Holiday

Dempsey & Carroll's Holiday Cards Collection

If you have yet to order your personalized holiday cards, it's time to get cracking! But when your friends and family receive a card from Dempsey & Carroll's beautiful and classy holiday collection, you will be forgiven for being a bit behind schedule. Luckily, D&C offers rush service (15 days from day of order) for $100.

The stationer's collection of 65 designs range in price from about $500 - $3,900 for boxes of 50 - 500 cards and envelopes, although some styles start at a minimum of 100 cards and envelopes. Select a greeting (or write your own), ink, and typestyle. You can have D&C make you an engraving plate for an additional charge, or send along your own.

You also can get non-personalized holiday cards. These are ready to ship right now; prices range from $50 - $75 for a set of 10 cards and 10 envelopes.

View the gallery for a few of the customizable options.

Gallery: Dempsey & Carroll's Holidays Cards Collection - Customizable

Tags: Christmas, Christmas cards, Dempsey Carroll, greeting cards, holiday, holiday cards, holidays, personalized

Holiday Shopping Guide: Fabulous Eats For Foodies

by Bobbie Leigh (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Nothing says holiday l celebration like caviar and Champagne. Petrossian, tops in any town for caviar, has its own caviar concierge (800-828-9241). Call and get some advice about the briny pearls with the indescribable taste. With 18 different types of caviar options, advice is a good idea. If you're thinking "big deal," splurge on the 125 gram Special Reserve Ossetra at $1,253 plus special shipping. The Champagne to match according to an expert at New York's Sherry Lehmann is Vintage Krug 1998 at $269.95.

Tags: caviar, crab cakes, crown roast of pork, gifts for foodies, holiday, holiday gift guide, holiday shopping guide, mail order foods, Maine lobster

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NYC Street Vendor Hawks $900 Christmas Trees

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Holiday Guides

NYC Street Vendor Hawks $900 Christmas Trees

The Daily News reported that a lot in the heart of SoHo is selling jumbo-sized Christmas trees at prices to match. Scott Lechner, 53, charges as much as $900 for trees he ships from the Blue Mountains in North Carolina to his temporary business on Sixth Avenue and Spring Street. "A regular tree is beautiful, but one of our jumbos is majestic," Lechner says in the News. "It's not just a tree, it's an experience. And it's worth every penny."

Not all the trees are as much as $900. A 12-foot Fraser fir retails for about $400; it's a 17-footer that goes for $900. Lechner claims his clients have been celebrities, a Facebook executive, and SoHo residents. He notes that his prices are high because the trees come to his lot within 96 hours of being cut. But the News reports -- fueling the fire in the battle of the boroughs -- that the same types of trees can be found at a fraction of the price in Brooklyn.

The question that still nags at me is this: Who in New York has space for a 17-foot tree? I mean, obviously not counting the celebs, execs, and SoHo folks. I guess they all own two-floor apartments where the lower-level apartment ceiling has been removed, or the elusive brownstone.

Tags: Christmas, Christmas tree, Christmas trees, holiday, holidays, New York, New York City, SoHo

The Classicist: Bergdorf Goodman Unveils High-Tech Holiday Windows [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist, Video, Architecture & Design, Luxury Shopping

Legendary luxe New York department store Bergdorf Goodman, founded in 1901, is famous for its amazing, elaborate holiday windows which dazzle shoppers and passersby alike. This year is no exception, with the added attraction of some high-tech features debuting for the very first time. The 2010 windows, entitled "Wish You Were Here," take their inspiration from fantasy travel to far-flung places involving some rather unusual ways of getting there. The displays feature an array of "wild mash-ups of unexpected arrivals and departures", each with visual influences as diverse as Roman mythology, 1940s Hollywood musicals, the city's original Penn Station, and the very first science fiction film.

