Katie Couric’s shopping editor rounds up May’s best giftable launches

The smartest May launches are the ones that solve a problem before they ask for shelf space. This month’s most giftable picks lean useful, well-designed, and just special enough to feel considered, which is exactly what makes them better presents than another impulse buy.

1. Away Topside Luggage Collection

At $378 and up, Away’s Topside collection is the clearest outright splurge on the list, and it earns that position by being genuinely clever rather than merely polished. It combines a polycarbonate hardshell with the open, one-big-compartment feel of a softside suitcase, then adds a slimmer silhouette for easier movement through crowded aisles and train corridors, plus a built-in wheel-locking mechanism that makes the bag less fussy to handle on the curb, in a driveway, or at the gate. That mix of durability and restraint makes it a strong gift for the traveler who already owns the basics but would appreciate luggage that feels more considered than decorative.

2. Medik8 Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ Serum

This is the best gift on the list for the person who loves skincare that feels informed, not gimmicky. Medik8’s new serum pairs a vegan alternative to PDRN, an ingredient usually derived from salmon, with a triple exosome complex aimed at improving tone, texture, and luminosity, so it lands squarely in the realm of advanced, ingredient-led beauty. That makes it a smarter present than a generic prestige moisturizer, especially for someone who likes products that read as both thoughtful and current without shouting for attention.

3. Athleta summer drop

Athleta’s new summer assortment has the most obvious everyday gift value, because it solves the perennial warm-weather problem of wanting clothes that perform without looking purely technical. The lineup includes UPF-protection jackets, cooling fabrics for hot hikes, and golf apparel with a notably chic edge, including a butter-yellow golf dress that gives the whole collection a more occasion-ready finish. It is the kind of gift that feels easy to wear immediately, which is often the real marker of luxury in activewear: it earns a place in someone’s weekly rotation instead of disappearing into the back of a closet.