New Orleans Gift Ideas – aka What to Buy the Traveler Broads This Holiday

 

NOLA pride means supporting live music, costuming every holiday and never drinking hand grenades. But it also means shopping local. Because, here, we look out for our neighbors and, luckily for us, our neighbors happen to make some awesome shit. We’re calling this our New Orleans gift ideas guide. But what we should be calling this is “Everything we wish someone would buy us.” Which is to say, you really can’t go wrong shopping at any of these spots. (And definitely DM us if you need our mailing address.)

 

NOLA Boards

What to Buy: Cutting boards, magnetic knife holders, iPad holders, oven mitts and hot pads made from repurposed New Orleans Fire Dept. gear. All NOLA Boards brand products are made in the 9th Ward at Claiborne and Montegut. Other products are mostly made by crafts people from around the Gulf South.

Specials: Cyber Monday sale 15% off with coupon code SHOPSMALL

Where: Online or Uptown: 4304 Magazine 519 and French Quarter: Wilkinson St. Suite 105.

Krewe

What to Buy: We’re personally obsessed with “Laveau” sunglasses, named after famed New Orleans Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. All products are designed above their flagship shop in the French Quarter.

Specials: Exclusive digital holiday event from this Wednesday (Nov. 22) to Monday (Nov. 27), select frames will be up to 60% off site-wide.

Where: Online or 809 Royal St.

 

Oh Hi Co.

What to Buy: We LOVE the body positive and irresistibly cool wrapping paper that came from a collaboration with Jaci Blue (see below). All products are proudly designed by the owners and New Orleans residents Madisyn and Antonio.

Specials: Use the online code (and our personal mantra) FULLOFTURKEY for 25% off storewide and free shipping on orders over $30.

Where: Online

Century Girl

What to Buy: Everything! Definitely not thrift store vintage. This carefully curated collection is full of one-of-a-kind gowns, furs and jewelry all in mint condition. The store is dripping in jewels and we cannot get enough of it. Seriously, can we please just bring some sleeping bags and live in this store. We’ll be good! Promise!

Specials: 10% off storewide on Black Friday and a 20% rack.

Where: 2023 Magazine or Online

Thcoup Industries

What to Buy: We love their stylish hip packs (a MUST for hands-free travelers like us! Hint. Hint.) Their entire collection is cut and sewn in the back of their Lower Garden District shop. Some of their materials are sourced from recycled rice bags from Crowley, handwoven panels by a Gentilly weaver, alligator leather, and NUTRIA FUR!

Specials: 25% off all items Nov. 24 – Nov. 27th with code TOGETHER25 and look for a gift-with-purchase promotion in mid-December, when all sales over $80 receive a free “sticker pack”.

Where: 1115 St. Mary St or Online

Neon Heart

What to Buy: Go in for their unique candle collection named after the Greek muses (and beloved New Orleans streets), but I dare you to resist their fabulous collection of Valley sunglasses.

Specials: Everything is 40% off, excluding Malin+Goetz products. Just use code THANKFUL at checkout through midnight CST Nov 28th.

Where: 1022 Lowerline St or Online

Jaci Blue

What to Buy: Your holiday cocktail dress! Local fashionista Jaci scours the globe, bringing the best of sizes 12 and up back to NOLA. Insider tip: She rides in Muses so get on her good side 😉

Specials: An extra 20% off sale items Black Friday through Cyber Monday in-store and online with code: SHOPSMALL

Where: Online and 2111 Magazine St.

Mimosa Handcrafted

What to Buy: I wore my New Orleans skyline necklace to all 19 countries I visited last year to remind me to go home. We dream about their Pelican cuff (hint hint), but the most unique pieces are diffuser jewelry that hold your favorite essential oils.

Where: Online or local shops: Dirty Coast, Home Malone, Ogden Museum, Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights and Ballin’s, LTD.

Native Polish

What to Buy: Their newest line is Street Struttin’. All the shades have classic NOLA names. Half of December web proceeds of their tricentennial shade, TRIed & True, go to NOLA4Women. (Seriously, how can you not love them!

Specials: Sitewide 25% off sale on Cyber Monday plus a FREE surprise bottle with every order.

Where: Online or Retail Locations

V Paperie

What to Buy: Get the subscription! Because getting cool stuff in the mail is awesome and every box contains carefully curated paper good items, cards, fun gifts and accessories all designed in New Orleans.

Specials: Sitewide 30% off sale on Cyber Monday

Where: Online

The Giving Tree Gallery

What to Buy: The Giving Tree showcases art, home goods and jewelry largely from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Their 3D nautical wood maps are 100 percent swoon-worthy, and there is always something new and exciting in both NOLA locations.

Specials: Black Friday: 15% off Virgins Saints and Angels Jewelry, 30% off Uno de 50 Jewelry

Where: 738 Royal St., 829 Chartres St. or Online

Badass Balloon Co.

What to Buy: These saucy balloons are right up our alley and amazing stocking stuffers but if you have an event coming you simply must get a balloon installation!

Where: Online and IRL at local retailers

Rosalie Apothecary

What to Buy: Is the holidays so we all could use some Relaxation tea, the “Deep Breaths” Anti-anxiety tincture blend and obviously the “World’s Best Digestive Bitters” tincture. They also carry smoking blends, hemp smoking papers and incense.

Where: 3201 Toulouse St or Online

Porter Lyons

What to Buy: Their zodiac collection is gorgeous and the perfect gift for the person who has everything. Available in sterling silver, yellow, and rose gold – as well as studs and necklaces. FYI Maloney is a Leo (obviously) and Fender is Scorpio ( double obviously). The vast majority of their products are made here in New Orleans as well as locally sourced, including the Backbone Collection and use of alligator in anything from jewelry to belts and wallets. Many of their stones featured, such as agate, are also native to Louisiana.

Specials: 20% discount on online gift cards as well as free ground shipping starting Dec. 5th until December 21st.

Where: 631 Toulouse St. or Online

So, there you have it! Our New Orleans gift ideas.

Please, please buy us all of them. And, if you’ve read this far, you should know that if you leave a comment on this blog post with your Instagram handle, you will get an extra entry into our holiday GIFT BASKET GIVEAWAY, featuring many of these stellar brands. The actual contest starts Monday, so go ahead and get a head start now and keep your eyes on the ‘Gram.

Happy shopping, friends!