This year, for the first time, QR codes on several of the windows enable people to view an online Bergdorf Holiday Gift Finder and a video depicting the making of the holiday displays (above) simply by scanning the codes with their smartphone or handheld digital device. Produced entirely in-house by Bergdorf, the video features the song "Follow Me" by 17-year old emerging Sony artist Audrianna Cole. "We are in the surprise business," notes David Hoey, Bergdorf Goodman's Senior Director of Visual Presentation and Window Design. "This job is part architect and part cake decorator." Each of the landmark store's five main Fifth Avenue windows represents a different destination and a special method of conveyance:

Gallery: Bergdorf Goodman 2010 Holiday Windows

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, Christmas shopping, department store, Fifth Avenue, holiday, Holiday 2010, holidays, Naeem Khan, New York, Oscar de la Renta, Polyvore.com, store, travel

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Holiday Gift Idea: Acme Studios Sue Wong Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Fashion designer Sue Wong recently announced a collaboration with ACME Studio to create the "Talmadge" collection, a line of small accessories inspired by the designer's love of old Hollywood. ACME Studio has featured accessories that capture the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, Karim Rashid, Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey and many others but this is the company's first venture with a fashion brand. The collection features a pen, business card holder, an eyeglass case and a mirror compact in an art deco inspired pattern. The pen is $68, the business card holder is $34 and the eyeglass case is $30.

Tags: acme studio, business card case, holiday, holiday gift idea, holiday gift ideas, pen, sue wong, sunglasses case

Black & Gold Jewels Shine Bright for the Holidays

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Black and gold is a striking combination. The contrasting colors and subtle golden shimmer produce a rocker's edge aesthetic with a dash of sexiness. The color palette allows for versatility and complements a wide array of outfits from casual to formal.

With the onslaught of upcoming holiday dinners and parties, it's the perfect time to showcase some of our favorite black and gold jewels that will complement your holiday attire.

First up is a gorgeous angular dark wooden ring ($2070) by Fern Freeman. This impressive statement ring has a large base and is adorned with a golden sun shaped overlay underneath rhodium silver and a sparkling pave diamond dome. Freeman's ring would be a head turning and dramatic finish to casual chic and formal outfits.

Browse below for additional jewels that will help you shine bright for the holidays. Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

Gallery: Black & Gold Jewels Shine Bright for the Holidays

Gurham Gold and Diamond Multi-Oval Tuft Long Necklace

Source

Tags: anthropologie, black, bracelet, diamonds, earrings, elva fields, fern freeman, gold, Gurham, holiday, Jamie Wolf, jewelry, Kenneth Jay Lane, Lee Angel, necklace, Pippa Small, rings, Tito Pedrini, wood

Anya Hindmarch Multi-Glitter Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The Anya Hindmarch Multi-Glitter Clutch is sparkly enough to blind your rivals at this year's holiday party.

This face of this darling clutch could give a Twilight sparkly vampire a run for their money. It's not just the usual silver glitter, it's a rainbow of dazzling flecks that create this shimmering, metallic effect. Somehow, the red and goldtone clasp adds sophistication to the whimsical sheen, and the simplicity of the shape ensures that this will be perceived as fanciful, but not frivolous.

This clutch is just 9"W X 6"H X ¼"D, so it won't appear over-the-top. Truly, this achieves just the right amount of sparkle to draw attention (and compliments!) without being vulgar and obvious. Furthermore, with its rainbow of glitz, it complements just about any color with ... flying colors. (Sorry.) The gleaming facade also adds texture to an ensemble, and could easily take an LBD from humdrum to fabulous.

The bag is lined in gold metallic nappa. We are in love.

The Anya Hindmarch Multi-Glitter Clutch is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $395.00.

Tags: anya hindmarch, clutch, handbag of the day, holiday, sparkly

Anndra Neen Metal Cage Clutches, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

A metal cage clutch is not something you see every day. We were wowed by this pair from Anndra Neen we spotted on AHAlife. We never knew we wanted a metal cage clutch so badly!

These medieval-looking nickel silver alloy and brass clutches were found by AHAlife curator and editorial director Lauren David Peden in Mexico City, where the sister duo behind Anndra Neen (Phoebe and Annette Stephens, interviewed here) have quite the artistic pedigree: "Their grandmother was the artist and jewelry maker Annette Nancarrow and their grandfather was the avant-garde composer Conlon Nancarrow; the two lived in Mexico City in the 1930s and '40s, where they were friends with the likes of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Anaïs Nin."

