Conscious Gift Giving - LIVSN Staff Favorites
The peak of the holiday shopping season is just a few days ahead, and with it, a unique opportunity for expression.
Gift-giving is a funny thing. To the prepared, it's an opportunity to dazzle our deep knowledge of our loved ones' wants and needs. To the procrastinators, it's a looming deadline to be avoided until the last possible moment and an expectation to be met.
When thinking about what to gift others, it can be helpful to think about what you have received in the past that left an impression. What comes to mind might surprise you.
For myself, when I think of the gifts I’ve received over the years that left an impact, there are a few common threads that stick out and still make me smile to this day.
While I was in the midst of an odd soy candle crazed phase, a friend bought me a wick cutter for my birthday, an item I didn’t know existed or that I needed (it makes them burn much more evenly, btw).
Before a long trip abroad, another took me to a nail salon for my first manicure and pedicure, opening the door to a world of pampered self-care I never knew before (I now go every couple of months).
These thoughtful, chosen gifts enriched what I already loved, or acted as a bridge to a place I probably wouldn’t have gone without a friend facilitating. Conscious gift giving can elevate exchanges from the obligatory stuff shuffling to something more personalized, lasting, and enjoyable for both sides.
Now that we've had some time to break in the new LIVSN line (and have had some cold weather to make it viable to break up), we asked around the office which of the new pieces people were using and enjoying most so far.
If you still need to do some holiday shopping, here's some further details on what our new favorites are, and what makes them special enough to stick out from the rest:
The Century Jacket fills a lot of niches for me. I have the Olive color which dresses up well but looks great with a t-shirt too. My friend Russ has appointed himself as one of our product testers and reports it holds up on cold mornings in the duck blind, but I don't find myself overheating in it running errands around town. The premium materials give it a feel like nothing else in my closet & overall it's just one of those pieces you get excited to reach for when the temperature starts to drop.
"For me it’s the Highlands Sweater. It can dress up, down, indoor, or outdoor. It’s insulating enough to keep me cozy and breathable enough to keep me from feeling sticky. It’s also a go-to for an early morning Zoom meeting where I want to be wearing PJs but look like I’m not and a classic mid-layer for outdoor beer drinking, Christmas parade watching, and future skiing."
"For me its the Women’s Forager Jacket. I’ve never owned a more versatile lightweight jacket — it seems to go with every outfit I put together. I also don’t need to worry about carrying a fanny pack or crossbody with me when I wear it because I can hide all my things in its various pockets."
"I'd say Benchmark for me actually. Love the current Tributary Plaid color, but the new solid green coming next year is my fave!"
I've probably worn the Highlands Full Zip the most so far. It's a perfect mid-layer with plenty of subtle storage. The bone color is so clean and matches everything. Also, the thumbholes make me feel safe.
What Gifts Do You Remember Most?
If you have a favorite gift you’ve received in the past, or one you’ve given you are particularly proud of, feel free to drop us a line.
After all, the joy of gift giving season isn’t limited to our direct exchanges; it includes witnessing how others choose to give to one another.
