When Amy Sedaris curates a gift guide, it’s not a standard roundup of trending gadgets or influencer-fueled must-haves. It’s a reflection of her world—filled with whimsy, humor, utility, and the occasional rubber chicken. In collaboration with The Strategist, she shared 104 gift ideas that feel like stepping into her living room: strange in the best way, oddly personal, and never boring.
Her approach to gifting is not about checking off a list, but about storytelling through objects. These are not algorithm-approved crowd-pleasers. They’re unique, delightfully strange, and rooted in something deeper than novelty. Many of them stem from her real-life habits, set designs, characters she’s played, or items she’s actually used at home.
Among her favorite finds are things like John Derian mushroom twist-tie ornaments. These aren’t just decorative—they’re small pieces she uses to elevate everyday corners of her apartment. Then there’s the Gohar World Host Gloves, absurdly elegant rubber gloves that somehow make washing dishes feel like theater. It’s not just about the item, but what it evokes: drama, silliness, or nostalgia.
Another example is her use of beeswax candles—specifically pure ones from Abbott Church Supplies. Amy lights them every night as a spiritual gesture, honoring her late pets and her mother. In her view, beeswax sends your messages to the gods a little faster. You don’t get that kind of commentary in a typical gift guide.
Even the most playful selections come with intention. The color-changing mushroom nightlight, for instance, is one she buys in bulk. She places them around her home not only for ambiance, but because she expects guests to fall in love and walk off with them. It’s gifting by entrapment—but in a charming, Amy sort of way.
There are also comfort picks: Dolly Parton’s coconut cake mix makes an appearance. Amy isn’t usually one for boxed baking products, but she loves Dolly and trusts her flavor sense. Plus, it’s the kind of gift that invites people to bake together, mess up the frosting, and still enjoy the result. The imperfect is part of the appeal.
And then, just when you think she’s leaning fully into cozy domesticity, Amy throws in something like a cane she keeps at home—not because she needs it, but because she enjoys the theatrical effect of pretending to be an old lady around her godchildren. There’s always a performance element to her choices.
Her gift ideas cross price points and categories. You’ll find $6 fake donuts next to a $700 artisan necklace. There’s no clear organizing principle, and that’s what makes it work. The through-line isn’t budget or function—it’s curiosity. What makes you stop and look twice? What sparks a story?
What truly sets Amy apart, though, is the way she infuses each object with context. Her picks aren’t standalone—they’re tied to personal anecdotes, casual observations, or deeply specific scenarios. It’s this layer of meaning that transforms even the oddest gift into something memorable.
So how does one gift like Amy?
First, notice everything. Pay attention to what people wear, what makes them laugh, or what item they always forget to buy for themselves. That oddball detail might become the perfect present.
Second, build a little story around the gift. It doesn’t have to be grand—just honest. “I saw this and thought of the time you tried to make a coconut cake in college” goes much further than “I thought you’d like this.”
Third, don’t fear the strange or the impractical. A gift doesn’t need to be useful in the traditional sense. It can be something that makes a person pause, smile, or remember. That’s where the value lies.
Finally, embrace a mix of high and low. Not everything has to be handmade or luxurious. A bottle of grocery-store glitter glue, in the right hands and with the right explanation, can be more impactful than an expensive gadget.
Amy Sedaris’s gift list isn’t just a list—it’s a philosophy. It asks us to consider not just what we give, but why we give it. The best gifts, in her world, are not the ones people expect. They’re the ones that reveal a little bit more of who we are, and what we notice about others.
In a season where gifting often feels like a transaction, Amy reminds us that it can still be an expression—of humor, affection, memory, and, above all, intention.
