Practical holiday gifts conjure up images of sad-colored socks unwrapped with an even-sadder frown. But let it be known: The sad sock is a practical-gift anomaly! And we're here to stick up for all the truly useful presents out there. For all those friends and family members who could star in their own versions of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, this one's for them.
There are countless aesthetically fulfilling AND functional gift options to be had, and we've hunted down the most-wanted examples. From zero-waste dish kits to best-selling vibrators to top-rated memory foam pillows, these are the presents that will support your pragmatic giftee in their sensible endeavors. Keep clicking for our full list of useful things, informed by Refinery29 reader suggestions, anonymous shopping data on top-bought items, and professional editor hunches. Don't get it twisted: Practical people need love, too, and useful gifts don't have to be sad socks.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight With Pockets
Leggings are well-known as workhorse wardrobe staples, so surprising your practical person with a premium pair is almost guaranteed to delight them. And what's more practical than a pair with pockets? As far as really nice leggings go, Lululemon's reader-favorite Wunder tights are IT.
Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight with Pockets, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag Large 2L
Or, for an under-$50 Lululemon present, score the aptly named Everywhere Belt Bag. It's a certified must-have — trust us, we've been seeing it everywhere.
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag Large 2L, $, available at Lululemon
FP Movement Quilted Carryall
Free People's Quilted Carryall seems all fun and games due to its funky, puffy fabric, but don't be fooled. This tote's spacious interior, extra-cushy shoulder strap, and secure top-zip closure make it quite the practical purchase.
FP Movement Quilted Carryall, $, available at Free People
Minted Leafy Letter
For the earnest loved one who sends their heartfelt hellos and sentimental thank-yous to your mailbox, not your inbox, this personalized stationery is sure to be a hit.
Brightland's unique olive oils are bound to make it out of the box, straight onto your sensible giftee's kitchen counters, and into countless delicious meals to come. While we always suggest the brand's classic duo, this merry and bright set features a few citrus twists — specifically, Brightland's Awake extra virgin olive oil, Parasol citrus champagne vinegar, orange blossom honey, and a handy pouring spout for the olive oil bottle.
Ugg Tasman X Waterproof Clog, $, available at Nordstrom
Package Free Water Bottle Kit
If they've been upping their water intake (or simply love adding to their water bottle collection), then check out this nifty kit, which includes one 27-ounce reusable bottle and a cleaning brush. Plus, Package Free's site features quaint, eco-friendly essentials (spanning home, beauty, and more) that ship in zero or minimal packaging to eliminate single-use plastic. And, even if your loved ones are already devoted to water bottles of their own, you can also check out the brand's myriad of streamlined gift sets.
Package Free Water Bottle Kit, $, available at Package Free
Tushy Classic Bidet 3.0
Listen: everybody poops. Allow this aesthetically pleasing bidet — crafted by millennial-friendly bathroom brand Tushy — to send that supportive message in one decidedly useful gift form. Now that's practical, people.
If your practical person is a little poop-shy, we suggest going with Tushy's very own version of the popular bathroom — for lack of a better word — stool.
Sure, this Instagram-worthy tin looks incredibly gift-worthy, but $35 for a laundry detergent?! Before your giftees exhale their practical pfffts, consider this: the bucks they've shelled out over the years for status candles with 60-hour burn times compared to 60 loads of laundry that come out of the wash smelling like something that puts Diptyque Paris to shame. Trust us: They will thank you once their sheets, towels, shirts, socks, and underwear are softly cocooned in an intoxicatingly sumptuous scent. (One of our writers tried it, and they can confirm that it's, indeed, heavenly).
Chances are your sensible giftee is fairly orderly — and, if so, this very clever over-the-sink drying rack will delight their clean-kitchen sensibilities.
Food52 Over-the-Sink Dish Drying Rack, $, available at Food52
Brooklinen Marlow Pillow
Seeing as we're supposed to be tossing our pillows out every one to two years, a gifted replacement seems to be a pretty practical move. Although sleep styles and preferences widely differ from person to person, we suggest going with Brooklinen's customizable memory foam cushion. Stuffed with supportive memory foam and fitted with a zipper that allows users to adjust its firmness, this pillow is as crowd-pleasing as it gets.
