
Whether you’re a newlywed, or you’ve been in a partnership for years, it’s been a strange time to be in a long-term relationship. What do you get for the person that you’ve spent the most time with this year? How do you say “I’m glad we’re in this together” on a budget? To try to make shopping for your spouse easier this year, we’ve rounded up picks (and gone through our archives) to find suggestions for all kinds of wives — from wives who miss wild swimming to wives who miss getting a free coffee from Pret. Whatever their interests, we’re here to help.
For the wife whose 2021 resolution was to master crow pose
For the wife who skips forward to the Shavasana
For the wife who has been working on her ’70s Peugeot PX-10 since last March
This Strategist-approved bike stand will make her “work in progress” into an objet d’art.
For the wife who has a sweet tooth
One hundred mini-bags should service her 3 p.m. snack attack.
For the wife who has a savoury tooth
For the wife who turned the balcony into a “drinks terrace”
A classic tartan knee rug will take the chill out of February balcony drinks.
For the wife who turned the balcony into a miniature wildlife park
There is something very charming about a bird on a National Trust–branded bird swing.
For the wife with a Goodreads account
If she’s finished the Netflix series, there are eight Bridgerton books to get through (one for each sibling).
This striking novel takes place over the course of one day. For fans of Eimear McBride.
For the wife who soaks
Contributor Grace Banks gives these 19th-century German bath salts to everyone she knows, “making committed fans out of news editors who had once relegated baths under trite self-care and men who previously never would have been seen dead with a purple bath salt by their tub.”
For the wife who scribbles
This cheery ballpoint scored very highly in our (exhaustive) ranking of the 87 best pens.
For the wife who always finds her light
A well-reviewed ring light: Its CRI is over 90. (Experts told us that a CRI that’s as close to 100 is best, as natural light has a CRI rating of 100.)
For the wife who misses after-work karaoke
This microphone connects via Bluetooth to Spotify, YouTube, and Alexa: no app required.
For the wife who is thrilled she no longer has to even consider after-work karaoke
Four of our experts recommended Patchwork, created by accomplished game designer Uwe Rosenberg, as one of the best two-player games for beginners.
For the long-distance wife
This cordless wand vibrator is designed for long-distance couples in mind. It features ten vibration settings, connects to the We-Connect app for worldwide play, and comes with two additional attachments for both clitoral and penile stimulation.
For the wife who signed up to a Veg Box
Lizzie Mabbott, author of Chinatown Kitchen, recommended this vegetarian cookbook to us. “With our shopping now limited, I’m turning to lots of hearty vegetables — so I love that, in her recipes, she uses British vegetables that are easy to come by. Her recipes are often scalable and economical, and they provide the spices and heat I’m craving to provide some comfort during these difficult times.”
For the wife who signed up to a cocktail-subscription box
A splash of these cocoa bitters would be delightful in an old-fashioned.
For the wife whose Spotify daily mix is basically “Drivers License” on repeat
For the wife whose Spotify daily mix is basically Charlie Bones on NTS
For the wife who smudges
This set contains enough palo santo to get to at least April.
For the wife who spritzes
A pillow spray that looks nice enough to leave out on the bedside table.
For the wife who snoozes
For the wife who misses the lido
Dive into this gorgeous coffee-table book.
For the wife who misses mooching around Boots
In lieu of swatching eyeliners on the back of her hand, gaze upon Fetto’s favourite products, like lipstick or foundation, which are shot on striking-coloured backgrounds.
For the wife who always gets a free coffee in Pret
For the wife who can propagate anything
There’s something pleasingly scientific about this plant stand.
For the wife who can’t keep a succulent alive
The spiky leaves of this yucca are no less dramatic than the real thing.
For the wife who lusts after a Le Creuset
For the wife who lusts after an Eames chair
This Frank Lloyd Wright puzzle will have to suffice.
The Strategist UK is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Read about who we are and what we do here. Our editors update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.