Alison Brie is no stranger to the stress of holiday shopping.
Like many, the actress relies heavily on gift guides during the season, but this year she decided to become one herself. In Macy’s new holiday campaign, Brie stars as Gift Guide, helping shoppers discover the perfect gifts from the department store’s wide variety of brands.
“I truly spent my life holiday shopping at Macy’s,” Brie tells PEOPLE. “I grew up in South Pasadena, and there’s a big Macy’s on Lake Street where I always remember doing my holiday shopping.”
“It brought back some holiday nostalgia for me,” she added of the partnership. “I still love to do my holiday shopping at Macy’s, so it made sense and felt very authentic.”
In the campaign advertisement, Community alum wears a festive red ensemble and, with the help of her mentor, played by Matt Bush, guides the viewer through a curated assortment of holiday items, from gifts to party wear.
Alison Brie for Macy’s.
Macy’s
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“Macy’s carries everything, so it’s nice to have everything in one place, rather than a niche gift guide,” Brie tells PEOPLE. “I can shop for the whole family at Macy’s, mom, dad, my sister, my little nephews, and I have all the options for them.”
Despite acting as a real-life gift guide, Brie admits she hasn’t thought about her own shopping list yet this year. “I’ll go through the Macy’s gift guide,” she says. “Again, this is why I love shopping at Macy’s. For last-minute gift givers, it’s great because you’re going on a mission there and you’re just going from department to department saying, ‘Check, check, check.'”
When it comes to her favorite gift-giving moments over the years, Brie recalls giving family members photos of her wedding to Dave Franco in 2017.
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Alison Brie for Macy’s.
Macy’s
“Nothing beats the sentimental gifts I give my family,” she says. “A year after Dave and I got married, we gave everyone framed photos from our wedding. It was really special because there were loads of pictures that people hadn’t seen and then you give it to them in a beautiful frame and it’s something to put in the house.”
Aside from a penchant for sentimentality, Brie’s top gift-giving tip is to “always get a gift certificate.”
“It’s just nice to have a gift certificate because you say, ‘Oh, good. They got thoughtfulness. I put in the work to try to come up with something they might like, and then I can quietly trade it in for something that might be better, and I don’t even have to to know’, she explains.
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This year Brie’s holidays will look a little different. On Thanksgiving, she and her family forgo the traditional meal to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where Brie cuts the ribbon.
“I feel like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is like the definition of monoculture,” she says. “I can just picture a giant Snoopy balloon. It’s been etched in my brain for as long as I can remember. I’m so excited to do it.”
Macy’s 2024 Holiday Campaign kicks off Monday, October 28, and will highlight a variety of gift giving moments, Black Friday deals and last-minute gifts throughout December.
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