Brooklinen Marlow Pillow, $, available at Brooklinen
Quince Premium Down Alternative Comforter
And, while we're on the topic of practical bedding gifts, why not consider a brand-new comforter? After all, even the most serious giftees need sleep. Help them crush those ZZZs with Quince's best-selling duvet insert, which just so happens to pair seamlessly with the retailer's R29-editor-approved European Linen Duvet Cover Set.
Quince Premium Down Alternative Comforter, $, available at Quince
Tracy's Dog OG Flow, 2-In-1 Clit Sucking Vibrator
A tool that exists solely to achieve climax is, quite arguably, very useful. And where better to start than with the best-selling OG Flow from Tracy's Dog? According to our very own sex writer, the viral suction vibrator pushed her pleasure far past anything she thought her body was capable of.
Tracy's Dog OG FLOW, 2-n-1 Clit Sucking Vibrator For Double Pleasur, $, available at tracy's dog
PrettyLeatherUSA Personalized Leather RFID Wallet
Overly practical Etsy reviewers aplenty rave that this item is well-made, nice-looking, and very convenient. As one pleased customer states, the wallet is "beautifully made with care and precision." Not only that, but "it came exactly how [they] wanted it and came when it said it would."
PrettyLeatherUsa Personalized Leather RFID Wallet, $, available at Etsy
In Good Taste Wine Sampler
If they're into wine, gift them a virtual at-home tasting with In Good Taste's six-bottle samplers thoughtfully sourced from small-batch wineries across the globe.
In Good Taste California Wine Mixer, $, available at In Good Taste
Public Goods Original Ramen (5-Pack)
Practical foodies will surely appreciate (aka quickly consume) this all-natural ramen noodle duo from one of our favorite online purveyors of sustainable household goodies. The packets are vegan-friendly, preservative-free, and made with whole ingredients sourced from a farm in Taiwan.
Public Goods Original Ramen, $, available at Public Goods
Cadence Refillable Magnetic Capsules
For your sustainably minded giftees who are always on the go and in need of a convenient vessel to stash their self-care and toiletry essentials, there's Cadence's refillable and magnetic honeycomb-shaped containers crafted out of recycled plastic from the ocean.
Cadence The Originals - Set Of 6, $, available at Cadence
Bathing Culture Mind & Body Wash Refillable Glass
Bathroom products — your hand soaps, body washes, scrubs, etc. — are a necessity that can either be luxurious or simply good enough to get the job done. A nice gesture for your practical pals would be to re-up their washroom stock with some nourishing and sustainable goodies from Bathing Culture.
Bathing Culture Mind & Body Wash Refillable Glass (Meadow Vision), $, available at Bathing Culture
Our Place Always Pan
It doesn't get more useful than this chic, eight-in-one pan from sustainable-cookware favorite Our Place. The magical do-it-all piece is nontoxic and incredibly nonstick, and it comes washed in an array of unique kitchen hues your giftee likely won't find elsewhere.
Our Place Essential Always Cooking Pan, $, available at Our Place
Our Place Perfect Pot
Or, for the practical cook who thinks Instant Pots are passe, there's Our Place's cult-favorite creation: the Perfect Pot. This pretty piece serves as a stockpot, Dutch oven, saucepot, roasting rack, steamer, bread pot, braiser, and spoon rest. It gives cooks the very useful ability to boil, crisp, bake, braise, roast, steam, strain, store, serve, pour, and steep whatever it is they've got on the menu.
For the practical people that prefer to roll their own, there's this nifty keychain that's designed with a hexagon-shaped interior, which perfectly fits self-rolled smokes so they can tote them on the go without anyone being the wiser.
For composters, may we suggest a very nice-looking bin? You know, one they will proudly keep filled to the brim with rotting veggies and other food scraps on their countertops. This chic option is dishwasher-safe, crafted from biodegradable materials, and comes equipped with two filters.
