Anthropologies just had a great sale, so I bought a bunch of pretty bisque soap dishes with matching soaps and candles... I can have them on hand when I need a host/hostess gift. But sometimes I do pick up that nice bottle of wine too. Depends who it is.

People actually still give these?? Wow, I move in such different circles!

I'd take food, especially chocolate, any day! Or maybe something special to share for breakfast the next day. (I don't drink wine, so none of that... And fancy soaps and things are nothing I enjoy using, so keep those, too...)

I like to give Slatkin candles as gifts & keep a few on hand.

Olive Oil, & Sea Salt is always appreciated and rarely Re-gifted....

Where can I find those pretty dressmaker shape soaps? I've been looking all over for them.
Thank you!

Basket or Bowl of meyer lemons, clementines, or another lovely fruit.
Local Coffee
Nice Dishtowels (William-Sonoma is what I usually get - they are sturdy and pretty)
Roasted Nuts
Small potted herb (for a foodie type) or lavendar

If it's Christmas time, a good bottle of champagne in a dimestore Christmas stocking...

...and if it's not - a big bouquet of flowers (all the same - no mixes or baby's-breath frou-frou) from the local florist.

I'm a baker so I tend to bake along some treats--biscotti go over well and you can make them a day or so in advance.

I pick up small, pretty ceramic or glass bowls as I find them to keep on hand, then I fill with candy of some sort.

Those soaps are so pretty I would never use them. I like to bring something homemade, poundcake or fresh salsa verde.

Why so much a thing, rather than an experience??
How about a treat to the spa, a local theatre, or to your fav local restaurant (with an ordering suggestion)? Personalize it.
Things can come and go, but experiences are memories that last a lifetime.

mron73 - click on the "mannequin" link and it will direct you to the gianna rose site.

tex.a.lex - love the olive oil and sea salt idea!

Ok, I'm confused.
When should a hostess gift be given? What sort of events?
I have never given or received one and I assumed it was only a thing for my parents' generation.

Please educate me!

jac7890 -

i think anytime you are *invited* over to someone's place - even for just a sandwich and a movie - you should always bring something - anything is fine - a handful of fresh herbs or flowers from your garden, some fruit - almost anything. i had a friend bring me a $2 kleenex holder for my purse that she knew was my fave shade of blue and another friend got me one of those $1 travel purse body sprays from walmart - it was just cute and thoughtful - and reflects well on you:)

@jac7890: A hostess gift is a token of appreciation to thank your host for an overnight stay or a formal dinner party/event at someone's home. These days, it seems that most folks don't bring gifts, but it's a gracious thing to do (and may help garner future invitations). Traditional hostess gifts include luxurious soaps or candles, baked goods, a coffee table book, stationery, a pretty paperweight or other decorative object, table linens, flowers in a nice vase.

One of my childhood friends had a stash of brass duck paperweights (of all things) and every time she stayed at someone's home, brought a duck. My brother used to call her "the duck chick." I think my mother still has a couple of those ducks somewhere.

In my experience, a casual invitation for a sandwich and a movie would not warrant a hostess gift, though of course, if you bring one, it's a thoughtful gesture. I do agree with @houseno8 that the gift doesn't have to be expensive and can be homemade or from your garden. Just something your host will enjoy. If you really want to make a great impression, remember to send a thank you note too ;-).

houseno8, you've got the right idea and phone in the morning to say 'thank you'.

At local art/craft fairs, I sometimes pick up lovely carved serving/cooking utensils--salad sets, wooden spoons, etc. One of my friends, Swedish, always gets a chuckle out of the latest patterned paper napkins from IKEA--we're to the point where it's a token and a joke, but still appreciated. Coasters are always useful, again if you know the style of the hosts. I've just thought that a nice reusable shopping tote might be a good idea, too. Simple, good stationery is always useful (yes, people do still need paper from time to time). Sometimes thinking of things people might not splurge on for themselves, like beautiful soaps, is a useful guideline.

Regarding flowers and wine, you might like to keep a couple of points in mind. If you take wine, make sure to say 'this is for you, later' so the host/ess doesn't feel obligated to serve it, as s/he has probably chosen wine to go with the meal. With flowers, sending ahead of time prevents a busy host/ess from having to deal with cut flowers when you arrive.

This is not 'just for our parents' generation.' Hostess gifts (and thank you notes) are a display of manners.

houseno8, I think the concept of "anytime" depends on what one and one's friends have agreed to or feel comfortable with.

Certainly, for people I don't know well, I bring a gift.

However, my dear friends and I, who are frequently in and out of each others' homes and yards, have dropped the formality of hostess gifts. Unless beer I drink myself counts as a hostess gift.

Thank you THANK YOU for this post and the beautifully selected suggestions. I now have hostess gift ideas to stock my gift crate with. No more last-minute regrets for arriving empty-handed (about to happen to me in a couple of hours :-(