Halloween
Halloween is one of those occasions that divides people into those who go all out and those who forget about it until the last week of October. Both groups need assistance. The “going all out” people need presents that are properly great, ones that are guaranteed to earn them more than a polite grin. People who forget want someone to have already thought ahead for them. This is us trying to please both camps.
When we were assembling this we tried to hone in on stuff that actually hits the mark. We didn’t want a load of novelty nonsense that will gather dust by November. We didn’t want yet another orange and black sodden thing that was clearly made to a brief. What we wanted were gifts that just happen to be ideal for this season, because they’re truly excellent objects. Objects that don’t need a pumpkin on the box to tell you they’re only on sale at the moment because it’s Halloween.
Most people overlook Halloween as a gift giving occasion. They don’t realise it’s right at the beginning of that long slog towards Christmas and it has a real identity if you tap into it. Halloween rewards irony. It rewards the flamboyant. It will suit that person in your life who takes their house decorations far too seriously, or who throws the best parties, or who is just downright loves this time of year more than anybody else you know.
We only picked stuff that we’d give. Gifts that work for the friend who is hosting the Halloween bash and has spent the last three weeks planning their masterful evening. Gifts that will work for the horror movie fan who already owns all the obvious stuff. Gifts for the friend who secretly loves Autumnalia, the candles, the coziness, everything that comes with October when it’s done right.
We kept this small because we wanted to. A shorter list where everything has been carefully selected will always beat a giant list filled with filler. If you see something here it’s because we looked at it and said YES THAT IS IT, not ballparked it as one of many options. Halloween isn’t every week. You only get one shot so make it count.