Farm Steady Compost Tote, $, available at FarmSteady
Maude Organic Shine Lube
A consistently best-selling lube that's thoughtfully crafted with soothing all-natural ingredients and packaged in an aesthetically pleasing bottle that looks quite stylish on a bedside table. It's sensible-gifting gold!
Slippers are a must. Especially as someone who lives in New York City, having separate house shoes and outside shoes is a necessity. But...on the off chance that you do accidentally wear your slippers outside, these babies are prepared with a rugged outsole for enhanced traction, water-resistant coating, and a comfortable foam footbed. No sweat.
Stoners and practicality are not mutually exclusive Dad Grass — the California-based company that crafts organic CBD joints, tinctures, and un-rolled hemp "flower" nuggets — offers practical giftees (aka the difficult-to-gift dudes, dads, guys, and all-gendered people of the world who enjoy grass) a present of the smokable persuasion that contains (by law!) less than 0.3 percent THC. As our Vice counterparts describe it, Dad Grass offers "a reliable way to blast off like your dad used to without worrying that you’ll end up too far gone." If you're looking to gift your practical mom, we're happy to inform you that Mom Grass is a thing that also exists. (A more in-depth rundown on all that here.)
Dad Grass 5-Pack Special Editions Bundle, $, available at Dad Grass
Blueland Clean Suite + Free Holiday Tablet Tin
If they already have enough pots and pans in their kitchens, then perhaps try going the green-cleaning route. Blueland's all-encompassing bundles of reusable glass bottles that can be refilled on an as-need basis with nickel-sized, non-toxic solution tablets are incredibly giftable — and, not to mention, incredibly eco-friendly. The brand's limited-edition bundle contains seven reusable containers and plastic-free refills along with one free holiday Forever tin and three extra holiday hand soap tablets.
Blueland Clean Suite + Free Tablet Tin, $, available at Blueland
Click & Grow Indoor Herb Garden
The Click & Grow first made top-shopped waves in a roundup of indoor garden kits — and then it crushed the cart numbers again during Amazon Prime Day. Why? We're guessing it's because this green-gadget is a very useful buy. With it, your giftee can open up a whole new world of over 50 pre-seeded plant pods (like cilantro, basil, wild strawberries, thyme, peppers, etc.) that will thrive before their eyes right on the countertop. And, if you're in the big-spender market for a serious gardening enthusiast, the brand offers a whole range of higher-tier smart garden options.
Click & Grow The Smart Garden 3, $, available at Click and Grow
Garrett Wade Ultra-Sharp Pruners With Optional Matching Sheath
For the more intense practical gardeners in your life: a very good-looking set of pruners with a matching French-made leather sheath. Crafted with a high-carbon bypass-blade system with a gilded titanium-nitride coating that preserves its sharpness, these high-quality clippers are not only corrosion and sap-resistant but also ergonomically designed for ultimate in-hand comfort.
As one pleased reviewer coos, "I love these pruners. I got the purple for me which I was excited about & the black for my hubby. They’re very sharp, well made, I love the smooth handle. I’m the main landscaper in our family so the smooth handle works well for me for using them for long periods of time. They come apart to easily clean the blades and so far the rust-proof aluminum is holding up well. You won’t be disappointed."
Garrett Wade Ultra-Sharp Pruners with Optional Matching Sheath, $, available at Garrett Wade
Airbnb Customizable Gift Card
Practical people are also usually big planners, too — so, it only makes sense that gifting one with the ability to book lodgings of their choosing on an upcoming trip would be pretty practical-pleasing stuff.
Airbnb Customizable Gift Card, $, available at Airbnb
Away The Expandable Packing Cubes
Another practical gift idea for your trip-planning people? A set of four expandable packing cubes with limited-edition colorways designed in collaboration with the legendary Serena Williams. Crafted from water-resistant nylon that will protect their suitcase essentials from in-transit toiletry mishap, these practical puppies are strategically designed with a mesh top for easy visibility of contents and an expandable zipper for extra-outfit space.
