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In 2017, a panel of six testers , tried on the robes that made it through to this second round of testing. We noted the fit on different body types, and they gave us their thoughts on what they liked and disliked, the materials they prefer, and which robes they’d reach for again. We love the stylish design of this French terry robe, which drapes better than our other warm-weather knit pick and looks more flattering on curves.
And should your graduate choose to share with roommates, the apron is also gender-neutral and adjustable to fit a wide range of sizes. You can find plenty of great, functional cutting boards, but if your grad would appreciate one that doubles as a beautiful serving tray, we love the Motley Cutting Board. This walnut option from Sonder Los Angeles has a well on one side that’s perfect for serving, though this board is not ideal if you want to chop on both sides. It also features a pretty inset of cherry and oak stripes, and it’s the perfect size for chopping or serving charcuterie. In our tote bag guide we have several options in a range of styles and materials. But if your grad plans to take the bag to work, the Cuyana Classic Leather Tote is giant but still chic, and it comes with a two-year warranty.
A sound upgrade for couch gamers
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 portable Bluetooth speaker is small enough to fit inside the tiniest suitcase, and it’s waterproof . Aesthetics and ruggedness aside, this speaker also sounds surprisingly good and loud for its size, and it works with any smartphone, tablet, or computer—no special app required. Give your favorite driver a wireless charging phone mount so they can worry less about charging cords and directions. Of all the wireless charging phone mounts for cars we tested, this model is our favorite. Unfortunately, the footnote ends there, so there's not much in the way of detail about what these restrictions are or how long they'd remain in effect in a potential post-acquisition world.
Each time we reopen a storybook with the personalized flourish pasted inside, it brings me a little joy. In truth, my boys seem pretty much indifferent to these nameplates at the moment (except when they’re being used to argue the point that a particular book belongs to me, not my brother). But I’m optimistic that in time they’ll appreciate these little badges, which signify that a particular book felt special enough to be tagged and added to what may be a lifelong library. The bookplates I bought came from a Los Angeles Etsy shop called Oiseaux, which specializes in old-timey storybook images. Felix Doolittle also has a lovely collection, but with a cleaner, more contemporary look.
For the perfect grind every time
The light interior lets you more easily see whether the food has browned yet. And it’s available in more than a dozen colors, making it a colorful accent piece for the stovetop. It’s time to graduate out of that dorm-room twin XL and into a proper adult bed with proper adult sheets. If they prefer cool, crisp sheets (the kind they’d find in a boutique hotel), the L.L.Bean percale set is super comfortable and a great value for the price.
Your graduate can already take great-quality photos on their smartphone, but an instant camera still holds an unbeatable allure. There’s something romantic about having to wait for a tangible image to emerge—it just feels more special than hastily uploading an image for the entirety of Instagram. Our favorite instant camera is the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6, which is easy to use and creates better-quality photos than other cameras we tried. It also comes with advanced features like macro, landscape, and double-exposure modes, elevating it from other old-school instant cameras.
The Cameras Used by New York Times Opinion Columnist (and Photography Hobbyist) Jamelle Bouie
Data can be monetized in nefarious ways or even used by state and non-state actors. Finally, financial companies can find new ways to underwrite and score with less bias. Today, many companies are now exploring new underwriting models that return to core principles – assessing ability to repay without attempting to use outside information to model a consumer’s presumed ability to repay. If a firm is required to make a person’s financial information available to them, or to a third party acting on the consumer’s behalf, via a secure method, we will be able to mitigate some of the problems that exist today. Ideally, these rules are bright lines that require a minimal number of lawyers who bill by the hour. Regulation of the financial services industry has a bad name, and rightfully so.