Tags: anndra neen, clutch, handbag of the day, holiday, metal cage clutch

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Win a Zappos Gift Card

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Services, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Shoes, Holiday Guides, Men's Style

When Zappos offered Luxist a $50 gift card, I jumped at the chance. I had a lot of fun browsing the site, which started out as a shoe mecca and now includes bags, clothing, housewares, and beauty items. The tough part was making a choice. I gave in to footwear trends and bought a pair of chocolate brown UGG boots, chipping in the rest of the price on my own, of course.

Then I thought, what about Luxist readers? So I asked Zappos if it would offer a $50 gift card to one reader, and the nice folks there agreed. Use the card to buy a gift for someone else, or for yourself. Or just save it until you need something. The card doesn't expire and doesn't incur fees.

Some other important details:
* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed by December 25, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a Zappos Gift Card valued at $50.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete contest rules here.

The contest has ended. Thank you for your participation. The winner will be notified on December 28, 2009.

Tags: beauty, clothing, gift card, gift certificate, GiftCard, GiftCertificate, giveaway, handbags, holiday, shoes, Zappos

10 Holiday Spirits to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wine, Holiday Guides

Some people are hard to shop for -- what do you get for that person who has everything? Answer: Booze. Something consumable is almost always a solid choice, unless you know your friend is on some kind of special diet. Cupcakes are great, but a bottle of something imbiblious is festive and practically synonymous with celebration.

A simple bottle of wine can be a pretty lame gift. If you want your gift to matter, be noticed, or be remembered, go for something a little extra special. Here's our list of 10 great holiday bottles (and new-this-season treats) that will have your recipient charmed and delighted. Click through the gallery for pics of each!

1. La Vie Grand Marnier. This limited edition metallic red bottle (above right) is cheery and bright, and comes in an upbeat, vintage French poster-inspired box. $69.95.

Gallery: 10 Best Holiday Bottles

Tags: gifts, grand marnier, GrandMarnier, holiday, holiday bottles, pommery pop earth, PommeryPopEarth, spirits

Continue reading “10 Holiday Spirits to Get You in the Holiday Spirit”

Mark Ecko's Huge Holiday Giveaways Until December 17th

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

This holiday season the Mark Ecko brands are doing a very appealing series of giveaways. Each day they are giving away a different item (apologies but you've missed a few of the days already) that is cool by itself, but made more desirable by some enhancement. For example, the pictured Ecko Boba Fett hoodie is signed by the guy who played Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) in the classic trilogy. Nice! Other giveaways include items such as an Ecko Playboy shirt signed by Hugh himself. You get the idea right? Aside from apparel there is also a watch - but mostly they are pop culture themed clothing and shoes.

The giveaway is held at the ShopEcko.com website here. You need to go there to enter, and you apparently must re-enter each day for that day's giveaway. They really want you revisiting that website a lot to check out the various Ecko sub-brands. Worth checking out.

Tags: giveaway, holiday, Marc Ecko, MarcEcko

This Year's Holiday Shopping Lesson: Lux Goes Online

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

The web isn't just for bargains. Some of the top luxury lifestyle brands in the world are turning to the internet to beef up their sales -- a must in a market where brick-and-mortar is lagging in the all-important holiday season. Giorgio Armani and Valentino Fashion Group, which have generally steered clear of the prolies shopping online, are changing their attitudes, as they have had to cope with the most severe recession in seventy years. Roberto Cavalli and Salvatore Ferragamo have joined the fray, too, both opening online stores in the past month.

In addition to younger buyers who are more comfortable skipping the store, a sense of "luxury shame" is causing many to turn to the web. The anonymity, once reserved for porn purchases, allows customers to indulge in big-ticket buys without having to endure looks of envy (or worse). If you need proof that luxury spending is going digital, take a look at Italy. This year, online sales of Italian luxury products are expected to surge 42 percent to $500 million, according to a study by Politecnico. Last year, it fell six percent for the luxury goods industry as a whole. In Italy, around 14 percent of holiday shopping will occur ont eh web, according to Deloitte's 2009 Christmas Survey.