Away The Expandable Packing Cubes, $, available at Away
Crown Affair The Set
Although luxury and practicality don't always go hand in hand, Crown Affair's coveted haircare essentials do not disappoint when it comes to a high-quality gift with a purpose. This stacked set includes all of the brand's best-selling tools and then some: The Comb No. 001, The Brush, The Oil, The Towel, The Scrunchie N0.001, 3-minute hourglass timer, reusable cloth travel pouches, and keepsake box. (If you're not looking to splurge, then we suggest going straight for its editor-favorite detangling comb.)
The practicality proof is all in the rave-reviewer pudding: "I have to say, the whole set was a complete game-changer for me.
Overall, my hair feels and looks the best it has in a very long time since I started using Crown Affair. It’s finally growing and getting back its shine; I don't see as many strands in the drain after showering, which I assume is due to me brushing out all the dead hair every single day; It dries super quick with the towel which leads to less drying time. I use a blow-dryer and straightener each time I wash; I used to wash my hair every other day. I now wash it about 2 times per week; I imagine from brushing, my hair doesn’t get as oily as quickly as it used to – which is why I wash it way less than I used to. Overall - I love my hair so much and I literally owe it all to Crown Affair. I have also bought The Set as a gift so many times because I actually feel that so many people and different hair types can benefit from these products."
Crown Affair The Set, $, available at Crown Affair
Open Spaces Entryway Rack
Crafted from smooth painted steel, this three-tier entryway rack is a sharp-looking and useful dual-purpose home surprise. Whether your giftee wants to use the cool piece for Instagram-worthy shoe storage or as a side table for plants, books, etc., this rack will get the job done and look damn good doing it.
Open Spaces Entryway Rack, $, available at Open Spaces
Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe
If your giftee looks disappointed when unraveling one of the most top-rated robes on the market that's named after the softest thing we can imagine, then they are not a practical person. Among a slew of best-selling cozy-cloak contenders, Parachute's Cloud Cotton Robe (made from two-ply gauze and premium 100% long-staple Turkish cotton) continues to take the top-bought cake for its lighter-than-air composition and variety of soothing hues to choose from. Long story short: they're not going to NOT wear it.
Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe, $, available at Parachute
Dyson V8 Absolute
Ok, this one is pricey — but, hear us out: this very expensive gift for your practical person is also potentially a gift for yourself (if you live with said giftee). Fast, lightweight, and a joy to slide on dirty surfaces, Dyson's V8 Absolute is a gadget so good it'll make any nonplussed person want to dance around with unbridled glee whilst cleaning on a Sunday. (I would know, I reviewed one and now we are in love.) Oh, it also happens to be $50 off right now, too!
Treat a sensible giftee (who definitely keeps their hands extremely clean) to this trio of travel-sized cleansing gel, evaporative mist, and hydrating balm, all wrapped up in a stylish recycled-cotton pouch.
A non-eyesore bedside gadget that's engineered to not only bring sunlight into your practical giftee's room on dark winter mornings but also to help them do everything from guided breathwork, meditations, pre-bedtime wind-downs, and snooze-through-the-night customizable sounds. In short, it's a personalized bedtime routine they can keep on their nightstands.
Oh, and it also has 245 5-star reviews so you know it comes fussy-person approved. As one sensible fan details: "I love my two Lofties! I got my first one almost a year ago and then ordered a second for my boyfriend's house a few months later because I'd become so addicted to it.
The design is really solid - it's modern, simple, and looks great in both of our bedrooms. The nightlight creates a soft glow that's soothing before bed, and there's just something nice about being able to turn off the alarm by reaching over and pressing down on its bar (great haptics) without having to look for my phone in the morning.
The two-phase alarm is genius — I usually hate waking up in the morning, but the initial "wake up" sounds are pleasant & they don't jar me out of bed because I know I have another few minutes to sleep before I have to actually 'get up' with the second phase. I also really love the soundscapes, particularly the water-based ones, and the brown noise.
Finally, I track my sleep with a FitBit, and I've noticed that when I do breathwork before bed, I get more deep sleep and have a lower sleeping heart rate. Really interesting & has been great for my recovery."
