The 6 Best Gifts PureWow Editors Have Ever Received

I’ve been doing analog photography for about a decade, and my previous job was actually as an editor at a photography magazine where I put together a giant feature on getting started with Super 8 photography. As any film nerd will tell you, snapping it is expensive. Shooting a reel? By the time you’ve bought a cartridge, shot, developed and digitized, you’ll be looking at north of $100, conservatively, all for two minutes of footage. Recently, I was given Camp Snap’s new CS-8, which mimics the look and feel of shooting Super 8, and was delighted to discover that for just a tad more than the price of shooting the actual film, I could get the same effects over and over—for half the effort, I might add.

“Santa gave me this doll when I was 9, and I was over the moon,” says PureWow Vice President of Editorial Candace Davison. “Beyond loving her accessories, her backstory was similar to my grandmother's growing up during World War II. At the time, my grandmother was living with us while undergoing chemotherapy, and it gave us something to talk about other than cancer. I still have the doll to this day (she’s held up remarkably well, despite the years of play!), and now my daughter plays with her. As a parent, I look for toys that can bring connection like that, which I can also share with my daughter, given that I'm now old enough to merit a historical doll myself (the Y2K twins, Isabel and Nikki). Oof, but also, kinda cool.”

Sadly for the newcomers, Molly is no longer available as a full-size doll. However, she does come in a mini version—with a much more palatable price under $50.

PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint has one message, and one message only regarding Sézane’s Milo bag. “Attention husbands: Get this for your wife!” The Parisian streetwear brand’s classic design is evocative of Céline’s Triomphe, at a literal tenth of the price.

“Several years ago I received the Milo, and what at first felt like a serious indulgence has now become my go-to purse,” Quint raves. “Elevated, perfectly sized and never stuffy, it can be dressed up or down and holds up to real life.”

“Besides the bike I received from the Easter Bunny when I was 5 (it did *not* fit in the basket), one of the best gifts I've received is the Fitbit Inspire 3 from my boyfriend,” says PureWow Senior Commerce Editor Stephanie Maida. “After lamenting my inaccurate step count on my phone following a long hike together (and his continuous complaining about my not-so-great sleeping habits), he gave me one for my birthday—and now I literally never take it off. (No really, I have a tan line on my wrist to prove it.) I love how many health and wellness insights it offers on the app—from my sleep score to my stress levels—and, of course, using it to see how hard I worked during a workout. I hate bulky accessories and this is so slim and lightweight, I forget I have it on. There's also something satisfyingly old school about flicking my wrist whenever I want to look at the time.”

“My cashmere crewneck was truly the best gift ever,” says PureWow Senior Manager of Social Content Kate Kesselman. “The moment I put it on, I fell in love with how impossibly soft it is. It layers perfectly over a simple white tee, turning an easy everyday look into something effortlessly elevated. It’s surprisingly versatile, beautifully made and so well-priced for how luxurious it feels. No matter how I style it, this sweater makes every outfit look a little more refined and a lot more chic.”

“As I think back on some of my favorite gifts, they all have one thing in common: personalization,” says PureWow Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay[link]. “I've been collecting these tiny letter charms over the years as new people and pets enter my life—I already have one for my husband and our beloved dog. To celebrate the birth of our son, my husband surprised me with the diamond version of his first initial, plus a stunning chain to match ($258), and I couldn't love it more. I wear it close to my heart every day, and it's a constant reminder of what's truly important in life: Family.”