19 Gifts for the Friend Who’s Always Dreaming of France
Most of us fantasize about quitting our jobs and moving to France to live la vie parisienne at some point. But there are some who are a little more dedicated to immersing themselves in the French lifestyle than others. Like your friend who studied abroad in Paris for a semester in college—and still talks about the experience like it was yesterday, rather than 10 years ago. What better gift to get them then, (or yourself, if you are that friend) than something that indulges their inner—or perhaps not-so-inner—Francophile? Read on for our favorite France-inspired gifts, from the books to read and the beauty products to buy to the most classic item of them all: the Breton shirt.
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Cire Trudon Madeleine Candle
Parisian candlemaker Cire Trudon was founded on Rue Saint-Honoré in 1643, and has been developing its signature fragrances ever since—it even provided the scents for the royal court of Louis XIV (you can, in fact, buy a wax bust of the former king to burn at your leisure) before outliving Marie Antoinette and going on to provide candles for our favorite celebrity homes. Each candle is still handmade in the brand's Normandy factory, too. You can't get more authentically French than that.
Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water
To achieve that elusive “French girl beauty” look you need to have the right products—most of which can be found in pretty much any pharmacy across France (and, ahem, on Amazon). Avène is one of the brands behind those products, and its bestselling Thermal Spring Water face mist has become a must-pack for anyone battling dry or irritated skin after a long-haul flight, or is simply in need of a pick-me-up on a hot day. Plus, it comes in a handy travel size, too.
Le Creuset Signature Enameled Dutch Oven
A piece of Le Creuset cookware is a statement piece for anyone’s kitchen—but even more so if they’re that person who visited France once and came back thinking they were the next Julia Child. This classic cast-iron Dutch oven comes in an array of colors with fun names like Truffle, Marseille, and Palm, and is perfect for cooking, say, a rich cassoulet at your next dinner party. Not that you have to stick to French cooking, though. In need of some recipe inspiration? Look no further than this list of our favorite cookbooks.
Filt French Net Market bag
While most of us won't be perusing a French market anytime soon, a reusable bag like this one from Filt will come in infinitely handy on grocery store and farmer's market runs. Choose from shades of blue, white, turquoise, or yellow. Bonus: This set comes with two bags, so you can keep one for yourself or give the second to another French fiend.
Airbnb Gift Card
Contributing to a friend's Airbnb fund is a no-brainer: it helps make their trip planning easier, and you give them an excuse to gawk at the many beautiful apartments found across Paris and imagine they're a character in Amelie. If they need a little guidance over where exactly to stay on their next visit, we've rounded up our favorite Airbnbs across the city, including a wallet-friendly spot near the Sacré-Coeur and a character-filled two-bedroom in the Marais. No matter who you've bought the gift card for, there's something for everyone.
Saint James Authentic Breton Stripe Shirt
The Breton shirt is so timelessly, stylishly French that we once wrote an entire story dedicated to the history of it—and everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Jean Paul Gaultier has worn the traditional striped sailor top since Coco Chanel set the trend in 1913. There's no shortage of options to buy, but no one designs the shirt quite as well as French atelier Saint James, which has been making them for 130 years. You can choose from a range of color options, but we love the classic navy and white combo.
La Bouche Rouge Universal Reds lipstick set
Take a knockout red lip and make it more sustainable. That’s one way to look at the innovations of the young label La Bouche Rouge, which now makes mascara, eyeshadows, highlighters, and brushes. Start with the Universal Reds collection in Pop Art Red and Regal Red: they are refillable, vegan, and cruelty-free, and come with a red leather lipstick case that is as much a covetable keepsake as the lipsticks themselves.
Diptyque Paris Discovery Set
As far French perfumes go, Diptyque's are among the most coveted. Of course, choosing a scent for someone other than yourself can be tricky to get right—even when shopping for the closest of friends. Diptyque circumvents this problem with its Discovery Set, which features a selection of the brand's most popular fragrances (including Philosykos, Tam Dao, and Eau Rose), all in handy travel sizes.
'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin
One of the best ways to prepare for a trip to Paris is to read the novels inspired by it. The city's cafes and streets have served as the settings for some of the world's greatest pieces of literature, including Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, born out of the American writer's time as a young man living in Paris during the 1950s. Read it on the plane or, better still, at a table for one on the sidewalk outside Café de Flore.