The entire shopping team audibly gasped when The ReNew Slippers emerged onto the scene last year (and we're all practical people!). The pair has already made its rounds in more than a few holiday gift guides, circulated on social media, and been added to our very own virtual carts just in time for the chilly holiday season. We can express with confidence that any no-nonsense giftee in your life would be glad to pop a pair of these 100%-recycled "duvets for your feet" slippers onto their tootsies.
Some practical people just aren't into slippers — hey, maybe their feet get too hot and sweaty — so, for them, we suggest a sleek pair of house slides that can most certainly (and chicly) be taken to the street. These comfy-casual kicks are crafted from fully recycled AND recyclable materials right here in the U.S. in a zero-waste manufacturing process. A sensible (i.e. sophisticated and sustainable) take on the shower shoe if you will.
It's a safe assumption that your practical pals like to plan ahead — and if anyone knows how to plan, it's Erin Condren. The designer's functionally and aesthetically designed schedulers are bestselling organization essentials that make A+ gifting material in advance of the new year.
Erin Condren Lilac Vegan Leather LifePlanner, $, available at Erin Condren
Primula Glass Carafe Iced Coffee Maker
On average, practical peeps who like to get stuff done, also like a nice cup or glass of coffee here and there. Primula's viral glass cold brew maker has a reasonable price and can keep your giftee caffeinated all week long with no problem — especially if you go for the 1.6-quart option. Our Beauty & Wellness writer made it a fridge essential she definitely recommends.
Primula Glass Carafe Iced Coffee Maker, $, available at Amazon
Trade Coffee Gift Subscription
Another sensible gift option for coffee-loving folk is a subscription to monthly deliveries of small-batch bean bags. Trade is one of our Shopping editor's favorite destinations for handpicked selections of 400+ coffees roasted around the country. It's very crowd-pleasing stuff to gift as the blends can be customized by your chosen giftee to match their preferred flavor profiles and roast levels.
Trade Coffee Gift Subscription (3 Months), $, available at Trade
Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Weekender
This sustainably made, durable canvas bag from family-run company Lo & Sons is a consistent top-selling favorite from our roundup of best weekender bags. It also just so happens to make very useful gifting material (and is currently 40%-off) — whether it's for a short weekend away, traveling home for Thanksgiving, a day at the park, or even just lugging a bunch of groceries home, they. will. use. it.
Lo & Sons The Catalina Deluxe Tote, $, available at Lo & Sons
HOKA Women's Bondi 7
In the comfy shoe world, one practical sneaker brand currently reigns supreme: Hoka. Everything from the memory foam ankle collar to light & airy mesh construction, and maximal cushion makes these kicks a foot's best friend (and an amazing buy for your sensible bestie).
Overly practical Etsy reviewers aplenty rave that this item is well-made, nice-looking, and very convenient. As one pleased customer states, it "holds four cards in the main pocket and ID in the front pocket perfectly." Not only that, but "nothing falls out," and it's "not difficult to remove cards quickly."
On the surface, there are no morally gray areas in May December. The Todd Haynes drama, out in theatres and on Netflix now, follows the semi-fictional tabloid story of a 36-year-old woman who rightfully goes to jail after getting caught having sex with a 13-year-old boy in Savannah in the ‘90s. Twenty years later, a movie is being made about the now-married couple, Gracie and Joe (played by Julianne Moore and Charles Melton), in which a TV star with questionable intentions, Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), is set to play the former. But while Gracie sees the film as an opportunity “to tell the story right,” May December shows the story the way it really is.
After establishing Gracie and Joe’s relationship as one formed through sexual abuse and a power imbalance, May December zooms in on people’s ability to warp reality into a story that would allow a convicted sex offender to see herself as a fragile woman who escaped an unhappy marriage after being “seduced” by a 13-year-old boy. “There’s so many different layers to the film, it really makes you start questioning the sense of identity,” says costume designer April Napier. “[It’s a story about] how we understand ourselves and how others understand us, how we understand somebody else, and our human inability to not do that very well.”
