Luxury Gifts for Her: A Finnish Design House Gift Guide

Start with how she lives, then choose a print that tells a story she will recognise. A gift with an artist's hand in it outlasts the season it was given in.

Below is our gift guide, organised by kind of gift, with the pieces from our own collections we would give and the reason each one makes a good present.

Key takeaways

• Choose the kind of gift first (something to wear, something for the home, something small), then the print.
• Silk scarves and kimonos suit a woman who dresses with colour; cushions and throws suit one who loves her home.
• Scarves, shawls, cushions and throws need no fitting, which makes them the easiest gifts to get right.
• A print with a story behind it makes a more personal present than a logo.

A printed silk scarf

A silk scarf is one of the classic luxury gifts for her, and for good reason. It needs no size, it packs flat, and she can wear it in a dozen ways: knotted at the neck, tied to a bag, worn in her hair or even framed on a wall.

• For the woman who loves colour: our Firebird Orange silk scarf is printed on heavy silk satin with rolled edges and measures 110 x 110 cm. Four birds, two dark and two pale, circle a red-orange ground in a print inspired by the Ballets Russes' Firebird and the story of a majestic bird with both good and evil powers. A Firebird Black version sits in the same collection.
• For the woman drawn to the sea: the Sanssouci silk twill scarf from our Gothic Ocean collection is double printed on light silk twill, with hand-rolled edges. Fish and a scallop shell drift among pale, coral-like arches on a midnight-navy ground, held inside a gilded baroque frame.

Why it makes a good gift: a scarf is wearable art she can carry with her daily, and silk lasts for years with a little care.

A silk kimono robe

A kimono is the more intimate present, the kind of gift that turns an ordinary morning into an occasion. Ours are pure silk, cut loose and closed with a belt, so she can wear one as a robe at home, open over jeans or belted as an evening dress.

Our Firebird Kimono in Hammered Silk Satin carries the signature Firebird print on a heavier hammered silk, chosen for its added durability. It has a more substantial feel and a richer drape than our pearl satin version, with the subtle, textured sheen that hammered silk is known for. Two pale birds face each other down the front on a black ground, and flowers bloom across the shoulders. It is printed in Italy and made in Estonia.

For a milestone, the limited-edition 10 years anniversary Firebird kimono in ecru is printed on pearl satin and comes with its belt in a gift box. Our guide on how to wear a kimono shows the ways she can style it, from the house to the evening.

A printed cushion for her home

For the woman whose home is her refuge, a cushion is a luxury home gift that changes a room in a moment. A single printed cushion can lift a plain sofa, a reading chair or the foot of a bed.

Our Silk Pheasants and Rhubarbs cushion is printed silk with a deep green linen backside and piping, 50 x 50 cm, finished with a hidden zip. Two pheasants rest beneath tall pink rhubarb stalks on a black ground, a still life that glows against dark upholstery. The cushion is sold as the cover alone, so add an inner pad if she will need one.

Why it makes a good gift: a cushion is a piece of art she can lean against, and it pairs well with a smaller present to wear.

A wool and silk shawl or throw

Woven pieces belong to the winter months and to the woman who feels the cold. Our Rabbit shawls have been among our best sellers since the launch of the Klaus Haapaniemi collection, and they move between the wardrobe and the sofa with ease.

• To wear: the Rabbit Blueberry shawl is woven with fine lambswool and silk, with a soft finish and a delicate silky texture. At 150 x 150 cm, with hand-knotted fringes on two sides, it can be draped over the shoulders, wrapped around the neck as a scarf or spread across her knees on a cold evening. Rabbits leap and sit among flowers in plum, violet and pink on a muted olive ground.
• For the home: the Rabbit Throw in Blueberry is woven from fine wool and silk, with hand-knotted fringes on all sides. At 180 x 200 cm it is the smaller size of our classic Rabbit throw, the same folk design framed in a deep blueberry border. A larger 215 x 245 cm version is also available.