Pampshade Croissant Lamp
Is an illuminated croissant lamp slightly ridiculous? Yes. Do we all need things that make us smile after these past few years? Absolutely. Made in Japan by a former baker, it's an IRL croissant that's been preserved in resin and fitted with an electrical base to allow it to light up. Keep it glowing in your kitchen on gloomy days.
Tricot recycled cashmere v-neck sweater
Well-cut basics made from durable materials are fixtures of the French wardrobe. That includes knitwear, the object of affection for Tom Lehman and Rémi Lacquintaine, the creators of sustainable brand Tricot. The duo’s three-ply sweaters are made from 50 percent recycled cashmere and 50 percent virgin cashmere (for the curious shopper, the recycling process is laid out in full on the brand’s website) and come in a variety of styles and colors.
'Diner à la Maison: A Parisian's Guide to Cooking and Entertaining at Home' by Laurent Buttazzoni
Sometimes the greatest way to temporarily satisfy wanderlust is to incorporate a little bit of a country's culture into your life back home. Laurent Buttazzoni, a French architect—and, apparently, Sofia Coppola's favorite party host—has written a book about how to throw the perfect Parisian dinner party, from the dishes to cook to the decorations to adorn the table with. Gift it to the enthusiastic chef in your life, and then promptly invite yourself over to their place for dinner.
Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre
Walk into any French pharmacy and you’ll probably find a selection of Embryolisse products lining the shelves—which is the only beauty seal of approval you need when it comes to skincare. This thick moisturizer is perfect for dry skin that’s taken a battering from cold weather or a frosty airplane cabin, and lasts for ages thanks to how rich it is (seriously, a little dollop goes a long way). Consider it an essential to any France-inspired beauty cabinet.
Ormaie Paris The Sandalwood Soaps set
It was only a matter of time before Ormaie, the all-natural unisex perfume brand, extended its line to vegetal-based soaps and refillable candles in stunning porcelain vessels. The ethos remains the same: plastic-free, high-quality scents developed by the best noses in Grasse that not only smell and feel divine, but immediately add a little something extra to your space.
Sagaform Wine Carafe with Oak Stopper
One of the best souvenirs to bring back from France is, of course, wine. Preferably the same one you just spent a week drinking in the vineyards of Burgundy. But once you get home, you also need something chic to serve it in, which makes this minimalist carafe from Sagaform an ideal gift for any oenophile who wants to show off everything they know about tannins. In between trips, it's a stylish way to upgrade the wine you just bought from the corner store.
Del'ep leather phone case
After working for Chanel alongside Karl Lagerfeld and with Nicolas Ghesquière during his Balenciaga days, Sigrid de l’Epine began contributing her own made-in-France designs to the fashion world: finely crafted, vegetable tanned leather cases to hold your phone, glasses, or keys around your neck. Both elegant and practical, it’s no wonder some of the world’s most well-dressed women, from actress Kelly Rutherford to model-actress Elisa Sednaoui, have added these cases to their wardrobes.
Marin Montagut glassware
Even if you can’t get to Paris to peruse the hand-painted homewares and scarves at Martin Montagut’s Left Bank cabinet of curiosities, you can bring his spirit to you. The bohemian artist and illustrator’s deep affection for the French capital comes to life in this hand blown glass. Each piece is unique and can be used as a water glass, a pencil holder, or a small vase.
La Maison du Chocolat Coffret chocolate box
What would you be doing on a trip to France ? Eating. What’s one French confection readily available stateside? Chocolate, thankfully. Under the guidance of Nicolas Cloiseau, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France), La Maison du Chocolat has mastered everything from luscious ganaches and pralines to unexpected savory flavors, all of which are available online. For a wide range that appeals to all palates, start with the 60-piece signature set.
Maison/Made Lemon Balm Biodynamic Hydrosol
If you can’t frolic through the rolling hills of Burgundy you can at least put some of its earthy abundance to work on your skin. This lemon balm from Maison/Made, a small batch skincare atelier with Demeter Biodynamic certification, is an all-purpose hydrosol (the result of steam distillation of the company’s medicinal plants grown on a centuries-old family farm in Burgundy) that targets cellular renewal and repair. It’s the perfect calming before-bed ritual.
