The holidays are here, which means invitations to parties; and of course, a great guest does not arrive empty-handed. We polled a few of your favorite designers to discover their go-to hostess gifts.
Betty Lou Phillips
Betty Lou Phillips Interior Design
“Taking a cue from the French, une boîte de chocolats. In France, the era’s all around, no-fail, forever correct hostess gift is a small but strikingly packaged, costly box of chocolates, which will often be opened and shared when coffee is served.”
Leta Austin Foster
Leta Austin Foster & Associates
“Really nice soap for the powder room—People don’t always buy nice soap for themselves, but they love to get it.”
Paul Sherrill
Solis Betancourt & Sherrill
“Something beautiful but functional like a set of Jacquard Français dish towels. You can never have enough.” 
Ashley Gilbreath
Ashley Gilbreath Interior Design
“This year, I have been into hand painted Christmas ornaments. A local artist’s touch is a great way to pass a long something creative, festive and a holiday keepsake.”
Melissa Rufty
Melissa Rufty Design Studio
“I love to give these amazing little handmade stocking ornaments from BVIZ Designs. They are made from antique textiles and trimmings and each one is a little work of art. I have a collection of them that I adorn a large mirror with garland in my dining room each year for Christmas. They also make festive place card holders for holiday dinners.”
Barbara Westbrook, Westbrook Interiors
Mallory Mathieson Glenn, Mallory Mathison Inc.
Beautiful books always make nice gifts.
Kelley Proxmire, Kelley Proxmire Inc.
Carolyn Kendall, Alcott Interiors
The ultimate is artfully composed fresh flowers appropriate to the season and last for days after the party. Unique and thoughtful is the key and you will be guaranteed to make your host smile!
Janie Molster
Janie Molster Designs
“Chocolate! My friend always brings her homemade fudge in a simple Tupperware container, ready to hop into a secret hiding place in my freezer. I sneak it out in January when I need my fix. We have a local chocolatier in Richmond called Gearharts Fine Chocolates, I love their mixed assortments and the pretty packaging. Another totally decadent fix is a box of Notti Toffee. My fave is the Notti Toffee Dark Chocolate Pecan 1 Pound Box.”
Marie Flanigan, Marie Flanagan Interiors, and Debi Davis, Debi Davis Interior Design
Nice cocktail napkins are a great hostess gift!
Josh Hildreth
Josh Hildreth Interiors
“Branca Menta is wonderful Italian amaro digestif that is a great tummy settling finish to the meal and doesn’t compete with the host/hostess’s choice of wine.”
Melinda James
M. James Design Group
“My go to festive and favorite gift to honor a host or hostess is a magnum of Veuve Clicquot. The large format just says celebrate!”
Anne Dutcher
Anne Dutcher Interiors
“Whenever we are gathering with close friends and family, I like to give my hostess a small silver frame with a photo of events or gatherings we have shared together during the year. It’s a meaningful gift that always brings a smile to their faces!”