The luxury industry's online endeavors are not limited to traditional stores, though Stefano Sassi, Valentino's CEO, notes that the startup costs are lower and that "There's a very interesting margin on e-commerce" as a result. Armani has launched applications for smartphones, including the iPhone and Blackberry and has launched a Christmas website.

Source

Tags: armani, BlackBerry, Christmas, christmas shopping, ChristmasShopping, Giorgio Armani, GiorgioArmani, holiday, Holiday season, holiday shopping, holidays, HolidaySeason, HolidayShopping, iphone, luxury, online retail, online retailers, online retailing, OnlineRetail, OnlineRetailers, OnlineRetailing, roberto cavalli, RobertoCavalli, salvatore ferragamo, SalvatoreFerragamo, Valentino

9½-Foot Swarovski Star To Adorn Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

9½-Foot Swarovski Star To Adorn Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Too much Swarovski is never enough, especially during the holidays, when we all want sparkle. And during the holidays in New York City, the most popular sparkle can be found at Rockefeller Center, where each year gaggles of locals as well as tourists stop by to view the Christmas tree, which has been topped by a Swarovski star each year since 2004.

This year's star is 9½ feet in diameter, 1½ feet in depth, weighs a whopping 550 pounds, and comprises 25,000 crystals with 1,000,000 facets. The star is high-tech and low-cost (energy-wise): It has enhancements such as a new cutting-edge computerized lighting system and energy-efficient LED bulbs. The star's 12 rays are outfitted with 720 bulbs on 3,000 feet of wire to create a twinkling effect through customized light sequencing programmed by a complex computer system.

Rockefeller Center officially began the Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1933, when a Christmas tree was erected in front of the then-RCA Building and covered with 700 lights. This is the first year, however, that the Swarovski star will feature dynamic light movement. A team of nine artisans and engineers spent three months (1,200 hours) installing, programming, and testing the star to ensure the effects would withstand the challenging winter weather conditions 76 feet above Rockefeller Center.

A replica of the Swarovski Star will be on display in Rockefeller Center to allow visitors to get a closer view of the detailing and craftsmanship. Swarovski is even offering a selection of star-themed holiday jewelry and ornaments on sale at the Swarovski holiday kiosk at Rockefeller Center, at Swarovski boutiques nationwide, and online.

The 77th Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 2, from 7-9 p.m. The ceremony will be televised live, locally on WNBC-TV from 7-8 p.m. and nationally on NBC from 8-9 p.m. Spectators can view the lighted tree each day from 5:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas Day; and from 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The last day to view the tree is January 7, 2010.

Sources: LuxuryLaunches.com and PR Newswire

Tags: Christmas, holiday, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NYC, Swarovski, swarovski crystals, SwarovskiCrystals

La Perla Holiday Song Collection

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Holiday Guides

La Perla has come through with one of the finest holiday collections we've seen in years.

Above, you see a delicious pile of some of the items from the Holiday Song Collection:

a scalloped lace pushup bra for $289
a stretch lace panty with "flirty scalloped hem" for $168
a silk lace-up slip with lace detail and adjustable straps for $489

Each of the items, along with the rest of the Holiday Song Collection in tasteful, lovely colors, is available for purchase from their website, LaPerlaUSA.com, or click here to locate a store near you. All pieces are displayed in artful little heaps, as above.

Tags: bra, gift ideas, GiftIdeas, gifts, holiday, holiday collection, HolidayCollection, lingerie, panties, panty, slip, underwear

Swarovksi Holiday Ornament 2008

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

No snowflakes are alike and so Swarovski offers a different snowflake for each year to celebrate the holiday season. The Holiday Ornament, Annual Edition 2008 has chosen a faceted-crystal snowflake with a blue satin ribbon and a small silver-tone tag with year of issue 2008. It retails for $75 and is available at Swarovski boutiques nationwide. Swarovski is donating $250,000 from the sales of its Annual Edition holiday ornament to Clothes Off Our Backs to benefit children's charities worldwide.

Source

Tags: christmas, crystal, holiday, ornament, swarovski

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