29 Offbeat Gifts for Your Favorite Oddballs
For the lovable weirdos on your list, we’ve gathered 29 nontraditional gifts that range from quirky (a bubblegum paperweight) to kinky (crystal dildo). There are budget-friendly ideas (stolen hotel ashtrays, toothpasteless toothbrushes, individually wrapped dustless chalk) and splurges (ten strands of Alexander Hamilton’s hair, made-to-order wings from the man who outfits Victoria’s Secret models, a $999 avant-Barbie outfitted in Hood by Air). Click through the slideshow ahead to see them all.
*This article appears in the November 23, 2015 issue of New York Magazine.
A Hairy Friend Japanese artist Misaki Kawai’s Arty is a real-life manifestation of the ideal imaginary friend. Its single accessory is a comb att...
A Hairy Friend Japanese artist Misaki Kawai’s Arty is a real-life manifestation of the ideal imaginary friend. Its single accessory is a comb attached around the neck, and while it’s available in four different sizes, the large, pictured here, is made in a limited edition of 50.
Photo: Bobby Doherty
Ten Strands of Alexander Hamilton's Hair You couldn’t get Hamilton tickets, but how about giving these authenticated strands of the Founding Fath...
Ten Strands of Alexander Hamilton's Hair You couldn’t get Hamilton tickets, but how about giving these authenticated strands of the Founding Father’s hair? The strands were originally part of a proper lock of hair, framed alongside Mrs. Hamilton’s — as one did in the early-19th century. They once belonged to the New-York Historical Society, were sold at auction to a hair collector, and are now up for grabs.
Photo: DEA PICTURE LIBRARY
Designer Animal Masks These note cards unfold into zebra, polar bear, baboon, koi fish, panther, and bird-of-paradise masks.
Photo: Courtesy of ...
Designer Animal Masks These note cards unfold into zebra, polar bear, baboon, koi fish, panther, and bird-of-paradise masks.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
A Tinder Ring A stainless-steel gold-plated piece meant to protect the index finger from the strains of clicking and swiping.
Photo: Courtesy of...
A Tinder Ring A stainless-steel gold-plated piece meant to protect the index finger from the strains of clicking and swiping.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Crystal Dildo For the yogi who has everything. These “instruments of pleasure and practice” come in a variety of stone options, including amethys...
Crystal Dildo For the yogi who has everything. These “instruments of pleasure and practice” come in a variety of stone options, including amethyst.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Dustless Chalk Made in Germany, of course. Each of the 12 sticks comes wrapped like a piece of candy.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Blasting Balloon Preloaded with a custom confetti blend by Brooklyn’s Knot and Bow, this jumbo, 36-inch balloon can be popped anytime there’s a l...
Blasting Balloon Preloaded with a custom confetti blend by Brooklyn’s Knot and Bow, this jumbo, 36-inch balloon can be popped anytime there’s a lull in the party.
Photo: CHRIS OZER PHOTOGRAPHY/2014 CHRIS OZER PHOTOGRAPHY
Blingy Pen Writes like a slender Bic, looks like a Montblanc.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Anonymity Take the time to give your friend a quick download of Tor, an open-source software that will hide their location and browsing habits.
...
Anonymity Take the time to give your friend a quick download of Tor, an open-source software that will hide their location and browsing habits.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Six-Mile Pencil Each pencil — produced by Lyon and Lyon in one of the last remaining pencil factories in England — contains enough graphite to dr...
Six-Mile Pencil Each pencil — produced by Lyon and Lyon in one of the last remaining pencil factories in England — contains enough graphite to draw for six miles.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
’90s Solitaire Designer Susan Kare created a card deck identical to the one from the oh-so-familiar Windows 3.0 Solitaire game — in celebration o...
’90s Solitaire Designer Susan Kare created a card deck identical to the one from the oh-so-familiar Windows 3.0 Solitaire game — in celebration of its 25th anniversary.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Vintage Porn A two-DVD collector’s edition of The Opening of Misty Beethoven, a ’70s X-rated take on Pygmalion.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Meta Shoe Brush The Mrs. Brushshoe is made at Germany’s Institute for the Blind with red-lacquered beechwood and horsehair (and it actually funct...
Meta Shoe Brush The Mrs. Brushshoe is made at Germany’s Institute for the Blind with red-lacquered beechwood and horsehair (and it actually functions as a shoe brush) (Top Hat, 245 Broome St.; 212-677-4240).