May December, L to R: Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo with Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry. Cr. François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix
Napier — who previously worked on Certain Women, Lady Bird, and Booksmart — created a wardrobe of innocence for a character who seems unencumbered by a past that includes having one of her three children with Joe in prison while he was still a teen. Instead, Gracie attempts to project “loveliness” and “brightness,” as her former lawyer puts it in the film, through a wardrobe of floral dresses, fluttery blouses, and a soft palette of lavenders and pinks. “Julie [Moore] had discussed that she wanted her character to be very princess-like and very contained and very kind of perfect, her femininity,” says Napier. “[In her head] this young, masculine, sensual man comes and kind of rescues her.”
For Moore’s character, Napier referenced photographs from Tina Barney’s Theater of Manners, Deborah Turbeville’s Valentino ads from the late ‘70s, and Nicholas Nixon’s “The Brown Sisters” series, as well as films like Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, and Robert Altman’s 3 Women. This translated to cottagecore-esque dresses (including Hill House Home’s popular Nap Dress for the scene from the film’s poster), frilly blouses, soft polos, and pastel-hued pants.
May December. (L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry and Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo in May December. Cr. Francois Duhamel / courtesy of Netflix
Gracie maintains a facade of frailty throughout the film, only once trading her ultra-feminine style for a look to go hunting, as her marriage begins to show cracks as a result of Elizabeth’s presence, which makes Joe question the beginnings of his relationship with Gracie. “She’s now feeling attacked… so it’s the one time when she can sort of veer into her sense of masculinity,” she says. “But there’s still a femininity about her. Her jeans and T-shirt fit properly. She has a Barbour jacket. There’s still a precision or control about [her look], but it’s the one time when she’s showing that fierceness.”
In direct opposition, Elizabeth, who doesn’t shy away from the fact that she finds it interesting to play “bad” people, arrives in Georgia in razor-sharp blazers from APC and The Row, jeans from Khaite and Levi’s, and jewelry from Cartier. “Jane Birkin was kind of our touchstone with the hair, with the blazers, with the simplicity of what she wears, like very easy, comfortable, confident,” Napier says. She instantly establishes herself as an outsider thanks to her penchant for dark colorways and a minimalist uniform. “Natalie brought up a good point: Elizabeth came for a week to do her research, and she just brought a small suitcase. So how much can she actually have? There’s a little bit of realism,” says Napier.
May December, L to R: Elizabeth Yu as Mary Atherton-Yoo, Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry & Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix
This faithfulness applies to the scene where Elizabeth wears a burgundy slip dress to meet Gracie and Joe at their barbecue. “We were trying to dress everyone in some element of red, white, and blue because they were celebrating Memorial Day,” says Napier. “So that was kind of her way; she was like, ‘Okay, I’ll wear a form of red, but it’s going to be burgundy. And I’m going to wear my Hermès hat and my Saint Laurent glasses.’ She doesn’t want to stick out too much in black. She wants to try to fit in and calm them so that they will divulge information.” She likewise uses her wardrobe to her advantage when she wears a sheer blouse to meet Joe alone later in the film.
May December. (L to R) Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry and Charles Melton as Joe in May December. Cr. Francois Duhamel / courtesy of Netflix
While Portman starts the film in dark clothes, that range from a black Saint Laurent turtleneck to a black Issey Miyake dress, as Napier puts it, “her palette starts to soften up once she realizes how she is going to transform into Gracie.” After Elizabeth begins to channel Gracie, she embraces warmer hues like browns and grays before donning an out-of-character rose pink dress that, Napier imagined, Elizabeth bought while in town: “That would have been something that she could have purchased there… She wouldn’t have actually brought that. ”
As Elizabeth stops passively observing and attempts to relive the events of the past using some morally objectionable tactics, the two women start blending into each other, which is driven home through Napier’s wardrobe selections. Inspired by the 1964 film The Pumpkin Eater, where a man is caught in a triangle between his wife and young mistress, Napier wanted Gracie and Elizabeth to reflect each other in button-front dresses and aprons (top photo) for a baking scene. “They’re tonally the same, but Natalie has the graphic [print], and Julie has the floral. And then we put the floral apron over Natalie — imagining that the apron that Julie would have hanging in her house would be a floral one — to mimic the floral dress Julie’s wearing,” says Napier. “Mirrors are such a major part of this film, in terms of identity, your reflection of yourself, you looking at yourself.”
