Engagement gift for stylish UN NYC couple £200

[caramelgirl]

We have some lovely friends who are celebrating their engagement over here in May. They are stylish (keen on Selfridges when here), like nice wine and restos. We need inspiration for a thoughtful, preferably easily transportable, gift or something like wine in storage.
They both travel a lot, work in international development type work (UN and Clinton foundation) and have recently returned from jobs in Africa to live together again.
Any ideas? We are not v stylish or international but happy to chuck money at problem- £ 200 ish, can do more.
Thank you very much!!

Not sure about this as I am also not stylish but this is what we bought for a friend... It is called spineless classics and is a whole book on a poster. They have Romeo and Juliet and also some others that would be approriate for a romantic occassion. You can buy it unframed and voila it becomes easily transported. Not sure if you will like but everyone who sees it remarks on how unusual it is and it is a strangely attractive poster!

Ooh, will have a look, thank you. V hard being unstylish buying for those with style!!

Did you particularly want something for them to keep? Would a meal in a fantastic restaurant be an option (with or without you?)

Ooh maybe Balthazar or somewhere exciting in NYC. HMm, that might fit better with their moving around lifestyle too.

Or a rasoul treatment for two at the lovely Elemis day spa in Knightsbridge?

Elemis

Or if you do want a thing, these vases are gorgeous, bit of a design classic, come in different colours (red is stunning and most expensive). Search around on Internet for best price. Only problem is getting it home undamaged, unless you can get one delivered to their home?

love the vase but fear their lifestyle means it would smash sooner rather than later.
they are only in UK for a week so treats like spa or resto wiould have to be in new York.
tricky, isn't it?!

I'd get them something they would find useful for their travels:

Backpacks
BioLite stove
erm.... I'm all out of ideas

Maybe a gift voucher for an outdoor store in the states, there is REI that I can think of.

Do they actually have a base apartment in the States, or do they go homeless once they're on an assignment? A nespresso if they don't have one may go down well if they have somewhere to keep it, you can order online and send to them in the States.

yeah, see they are more mulberry or mandarina duck types rather than rucksacks (me on the other hand.. )
I like the idea of a coffee machine but fairly sure they'll boycott nestle.

I would probably go for a meal in a posh London restaurant or an afternoon tea in an iconic hotel.

You've probably got enough suggestions already but consider having a fossick on the MoMA shop website (have the item delivered to their home in NYC). They have a large choice of very cool items, from jewellery to furniture and everything in between.

I was recently stuck for ideas for a gift in NYC, searching for something nice for a stylish friend who does a lot of baking, and the MoMA shop had a wonderful measuring scale that looks like a flat piece of black glass and comes to life with a readout when something is placed on it. It's very groovy and functional at the same time, and it was USD 125, but they have a really big choice. I was able to shop in person, but hopefully their website is OK for browsing. Good luck, it can be a bit stressy getting gifts for stylish people!

They sound a bit like me and DH 10 years ago and a lot of our friends are still like that... We were so busy working that we ate out every day - so while we appreciated some really nice restaurants, a meal out wasn't a rare treat.

If they have a base in NYC I'd give them a 200GBP in USD gift card to Design Within Reach (a fab furniture store quite a few UN people and academics seem to like). Then they can pick whatever they need/want.
At that stage, we wanted a dining room table. As very mobile people tend to see lots of rentals and IKEA type stuff (and may hate knick-knacks) it's nice to have a few really cool pieces they can choose themselves.

If they don't have a NYC apartment, the MOMA store can be good as they may find smaller, more portable things there.

www.kibardindesign.com/en/shop/white-and-white-led-clock.aspx

if they like minamilism they might like this clock. I have it at home and lots of people love it though of course it's not to everyone's taste.

Just checked back in and LOVE the idea of MOMA shop, brilliant. Also they are v sick of Ikea stuff and do have a small New York place so will have a look at the furniture shop too. Thank you all for sparing the time to make suggestions. 10 day old dc2 and all felt a bit desperate gift wise!!

Ooh and I like that clock for me.