great anywhere, but is also robust enough for outdoor adventure and soaking in some of the best walks in Aotearoa.
The Gifts That Give Back
For those who’d prefer to donate, consider creating a mindful moment (there are plenty more initiatives, from Sustainable Coastlines to the Women’s Refuge, Basement Theatre and Gifts For Gaza, that could use your help here too).
This cheery kororā bag celebrates the world’s cutest penguin. It’s made from leather off cuts and will see 25% of proceeds donated to Forest & Bird.
Cool down in summer heat with this woven fan. It’s made in collaboration with non-profit Rise Beyond The Reef.
Made in collaboration with Māori artist Kura Te Waru Rewiri, $25 from each pair of glasses purchased will be donated to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.
This board, made from recycled materials, will see 10% donated to non-profit LegaSea.
All proceeds from this fundraising cap will go towards the conservation work at Live Ocean.
Support the planting of native trees in restoration projects all across the country by gifting a tree to loved ones.
Dianne Ludwig is continuing to fundraise aid for families in Gaza, through the sale of curated vintage clothing.
More festivities
From holiday season menus to time in the sun.
Parmesan Potatoes, Spiced Lamb & Raspberry Trifle: Viva’s Ultimate Five-Course Christmas Menu. Want to make Christmas dinner the highlight of your holiday? Turn to this festive feast.
The 25 Best Beauty Advent Calendars Of 2025, Ranked. Ring in some festive cheer with our edit of the best-value beauty advent calendars to treat yourself or a loved one this year.
The 13 Tastiest Food & Drink Advent Calendars For Food Lovers This Festive Season. Celebrate the festive season and tuck into treats all through December with these food and drink advent calendars.
18 Of The Best Walks In Auckland, From Inner City Paths To Coastal Trails. There’s plenty to see, writes Johanna Thornton, from urban trails, to parks and stunning coastal views.
6 Stylish New Zealanders Share Their Beach Bag Beauty Essentials. Here’s what to pack for a day spent seaside, according to six stylish sun seekers.