May December, L to R: Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry with Julianne Moore as Gracie Atherton-Yoo. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix
As the tension reaches a boiling point, in the final scene of the movie the women once again mirror each other in white dresses and sunglasses, “like two white knights who meet each other on the field,” says Napier. “It’s their final battle. But then again, Natalie has to have a more geometric-shaped, tailored dress, and Gracie the fluttery one. Gracie has a pair of round shades — they were Celine, but they have that ’70s vibe — and then Elizabeth has on her classic Saint Laurent glasses.”
Caught between two women is Joe. In an extraordinary performance that already won the Riverdale star the Gotham Award, Melton takes on the character whose childhood was cut short even before meeting Gracie. Rather than look like someone in his thirties, at the beginning of the film, Joe wears preppy fatherly staples like boat shoes and button-downs. “We wanted him to be like a little boy dressing like a dad. But also, we were mindful that in Savannah, and in a lot of the South, there’s a uniform that all the men wear, which is pleated khakis, Top-siders, polo shirts, or button-ups,” says Napier. She also wanted the look to play into Joe’s yearning to fit into a group of people that has long ostracized him. “He’s a younger man. He’s Korean [in a predominantly white neighborhood]. He’s trying to grow up. He’s trying to fit in. He’s trying to be a part of the community. He’s trying to be a father and a husband.”
May December, L to R: Charles Melton as Joe Yoo with Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry. Cr. François Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix
As Joe reflects on what happened 20 years prior, he wears more youthful clothes that seem like remnants from his stilted childhood. In one particularly emotional scene, he matches his son in jeans and sneakers, finally looking like the young man that he is. “We put him in an Abercrombie and Fitch rugby shirt,” says Napier. “We washed the crap out of it and got it brown. Like, it’s his favorite thing that he’s worn forever, this cozy thing. And then his kind of ’90s pale denim and his New Balance trainers. Like, a kid dad.”
Joe’s shirt wasn’t the only piece that Napier wanted to look used, sourcing a big chunk of the clothing for the film from secondhand site The RealReal. “As a costume designer, I don’t like to buy new things, because they look so fake. They look like costumes… that doesn’t help build character,” she says. “I prefer to rent things or source things or vintage shop for things that have more wear to them because it imbues them with a sense of realism.”
If you could tell what’s real in May December, that is.
If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call theRAINN Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Vacation outfits don’t come naturally to me. The demanding schedule and constant climate adaptations that come with traveling means packing for a vacation will often clash with my desire to put on looks that are fashionable, but impractical. After years of over-packing and putting my feet through the pain of wearing inappropriate shoes for hours-long sightseeing trips, I finally got down to perfecting a capsule wardrobe for joyous travel.
Ahead of a seven-day trip to Portugal, where I’d be in temperatures ranging from 40 to 65 degrees and would visit both historical places and natural landscapes, it seemed like the right moment to refine both my packing and styling strategies.
Thankfully, there was a time when all I did was pack for days-long trips and had to adapt my style to match this lifestyle. Back in 2015, when I studied abroad in Spain, my weekends consisted of hours-long travel — whether via bus, train, or plane — where I’d have to carry all my belongings in a tiny carry-on suitcase or backpack (RyanAir’s bag restrictions are enough to induce PTSD). At the time, I figured my best strategy was to wear neutral colors, pack shoes that could withstand any terrain, and pick pieces that were both versatile and chic. I pride myself in having packed for both cold and warm weather on a two-week trip through Europe — with styles ranging from beachy jumpsuits to a felt wide-brim hat — in a carry-on suitcase so small it might as well have been a backpack.
Though years had passed and I was no longer a city-hopping student, I figured my best bet to enjoy my time in Portugal was to look to that era for inspiration. The strategy was simple. I packed two T-shirts (black and white, of course), one long-sleeved shirt, one pair of wide-leg pants, two jackets (one denim and one leather), and a pair of dark wash jeans. I also brought two blazers for warmer days, as well as accessories that would enhance the otherwise boring outfits, including a velvet hair bow. For shoes, sneakers were my go-tos, bringing with me one pair for long walking days in nature settings and another for city adventures.
