Lunar New Year Gift Guide 2022: Best Gifts to Celebrate the Year of the Tiger
Main photo courtesy of Getty Images; all other photos courtesy of the manufacturer. Style Lists gift guides
February 1, 2022 marks the start of the Lunar New Year. Instead of a fixed date to begin the New Year used by Westerners, East Asian countries use lunar cycles to mark the beginning of the year. Lunar New Year is seen as a time of renewal and is the largest holiday celebrated in China. Per the Chinese zodiac, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, one of the coolest, strongest, and most confident animals on the planet, and one we hope to take inspiration from throughout the year. From whimsical to edgy to classic, we’re celebrating the Year of the Tiger with some of our favorite finds dedicated to the holiday.
$29
Omsom’s slogan is “Loudly and Proudly,” and their goal is to make the bold flavors of some of your favorite Asian dishes accessible to even the most basic cooks. Sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham founded Omnom to share their experiences growing up in the kitchen watching their Me cook Viet meals from scratch and to celebrate the flavors found in Asian dishes, stories and communities. The packaging is flashy and clever, and they taste amazing. You literally just add protein and veggies. This set has seasonings for Vietnamese Lemongrass BBQ, Spicy Korean Bulgogi, and Chinese Mala Salad and can be made in your Instant Pot or Air Fryer.
Bags + Stella Holiday Lifestyle Set
$50
I am obsessed with Bags + Stella’s line of beautiful home products. Founded in San Francisco by Brennen Ogawa, they add a clean California vibe to any space. Their terrazzo candles have containers that you actually want to reuse once your candle has burned out, and the room sprays are minimalist with chic bamboo tops. The travel candles are easy to pack in your suitcase to turn even the mustiest hotel room into a relaxing oasis. The brand is Queer, Asian, and Woman Co-Owned and aims to use all-natural and sustainable materials from local and regional artisans. The name comes from Brennen’s two adorable French Bulldogs, which only makes me love the company more. I feel relaxed but classy when I use their products, and the Lifestyle Set is a great way to experience the brand.
Hunter Nylon Top Clip Lunar New Year Tiger Print Backpack
$160
Hunter has a stylish line of limited-edition Lunar New Year products for both adults and children. Their iconic rain boots have a rabid following, but we love their Nylon Top Clip Backpack. It’s water resistant, made of recycled materials, has a back padded pocket for your laptop, and has a ton of compartments to keep you organized when traveling. The tiger graphic adds a little bit of edge.
MAC Lunar Luck Powder Kiss Lipstick
$24
MAC’s Lunar Luck collection features lipstick, liquid lip color, eyeshadow, a highlighter, and brushes to usher in a New Year filled with confidence, courage, and bold beauty looks in limited-edition colors. Powder Kiss Lipstick is a weightless moisture-matte lipstick that provides a soft-focus wash of color. I’m especially loving If Wishes Were Roses, a vibrant shade that straddles the line between pink and red.
Shady Lady Tiger Head Satin PJ Set
$78
This menswear-inspired pajama set is a bold bright orange with a roaring tiger print that’s soft and flowy to the touch. You’ll feel like a star as you lounge around your house on a lazy Sunday and will keep your co-workers guessing on your Zoom calls, especially with a bright lipstick and some chunky jewelry.
Radley London Year of the Tiger Small Zip Around Purse
$80
Crafted of soft grain leather, this wallet features a playful tiger in leather applique practicing its stretching in a charming jungle scene. It’s as functional as it is whimsical, with six internal card slots and a pocket to hold money, receipts or notes. I love that it zips all the way, so you don’t have to worry about your credit cards spilling into your bag. Radley’s signature Scottie dog mascot is featured on the back.
Betseyville Tiger Throw Pillow
$34.99
Bring a little bit of the jungle to your living room with this super soft black and white pillow from Betsey Johnson’s Betseyville home collection. This all-over Sherpa pillow features a black threaded tiger face with additional black corner pom poms. The neutral colors make it work with almost any design scheme.
Sugarfina Lunar New Year Candy Cube Bundle
$20
Up your candy game with Sugarfina’s Candy Cube bundle featuring Lotus Flowers, lychee-flavored gummies to symbolize the purity of the heart and mind, Green Tea Bears, gummies steeped with a rich green tea flavor, and Peach Tea Bears, the luck of the peach blossom with the flavor of a refreshing peach tea. Yes, you can buy a bag of Haribo Goldbears for a lot less, but the flavor and quality of Sugarfina is out of this world, and the packaging makes it feel elegant.
Vans Animal Stripes Slip-On SF
$60
The Animal Stripes Slip-On SF combines the classic Vans slip-on silhouette with the Vans Surf SF build to give upgraded comfort. They have collapsible heels to make it easy to slide them on when running after your escape-artist dog and have extra cushioning to add comfort when doing lots of walking.
Smoko Tiger Toasty Heatable Plushie
$36
Sometimes you just need a hug or a snuggle, and the Smoko Toasty Heatable Tiger is ready for the job. It’s hard to be sad when you look at its adorable face, and it features a microwavable pouch filled with flaxseed and lavender to add an extra bit of warmth on a chilly day. It can also act as the cutest heating pad ever for aches and pains.
Moleskine Year of the Tiger Limited Edition Notebook
$29
Is there a better notebook than a Moleskine? If so, I haven’t found one. They’re durable, beautiful in their simplicity, and have awesome features like an internal pocket, elastic closure, and a ribbon bookmark. This limited-edition Year of the Tiger version is designed by Chinese calligrapher and graphic designer Lok Ng, featuring his striking interpretation of the Chinese symbol for “tiger.” It also comes with two lucky gift envelopes and a story card with a themed message.
$69
My WFH uniform is a hoodie and a pair of leggings in winter and I love to learn, so this sweatshirt is perfect. It gives you a handy chart for identifying types of tigers while keeping you warm. I would totally pair it with the tiger Vans and really lean into the theme.