Stuff Boston

Worst gift: Rocking the reindeer sweater won’t win you any style points. And if Rudolph’s nose blinks, all the worse.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: SNUGGLE UP IN THE PRINGLE CABLE-KNIT SWEATER ($175) FROM INTERMIX (186 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, 617.236.5172). IT’S SIMPLE, COMFORTABLE, AND REASONABLY PRICED — I.E., IDEAL FOR OUR STILL-DEVELOPING WINTER WARDROBE.


Worst gift: Air fresheners, license plate frames, floor mats — you know the drill. It’s as if people think that getting you tacky car ornaments is nearly as good as pulling up in that new car you’ve been yearning for.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: IF THE LEATHER-AND-STEEL DETAILS OF THE P’3150 BALLPOINT PEN ($350) EVOKE AN AUTOMOBILE MUCH SLEEKER THAN YOURS, THEN PORSCHE DESIGN STUDIO (COPLEY PLACE, 100 HUNTINGTON AVENUE, BOSTON, 617.424.1400) HAS DONE ITS JOB. WE’VE NEVER BEEN BIG ON PRICEY WRITING UTENSILS, BUT THIS ONE? UNABASHEDLY SEXY.

Worst gift: Who’s really wearing that horrendous themed tie emblazoned with cartoon characters or animated music notes? It’s a go-to gift that we’ve never understood.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: WE SWOON OVER THE FASHION-FORWARD BRITISH STYLE OF THE REBEL KNIT TIE ($95) FROM REISS (132 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, 617.262.5800). ITS TEXTURE LENDS JUST ENOUGH DETAIL TO MAKE IT INTERESTING WITHOUT GOING OVERBOARD.

Worst gift: Picture poor Ralphie from A Christmas Story schlepping down the stairs in those tragic snowman pajamas. Whether your own PJs were covered in cows, dogs, or pigs, we’re willing to bet that you feel his pain.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: WHEN IT COMES TO PAJAMAS, THE LESS FABRIC, THE BETTER. WE CAN SEE OURSELVES SLIPPING INTO THE EBERJEY CHEMISE ($70) FROM FRENCH DRESSING (49 RIVER STREET, BOSTON, 617.723.4968) IN ANTICIPATION OF A LITTLE POST-HOLIDAY CELEBRATION.

Worst gift: There’s nothing worse than bringing a party hostess a cheap bottle of wine, especially when it’s presented in one of those chintzy printed bags.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: TRY SOMETHING YOU WON’T BE TEMPTED TO GUZZLE MID-PARTY. WE LOVE THE CRYSTAL BOTTLE STOPPER BY CREATIVE GIFTS ($20), SOLD AT FIREFLY JEWELRY AND GIFTS (270 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, 866.834.7335). IT LOOKS LIKE A FLASHY COCKTAIL RING, BUT ITS PRICE IS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF A MID-RANGE BOTTLE OF WINE.

Worst gift: That homemade bead bracelet took, what, four minutes to string together? And it’s cute only if you’re under five years old.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: GET A WARM, FUZZY FEELING FROM YOUR GIFT WITH THE PAGUS:AFRICA BEADED NECKLACE ($24) FROM AUNT SADIE’S (18 UNION PARK STREET, BOSTON, 617.357.7117). EACH ONE IS MADE BY (AND  BENEFITS) SCHOOLCHILDREN IN GHANA.

Worst gift: A scarf-and-mittens set in plush cashmere is one thing, but it’s tough to feign appreciation for a lumpy handmade scarf that could’ve been knit by your eight-year-old cousin.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: GO WITH A GOOD-NATURED PATTERNED PAIR OF KNIT-COVERED NOTEBOOKS, LIKE THE BUNDLE UP JOURNALS ($12) FROM ANTHROPOLOGIE (799 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, 617.262.0545).

Worst gift: Ever received a stocking full of golf balls? And did you have a sneaking suspicion that they just might have been gently used?

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: SPLURGE ON THE GIALIODORO PELL GOLF BAG TAG ($135) FROM LOUIS BOSTON (234 BERKELEY STREET, BOSTON, 617.262.6100) FOR A TRUE GOLF-LOVER. SCULPTED FROM RICH LEATHER, THE TAG INCLUDES SNAPPED-IN BALLS, TEES, AND A DIVOT FIXER, ALL ORGANIZED AND EASY TO REACH.

Worst gift: You know what it is before you even open the box: the dreaded Yankee Candle smells more like an old lady’s drugstore-brand perfume than the “Cheerful Apples” or “Heartwarming Sunshine” that’s advertised on the label.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: THE LE LABO CANDLE ($70) FROM BARNEYS NEW YORK (COPLEY PLACE, 100 HUNTINGTON AVENUE, BOSTON, 617.385.3300) BRINGS CHIC, MINIMALIST STYLE TO ANY URBAN ABODE. ITS UNOBTRUSIVE, CLEAN-SMELLING SCENT IS AN ADDED BONUS.

Worst gift: Besides its “eww” factor, the lucky rabbit’s foot is a plain bizarre gift. What are you trying to tell us with that?

Better alternative: The Marc by Marc Jacobs Spinning-Dice Necklace ($6) is a super-inexpensive way to snag a designer piece, and it’s sure to prove lucky next time you’re into an intense game of Yahtzee. Find it at Marc Jacobs (81 Newbury Street, 617.425.0404).

Worst gift: It was probably either a gas-station freebie or free-gift-with-purchase; either way, that cheesy mug isn’t getting anywhere near the Italian espresso that drips from your imported machine.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: PICK UP A SET OF FIVE HANDMADE JAPANESE TEACUPS BY YIXING ($39.99) FROM TEAVANA (PRUDENTIAL CENTER, 800 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, 617.262.8327). THEY’RE BOTH UNIQUE AND FUNCTIONAL.

Worst gift: There’s nothing more embarrassing than opening up a box of giant granny underpants, especially when you’re surrounded by expectant onlookers, including the new guy you just started dating and, coincidentally, Grandma herself.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: IT’S STILL MILDLY EMBARRASSING TO TEAR THIS ONE OPEN IN FRONT OF YOUR DAD, BUT AT LEAST THE HANKY PANKY THONG ($18) HAS STYLE — AND IT’S FLATTERING ON ANY BODY. PICK ONE UP IN EVERY COLOR AT MATSU (259 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, 617.266.9707).

Worst gift: You’ve got to love that friend of your parents who still buys you stuffed animals. Too bad you graduated from elementary school decades ago.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: THE IGE DESIGN PILLOW ($189) FROM BLISS HOME (121 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, 617.421.5544) IS COVERED IN BLACK CRUSHED VELVET THAT’S EMBOSSED WITH A CRACKED-GOLD PRINT OF A DEER. AND IT’S FAR LESS LIKELY TO BE RELEGATED TO THE SPACE BETWEEN YOUR BED AND THE WALL.

Worst gift: Just because they’re labeled with unpronounceable names doesn’t mean sickly sweet French bath products smell good.

BETTER ALTERNATIVE: NOT ONLY DOES THE DECOUPAGE PLATE ($90) LACK THE QUESTIONABLE AROMA, IT’S ALSO EXCLUSIVE TO HUDSON (312 SHAWMUT AVENUE, BOSTON, 617.292.0900). THE PLATE TURNS AN ANTIQUE FRENCH PHARMACEUTICAL LABEL INTO A DISPLAY PIECE. @

[Additional reporting by Melissa Cronin]
[Photos by Tim Gray for Furnald/Gray]