And it worked. As I reviewed the trip’s outfits, it’s clear they all look very similar. And that’s by design. Why waste precious energy in decision fatigue during a vacation? Here are all the ways I perfected my traveling capsule wardrobe.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Airport To Sightsee Look
A seven-hour flight is never a pleasant experience. So, dressing for one is a nightmare. Still, this time around I settled for a simple T-shirt and joggers that I later styled with a dark denim jacket and sunglasses as I stepped off the plane straight to sightseeing.
Chic Sightseeing Outfit
When faced with a day of walking around 19th century palaces in Portugal, a velvet bow was the best accessory to dress like a real life storybook character. Still, I was a tourist first, which made me keep my outfit simple, pairing a brown blazer with dark denim and sneakers.
The Train Ride Outfit
Remember what I said about seven-hour flights? Well, three-hour train rides are no walk in the park either. This is why I decided to wear the same black joggers, only this time I styled it with a long-sleeve striped shirt and leather jacket for an edgier look.
The Tourist-Core Outfit
Airport dads were the main inspiration for this outfit, which I’m dubbing “tourist-core.” For a day of exploring in Cascais, Portugal, I chose to wear the long-sleeved shirt from the previous outfit with dark wash denim and a black blazer. For additional styling (and warmth!) I wore a gray sweater over my shoulders, which I promptly put on as the day’s temperature dropped.
The Wine Tour Look
The wide leg pants trend is truly a godsend for travel. While they may look office-ready (and they are!) the style is primed for days of walking and exploring. Planning a day of cellar visits around Porto, I decided to pair them with a leather jacket and basic black T-shirt.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Much like a little black dress, everyone should have a black purse in their wardrobe. It’s timeless, versatile, and the perfect staple for no-fuss accessorizing. Whether it’s the most casual everyday tote or the fanciest occasion bag, a black style will go with almost everything and serve you time and time again. So whether you’re searching for a black crossbody purse for running daily errands or a black tote to bring to the office, we’ve got you covered with styles that are anything but boring. They also happen to include the top handbag trends this year (i.e. top handles, woven fabrics, scoop tops, and forever pieces).
From classic shapes and timeless fabrics to unique sizes and trendy hardware, find some of the best black purses to add to your winter wardrobe.
Black Shoulder Bags
Shoulder bags are the perfect arm candy for elevating your night-out outfits. They may be on the smaller size, but their style can be impactful and the cherry on top of your look. We love black shoulder bags, and personally love baguette bags, and how they make us nostalgic for Y2K style. To amp up your black purse, play with texture by choosing high-quality, genuine pebbled or polished leathers or more affordable vegan leathers, nylon, and corduroy.
Black Crossbody Purses
Everyone needs a tried-and-true crossbody purse as a companion to get you through the day. You simply throw it on and go. And speaking of versatility, a lot of crossbodies have convertible features like adjustable straps or additional top handles that allow you to hold them in various ways if you don’t need a hands-free bag at all times. Here. we’ve included various styles like mini, flap-over, sling, and satchel styles to show just how vast the black crossbody purse options are.
Black Tote Bags
If small purses simply aren’t your thing and you prefer a lot of space and storage, we present you with black tote purses. Tote bags come in a whole range of styles, but we opted for sleek, durable, and designer purses over flimsy fabric bags here. Go for glam with a shiny woven tote, or go for sophistication with a chic leather bag. But if you are looking for a no-nonsense everyday style, try a slouchy faux leather tote or structured cotton or canvas totes.
Black Top Handle Purses
Top handle bags are great occasion bags when you don’t have a ton to carry or want an eye-catching accessory. They’re small, compact, and just so chic. We’ve included unique rounded styles, mini trunks, and puffy fabrics in the purse shape for you to play around with. And perhaps the best part about top handles is that many styles these days come with crossbody straps, making them more practical to carry around when you’re done taking your drool-worthy pictures.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