Photo: Bobby Doherty
A Wearable Cat-Holder The Mewgaroo: For those cold winter nights when one’s attention-starved cat just won’t settle down if she isn’t cuddled up ...
A Wearable Cat-Holder The Mewgaroo: For those cold winter nights when one’s attention-starved cat just won’t settle down if she isn’t cuddled up in the kangaroo pouch of a sweatshirt.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Tiny Candles A Japanese family’s been crafting these four-inch candles (which come in a pack of 40) for generations.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vend...
Tiny Candles A Japanese family’s been crafting these four-inch candles (which come in a pack of 40) for generations.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
An Avant-Barbie Artists Ava Nirui and Alex Lee have given Barbie various, very 2015-Bushwick-loft-party makeovers, outfitting her in Hood by Air,...
An Avant-Barbie Artists Ava Nirui and Alex Lee have given Barbie various, very 2015-Bushwick-loft-party makeovers, outfitting her in Hood by Air, Eckhaus Latta, and Vêtements. Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Sexy Knitting Spice up her needlework with Knit Your Own Kama Sutra as a guide, with 12 sex-position-inspired projects.
Photo: Courtesy of the V...
Sexy Knitting Spice up her needlework with Knit Your Own Kama Sutra as a guide, with 12 sex-position-inspired projects.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Wings Longtime Victoria’s Secret wing-maker Martin Izquierdo will create a made-to-order pair for the wannabe angel or devil.
Photo: Courtesy of...
Wings Longtime Victoria’s Secret wing-maker Martin Izquierdo will create a made-to-order pair for the wannabe angel or devil.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Pet Rock Pick a smooth and shapely stone from a local green space (this one’s from Freeman Plaza West in Soho) and bring back the ’70s for someon...
Pet Rock Pick a smooth and shapely stone from a local green space (this one’s from Freeman Plaza West in Soho) and bring back the ’70s for someone special; can double as a paperweight.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Toothpaste-less Toothbrushes The bristles are coated with nano-size minerals that activate with a splash of water; from Japanese line Misoka.
Ph...
Toothpaste-less Toothbrushes The bristles are coated with nano-size minerals that activate with a splash of water; from Japanese line Misoka.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Stolen Hotel Ashtray Ethically speaking, it’s only acceptable to swipe one if you’re a paying guest, which makes gifting it to a friend an even m...
Stolen Hotel Ashtray Ethically speaking, it’s only acceptable to swipe one if you’re a paying guest, which makes gifting it to a friend an even more selfless act (clockwise from top: Le Sirenuse, the Ritz Paris, and the Bowery Hotel).
Photo: Bobby Doherty
Squiggle Book The abstract doodle on the cover interacts with familiar objects in Tamara Shopsin’s tiny tome What Is This?
Photo: Courtesy of th...
Squiggle Book The abstract doodle on the cover interacts with familiar objects in Tamara Shopsin’s tiny tome What Is This?
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Silicon Valley Pills Otherwise known as nootropics; take these daily for a supposedly clearer mental state.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Whiffer Sniffer Freddy Frosted’s freshly-baked-doughnut scent will last a year and clips to a backpack.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Ombré Puzzle For someone with a lot of time on his hands, with fairly strong eyesight, and who likes beautiful things. Designed by Bryce W...
Ombré Puzzle For someone with a lot of time on his hands, with fairly strong eyesight, and who likes beautiful things. Designed by Bryce Wilner, the puzzle also comes in an orange-yellow hue.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
A Bubblegum Paperweight A deskside bubble, blown from recycled glass, that won’t stick, pop, or give anyone a cavity.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Very Comfortable Scissors The circular design is based on the perfect proportions of the golden ratio, so place fingers in the assigned holes for...
Very Comfortable Scissors The circular design is based on the perfect proportions of the golden ratio, so place fingers in the assigned holes for optimal comfort and cutting.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
Fangs Every vampire needs a pair, and self-styled fangsmith Father Sebastiaan will take molds for a custom set.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collecti...
Fangs Every vampire needs a pair, and self-styled fangsmith Father Sebastiaan will take molds for a custom set.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection/Courtesy Everett Collection
Klimt’s Smock Down to the front pocket and white epaulets, this indigo linen smock is an exact replica of the one Gustav wore during his Vienna S...
Klimt’s Smock Down to the front pocket and white epaulets, this indigo linen smock is an exact replica of the one Gustav wore during his Vienna Secession years.
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendor
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