The best hostess gift is one the host can put out that evening. Flowers need a vase and attention; wine disappears into a cupboard; a candle joins eleven others. Something that becomes part of the decoration gets used immediately, stays up for the rest of December, and comes back out next year — which is a far longer life than most thank-yous manage.
Here are five that work, roughly in order of cost.
1. A fabric Christmas ornament — $17
The smallest of these and the most reliably welcome. A 5 inch soft fabric ornament with a ready-to-hang braided loop goes straight onto the host's tree, which means it is being used within about ninety seconds of you handing it over.
Who it suits: anyone who has a tree, which at a December party is almost everyone.
The judgement call: personalization. An ornament with the host's name is lovely if you know them well. If you do not, choose one with an icon and no name — it is still a keepsake and it will not look presumptuous.
2. A fabric Christmas bow — $20
A bow is the most versatile of the five because the host decides what it is for. It goes on the tree, on a wreath, on a banister, or on next year's presents. Four sizes, from 5.5 to 12 inches.
Who it suits: the host whose house is already decorated to a specific scheme. A bow slots in without competing.
The judgement call: size. The 6.5 inch is the safe gift size — big enough to matter, small enough to find a home anywhere. A 12 inch is a tree topper and therefore a decision you are making on someone else's behalf.
3. A personalized gift sack — $20
This is the quietly clever one, because it does two jobs: it is the gift, and it is the thing you carry the gift in. Put a bottle, some clementines or a panettone inside, tie the velvet bow, and hand it over. The host keeps the sack.
Who it suits: anyone you were going to bring wine to anyway.
The judgement call: the 12 × 18 inch size holds a bottle comfortably. The bigger sizes will look oddly empty with one bottle in them.
4. A wreath sash — $44
The generous one. A 5 by 54 inch fabric sash transforms a wreath the host already owns, which makes it a gift that visibly improves something rather than adding to the pile.
Who it suits: a close friend, a family member, or somebody who has just moved into a house with a good front door.
The judgement call: this one carries an embroidered motif and an initial, so you need to know their surname initial and have a reasonable sense of their front door colour. Get both right and it is the best gift on this list. Guess at either and it is awkward.
5. A personalized stocking — $44
The most significant, and the one with the narrowest window. A named stocking is a long-term object that joins a family's mantel row, which makes it a wonderful gift for a new baby, a new partner joining a household, or a new pet — and an odd gift for a dinner party host you see twice a year.
Who it suits: people whose household has just changed.
The judgement call: if there is an existing row on their mantel, try to match the cuff. A stocking that does not belong in the row will not get hung.
Matching the gift to the relationship
| You know them | Spend | Pick | Personalize? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barely — a work party, a neighbour | $17–20 | Ornament or bow | No — icon only |
| Reasonably well | $20 | Gift sack with something in it | Optional |
| Well | $17–20 | Ornament with their name | Yes |
| Very well | $44 | Wreath sash | Yes — initial |
| Family, or a household that has changed | $44 | Stocking | Yes — name |
Two things to avoid
Do not personalize for someone you do not know well. A named object is an assumption about how close you are, and it is also an object they cannot easily pass on. For an acquaintance, choose the icon rather than the name.
Do not give something that needs a decision. A gift that requires the host to find a vase, choose a spot or rearrange a shelf during a party is a small job you have handed them. Everything on this list can be put down, hung up or ignored until tomorrow.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Christmas hostess gift that is not wine or flowers?
Something they can put out that evening. A fabric ornament at $17 goes straight on the tree; a gift sack at $20 arrives with the wine inside it and stays behind afterwards.
Should a hostess gift be personalized?
Only if you know them well. For an acquaintance, choose a design with an embroidered icon and no name — still a keepsake, no assumption.
How much should I spend on a hostess gift?
$17 to $20 covers almost every situation. The $44 options are for family, close friends, or a household that has just gained a person or a pet.
What is a good gift for someone who has just moved house?
A wreath sash, if you have seen their front door. It improves something they already have, and the embroidered initial marks the new house.
Can I use the gift sack as the wrapping?
Yes, and it is the neatest version of this idea. Put the bottle or the panettone inside, tie the velvet bow, and the packaging is the present.
Five to choose from
At the small end, the Personalized Embroidered Christmas Ornament and the Personalized Embroidered Gingham Christmas Bow both land well at $17 and $20.
For wine-in-a-sack, the Custom Embroidered Christmas Sack in its 12 × 18 inch size. And for the generous end, the Custom Red Toile Christmas Wreath Sash.
Related reading
More from the Taileroom Christmas series: reusable sacks instead of wrapping paper and wreath sashes versus bows.
Browse them all in the Taileroom Christmas collection.