The company also sells gift cards, which is handy if your would-be traveler is more adventurous or would like to choose their own seasonings. Not all mementos need to be works of art, layered with watercolor and ink. (The paper inside is of decent quality and takes pen ink well, too.) Send the person you choose out into the world with a couple of these and a good pen, and see what they return to you with. A few of Hallmark’s video-game (and sci-fi) ornaments caught our eye this year. The collection skews retro, with a handful of Mario characters and even some Sonic the Hedgehog ornaments, but the lineup also has a few other options—like Pokémon, Minecraft, and Fortnite—for a younger appeal. They offer a fun chance to get away from the standard Christmas themes, and Hallmark also covers some related sci-fi ground with Star Trek and Stranger Things ornaments and collectibles.
Gifts for Good Dogs (and for Cats)
We tested Brooklinen’s largest size (XL/XXL), which fit our size 16–18 female tester and still had plenty of extra room—enough to wrap the robe around herself. Our male tester, who wears a 40- to 42-inch pant, said the same robe fit him perfectly and the pocket position was just right. We’re thrilled to see Brooklinen offer a bigger range of sizes than the other bedding companies whose robes we’ve tested—most stop at an L or XL. (It’s a frequent criticism we’ve had for home goods companies. They often make fantastic robes in too-small sizes.) We hope to see even more options. We also tested the smallest size (XS/S) on a 5-foot-9 female tester who wears a size 2. However, if you’re especially petite, know that this is a big robe with a lot of fabric that could feel overwhelming.

You can do so with a Raspberry Pi, a cheap computer that’s about the size of a deck of cards. Hypland's apparel is wonderfully vibrant, and I am absolutely in love with the top-tier quality of the brand's screenprinting and stitching. Leaving home for the first time, many high school grads won’t have a suitcase, or at least not a good one. For all their future travels, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Expandable Spinner makes a great choice.
But the design is so timeless that the scoop earned a spot in MoMA’s permanent collection. After nine years of testing, we still think this is the best tool for the job. The handle’s core cleverly contains a non-toxic, heat-conducting oil that warms the metal—and thus softens the ice cream—as one scoops. And as long as your recipient doesn’t throw it in the dishwasher, it should hold up for decades. In our research, we even learned about people happily scooping with 1940s models to this day. Equally at home in a Western or at Coachella, a Stetson hat is the don-anywhere headwear of the past 150 years.
And if it turns out that your gift recipient already has a subscription, they can add the gifted months to their current account. You can customize almost every part of the controller’s appearance, with options for different colors, finishes, and patterns on its body and buttons. People who enjoy playing games on a TV and want to hear rich, enveloping sound without having to wear a headset will appreciate a speaker upgrade that won’t break the bank. The JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass is the best soundbar you can get for under $400 . It also keeps things simple with a remote that allows for only subwoofer adjustment, which we think is just the right amount of control. A warm, cozy blanket is one of those gifts that may seem simple, but this throw from Boll & Branch can transform everything from movie night to nap time into hygge heaven.
The Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad 12-Inch Fry Pan is the runner-up pick in our guide to the best skillet. It’s close to a third of the price of our top pick, it comes with a lifetime warranty, and it can sear or sauté just about anything. Suitable for all-weather hikers as well as commuters just trying to protect their work clothes, the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is one of our favorite rain jackets. Its waterproof details can withstand nasty storms, and its fabric inner lining makes it comfortable to wear no matter the weather.

Pinhole cameras don’t need to focus—instead they have just a tiny hole on the front of the camera that’s small enough to create almost infinite sharpness from near to far. The only catch is that the pinhole lets in so little light that it forces long exposure times, but that’s honestly part of the charm of this kind of thing for those of us who enjoy it. There’s no zoom lens, either, so it’s a wide-angle camera with about the same kind of view you get from a smartphone’s main camera. Looking for a gift for your favorite photographer but getting lost in the world of lighting, lenses, and general photography stuff? Photography gear can get complicated, and it’s tough to know what will actually be useful. The photographers at Wirecutter got together and came up with a list of our favorite accessories to help make your shopping a little easier.
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