Michelle Obama's Holiday Gift Guide: The Former First Lady Curates Her Favorite Finds for Women

The former first lady and Becoming author shares her favorite finds for the women in her life with PEOPLE

01 of 11

O.P.I. Nail Polish in "Dreams Need Clara-fication" Shade

opipolish
OPI

"This is one of my go-to nail colors. It is actually similar to the shade that I wore for my portrait sitting with Amy Sherald for the National Portrait Gallery. It's the perfect color for any season."

Buy It! $10.50; ulta.com

02 of 11

Aretha's Jazz by Aretha Franklin Vinyl Album

aretga

""Music is a huge part of how I grew up and who I've become, so I like to give people something they can add to their personal soundtrack," Obama says. "Trust me: Drop the needle on 'Somewhere' and your day will immediately get better."

Buy It! $64.99; amazon.com

03 of 11

Bigger Picture by Rita Wilson

rita-wilson

"A beautiful and introspective album from a wonderful singer and woman."

Buy It! $11.99; amazon.com

04 of 11

Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette

anastasia
Anastasia

"These are my preferred eyeshadows. The colors in this palette are so rich and natural— it's one I can use, no matter the setting."

Buy It! $45; ulta.com

05 of 11

Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic Coffee Table Book

kehinde-book
Peter Zambouros

"Barack and I love Kehinde. Every piece of his is a conversation starter."

Buy It! $49.95 barnesandnoble.com

06 of 11

Bespoke Plate Necklace

necklace
Gorjana

"I love to gift a friend a necklace engraved with a special touch like their name, the year we met, or the coordinates of our favorite places."

Buy It! $65; gorjana.com

07 of 11

Becoming Candle and Journal

book-candle
Becoming Michelle Obama Shop

""I kept a journal in my late twenties, when I was getting serious with Barack and beginning to search more deeply for meaning in my career. More recently, I was able to carve out time to reflect when I wrote my memoir, Becoming. I hope this journal and candle give people an opportunity to focus, to breathe, and to embrace their own stories in all their fullness."

Buy It! $35 each; becomingmichelleobamashop.com

08 of 11

Eat a Little Better: Great Flavor, Good Health, Better World by Sam Kass

sam-kass
Brian Henn

"Simple, fun, and delicious recipes—a lot of these were staples on our table in the White House. And they're all healthy, too!"

Buy It! $29.25; barnesandnoble.com

09 of 11

Jennifer Brodeur L'extrait Peoni Oil

peoni
Peoni

"I'd give this to anyone because this oil does everything—good for any skin type, any time of year."

Buy It! $225 (get 45% off with discount code PEOPLE45 through Dec. 31); jbskinguru.com

10 of 11

A Museum Pass

4_Spoiled Foot_photo Joshua White_
Joshua White

"I often like to give experiences as gifts, not just things you can put in a box," Obama says. One of her personal favorites is Mark Bradford's Tomorrow is Another Day Exhibit at the Baltimore Museum (free admission). "Mark's art is something that will stay with you for a long time. Just make sure you also donate to the museum so exhibits like this can stay free!"

For New York City natives, she recommends an annual membership pass to the Studio Museum in Harlem ($50).

"When I first became a mother, my girlfriends and I used to take our kids on museum tours. A lot of these institutions need support to keep their doors open. The Studio Museum in Harlem is one of our favorites."

Buy It! Prices Vary

11 of 11

Tracy Wilson Mourning Dress

Tracy Wilson Mourning DressMichelle Obama's Picks
Gesi Schilling

"Tracy has such incredible style, and her dresses are some of the most comfortable and versatile that I've worn."

Coming Soon! $250;

tracywilsonmourning.com

For more of Michelle Obama's holiday gift ideas, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

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