Why it makes a good gift: a shawl or throw is warmth she will use from the first frost to spring, and the hand-knotted fringes show the work that went into it.

Something for the table

A gift for the table is a gift she shares. It comes out when friends arrive and stays out because it is too lovely to put away.

Our small plate set is crafted at Azmaya, a traditional ceramic factory in Japan. Each of the five 18 cm plates carries a different motif (Rabbit, Bees, Deer, Peacock and Cuckoo), drawn in dark monochrome on white. The designs are first inlaid on the ceramic, colour transfer is added, and the plates are glazed and finished by hand. The set comes in a gift box, ready to give.

For a shelf or a windowsill, our Tales from Wilderness small Owl is hand-painted crystal, made in Sweden by Målerås Glasbruk, where crystal has been shaped by hand since the first furnace was lit in 1890. A blue owl perches on a branch among orange flowers, 8 x 10 cm, catching the light like a small lantern.

Something small

Small gifts are often the ones she reaches for most. Our Iceflower beauty bag is a linen pouch with a red lining and a gold bee zip, 27 x 17 cm. Pale blue Iceflower foliage, outlined in coral red, spreads across a black ground. It slips into a handbag or a weekend case, and it makes a good stocking filler or a companion to a larger present.

For the woman who works on the move, the Iceflower laptop case is printed linen with firm foam padding, a cotton lining and our signature Bee zipper, in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes.

How to choose a luxury gift for her

A thoughtful gift starts with her. A few questions narrow the choice quickly:

1. Look at her colours. Notice what she wears and the colours of her rooms. A woman who dresses in black may love the Firebird kimono on its black ground; one with a warm, earthy home may reach for the orange scarf.
2. Keep size simple. Scarves, shawls, cushions and throws need no fitting. A kimono is cut loose, but check the size on the product page before you order.
3. Match her style. For a woman who dresses with confidence, choose a scarf or a kimono. For one who pours her energy into her home, choose a cushion, a throw or the plates. Our guide to velvet cushions shows how one well-chosen cushion can change a sofa.
4. Follow the story. Our prints come from folklore and nature: firebirds, rabbits, owls and pheasants. Pick the creature or the tale that means something to her.
5. Think about the occasion. A scarf or the boxed plate set sits neatly under a Christmas tree, while a kimono or a throw suits a milestone birthday or an anniversary.

Frequently asked questions

What do you buy a woman who has everything?

Buy her a piece with an artist's hand in it. A printed silk scarf, a silk kimono or hand-painted crystal carries a story along with its material, and a design-led piece is less likely to repeat what she already owns. Choose by the print she would love, and the gift becomes personal.

What is the 5 gift rule?

The five gift rule is a way to plan presents, often used at Christmas. One common version is something she wants, something she needs, something to wear, something to read and something to do. It keeps giving thoughtful and within reason. From our collections, a silk scarf covers something to wear, a beauty bag something she needs, and a cushion or a throw something she wants.

What is a perfect gift for a lady?

A perfect gift is one she will use often and keep for years. Silk, and wool woven with silk, age well and feel special each time she reaches for them. A printed silk scarf is hard to get wrong, since it needs no size and suits most wardrobes.

What are some good Christmas gift ideas for a woman?

Good Christmas gifts for her suit the season: a wool and silk shawl for cold evenings, a silk kimono for slow holiday mornings, a cushion or throw for the sofa, or a boxed set of plates for the festive table. For a stocking, a printed linen beauty bag is small, useful and beautiful.

Find her gift

Choose the kind of gift that suits her life, then let the print speak for you. Explore our home collections and clothing, each piece drawn from a story, and find the luxury gifts for her that she will keep.

Klaus Haapaniemi & Co. is a Finnish design house that designs, prints and produces its own homeware and clothing, founded in 2010 by designer Mia Wallenius and artist Klaus Haapaniemi.