STARtorialist 2020 Holiday Gift Buying Guide

By Emily Rice, Debbie Kovalsky, & Kelle Cruz

Hello from STARtorialist HQ! We are over the moon to have finally launched our online shop this year and are proud to continue supporting fellow small businesses and independent designers, especially during the holiday season. For this year’s gift guide, we are sharing some of our favorite STARtorial products, the majority of which are designed and/or produced by small businesses, many of them women- and/or minority-owned (read more here). Some of them are even designed by scientists (including fellow astronomers), handcrafted, and/or one of a kind! 

We hope this gift guide gives you ideas for your loved ones, seasonal tokens of appreciation, and fun swaps, or even treats for yourself to close out an extra-challenging year. Fair warning that as a small just-opened shop our inventory is limited and many items may sell out, so shop early or send a Gift Card in case that perfect gift is still waiting to be discovered. You can even create a Wishlist directly in the shop (look for the orange buttons on each product page), and share it with family and friends with just a couple clicks. Sign up for the newsletter for a special preview of our Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday sale!

Extra-Special Spacethings

This has been a challenging year to say the least, so we hereby transmit a signal from the Universe telling you to splurge on a super special gift for a loved one or treat yourself with one of our custom, limited edition, and/or one-of-a-kind designs.

Help the star of your life make an impression over Zoom with a statement necklace! Our favorites include a custom long silver TRAPPIST-1, Double-sided Orion & Horsehead Nebula (above), and gold Jupiter + Galilean moons.	We’re all spending more time at home, so make it inspiring for someone you love with space-inspired original artwork like Outer Solar System Moon paintings (Titan is shown above) or watercolors.	Rings signify love, faith, and commitment, and what better way to express these sentiments than celestial phenomena in lovely minimal Moon Phase signet and Solar Eclipse rings (also available in gold in limited sizes).

Transmit your passion, and welcome curious minds by declaring who you are with our exclusive ASTRONOMER nameplate-style necklace, or a sterling silver pinhole northern, southern, or zodiac constellation necklace.	Wrap up in inspirational style with a soft and versatile pashmina-style scarf featuring Mae Jemison, Christa McAullife, Mars & Curiosity, or the Northern Celestial Hemisphere.	Create a wearable world of one’s own design using planetary science bead sets and jewelry kits curated by Emily Lakdawalla. The beads & rings included in the Solar System bracelet kit are shown above.

Babies, Kids, Caregivers, & the Young at Heart

In addition to astrofashion for the budding scientists in your life, we have bright, lightweight 3D-printed jewelry, a DIY telescope kit, and the ever-popular plush planet pals that are perfect for loved ones of all ages! 

Scientists of all ages love the plush planet (and Moon, Sun, comet, North Star, and Black Hole) pals from Celestial Buddies! The hardest part is picking which one to give, and not keeping it for yourself!	A true startorialist is never too young for astrofashion, or dresses with pockets! This Saturn’s rings dress is made for twirling and exploring, available in size 2 to 12 years. Check out our whole kids collection!	3D-printed jewelry makes a fun and accessible way for kids to explore astro-accessorizing! These bright, lightweight necklaces are great conversation starters for deep dives into STEAM.

Science Colleagues, Teachers, Essential Workers

We have a special place in our hearts for teachers (being science educators ourselves!), essential workers (like everyone at the USPS), and all our colleagues who have provided invaluable support networks, now and always. These tokens of appreciation make wonderful gifts for the season of saying thanks and giving back.

Give someone the company of greatness, even if they’re eating lunch at home or their desk for the time being, with a colorful Women in STEAM neoprene lunch bag, also available as a laptop bag or canvas tote.	Nothing says “I think you’re brilliant” like the visage of Prof. Einstein himself along with his most famous equation on an enamel pin chalkboard. Check out our entire Teacher collection.	When you do share space, mask up to stay safe! Our Star Formation face coverings are bright and spacey, and we have many more designs and styles to choose from.

Stay Home and Stay Safe, While Still Acing that Swap

Holidays can be hard when we can’t be together, but with a little creativity, we can add some fun to staying home and staying safe so that we enjoy many more holidays to come together. And if you’re organizing a socially-distanced swap, these gifts will be a universal success!

Puzzles might just be the most appropriate gift of the season! Enjoy them even with friends & family you can’t be with by swapping puzzles once you’re done, or getting duplicates and having a race!	Stay in touch with Hubble Image postcards featuring 25 amazing astronomical observations. Or imagine you’re traveling with the futuristic JPL Posters in a postcard set.	Launch socks from gag gift to the main stage in holiday giving with out-of-this-world designs like these Solar System socks. We also have socks that feet-ure constellations, telescopes, and more!