How to Use Style Archetypes to Give a Superior Gift
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When it comes to finding the perfect present for that particularly hard-to-please person on your list, consideration and context are key. In that spirit, we’ve brought back our guide to gifting by style archetype. Read on, find the type that fits them best, and gift accordingly.
THE MINIMALIST
The embodiment of quiet restraint, this innately cool tastemaker would never describe herself as such (which is precisely why she is, of course). Her motto is quality over quantity, always, and her tightly edited wardrobe—consisting of, notably, one exceptional sweater that she wears all season long and a sleek gold timepiece that goes with just about everything—reflects that. You’ll be hard-pressed to find her in heels; flats are far more chic, especially for evening. For the festive season, she’ll be setting the bar in black and cream.
THE MAXIMALIST
This larger-than-life personality will take a party dress over pajamas any day, and you’ll find her at one black-tie affair or another just about every evening during the holiday season. She doesn’t believe in restraint, which is evidenced by her spectacular jewels—and home: She collects Koons, and her bedroom is hung with hand-painted silk wallpaper. And while she has never met a print or logo-laden look she doesn’t love, her dog (a Havanese) might just be more of a label snob than she is. She’s into giving over-the-top gifts, which is all the more reason to present her with something truly extraordinary this year.
THE ROMANTIC
She has a first edition of Jane Eyre and binge-watches episodes of Bridgerton. Her current project is updating her Hinge profile (even though she’s really hoping for a meet-cute). Her favorite city, real and imagined, is Paris, where she envisions moonlit strolls through Montmartre’s winding streets with The One. If she invites you over, it’s likely to be for high tea, complete with fine china, finger sandwiches, and petits fours. She loves a good cliché, including a chance encounter under the mistletoe, and she’s prepped with plenty of pretty, ultrafeminine pieces to fit the fairy tale.
THE FREE SPIRIT
An independent thinker who eschews the mainstream to chart her own course, this woman is a rebel with a cause—be that working to preserve habitat for endangered species or spreading the word about the transformative power of infrared heat. She’s into auras and energy work, and when she’s not traversing the globe championing others, she loves to entertain at home, where she throws together tablescapes with vintage plates, fresh lavender from her garden, and homemade kombucha. Sartorially, she loves to make a statement, leaning toward architectural silhouettes and boundary-pushing accessories that are as impactful as she is.
