This holiday season, Ralph Lauren is coming out with luxurious and exorbitantly colorful collection of modern classics, featuring decadent accessories for men, women and the home. One of our favorite items is this vintage-inspired sterling silver flask with an enameled portrait of a 19th-century jockey, priced at $2,495. Other highlights include eye-popping takes on the elegant alligator and crocodile belts Lauren has been doing for decades, in shocking go-to-hell colors like purple and orange. The women's version features a horseshoe-shaped buckle and costs $1,895.
In addition, there are velvet slippers for men embroidered with a bold equestrian figure in several colors for $950; a pillow made from a silk equestrian-themed scarf backed by luxurious cashmere for $795; cashmere throw blankets in bright tones bordered with contrasting suede for $995; and saddle leather jewelry boxes with brightly-hued alligator lids for $2,895. Lauren was just named the most powerful man in men's fashion meanwhile by industry bible DNR, beating out Giorgio Armani for the top spot.
Today is the fourth entry in our month-long series that looks at end-of-the-year gift giving. The Nature Conservancy has some very interesting options for your holiday giving. The charity, which helps protect ecologically important lands and waters for both nature and people, has gift options in a variety of price tiers. For $50,000 you can sponsor a scientific expedition that will bear your recipient's name. For $32,000 you can protect a mile of land in Costa Rica. You can also donate to help to protect coral reefs and sponsor land by the acre in the U.S. The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 117 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide and they are involved in over 100 marine conservation projects globally. The easiest way to give is to donate a gift membership. The membership will include a Nature Gift Card announcing your present and all membership materials including a Conservancy membership card. This includes the Nature Conservancy magazine and invitations to participate in local events at Nature Conservancy preserves, which can be a fun and educational experience.
For fans of Jo Malone's classic Lime Basil & Mandarin scent this is ultimate sensory overload. The clean unisex fragrance has a scent that mingles bright citrus with peppery basil and aromatic white thyme. The collection includes: Lime Basil & Mandarin shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, body creme, bath oil, cologne, three soaps, a home candle and a Sicilian Lime Pot Pourri Gift Box. The package sells for $620.
It always makes sense to stock up on beautiful and fragrant candles at the holidays, they make a perfect hostess gift or a nice office gift. These gold and silver ones from The Pearl Collection by Ergo Candles with their gold and silver packaging have a particularly festive look. The soy candles are hand poured and come in a variety of fragrances including Dark Chocolate, Ebony, Moroccan Cedar, Linen and Pomegranate. Each seven ounce candle will burn for 40 to 50 hours and sells for $22.
Has it come to this, do you really need an electric martini shaker? The Waring Pro Electric Martini Shaker/Stirrer delivers your martini shaken, or stirred (Rick at Martini Groove reminds us shaken for vodka drinks, stirred for gin). The martini maker has a 20-oz. brushed stainless steel shaker and a one oz. measuring cap. Personally I enjoy the theatrical aspect of creating drinks and I don't think I'd trust a bartender who used one but this might be a fun gift for the gadget-obsessed. It sells for $99.95.
I've long been a fan of the selections from Charles and Marie, the popular website specializes in quirky and cutting-edge design from around the globe. For true design junkies they have a holiday treat, an advent calendar (well, more of a box of presents really) to help you count down to Christmas. The 24 gifts are curated by designers Alissia Melka-Teichroew and Jan Habraken. There are two versions, the Luxe Edition ,which includes design objects with a European sensibility, containing several limited edition pieces. and the more inexpensive Cosmopolitan edition. They can be ordered now and the package arrives on December 1. The Luxe version goes for $1800.
Holiday shopping guide season already? Early birds are already getting the jump on the season. Recently we saw the Neiman Marcus Fantasy List but if you are looking for something a little less pricey and a whole lot geekier, Think Geek has unveiled their list which is an answer to the Neiman's list. Instead of the $75,000 Swami conversational robot, you can spend $349.99 on Pleo, the robotic dinosaur, instead of the Online Media Wall, you can opt for a wi-fi enabled photo frame. Other fun gadgets include the mobile surveillance robot which looks like a Mars rover and has a mini video camera, the MySky GPS star tracker, which eliminates messing around with star maps to understand the constellations,iPod video goggles and the LED art fan which not only cools you off but also provides a complete light show. Details and prices in the gallery.
Buying fragrance for someone else is often a bit of a risk. While it would seem to be a safe bet it can be as intimate as purchasing lingerie. But it is also the chance to delight someone with something they might never pick up themselves but will totally fall in love with. What follows is a list of scents ranging from department store finds to a few off the beaten track and one amazing new creation which costs $700 but just might be the most amazing fragrance set ever.
1) Donna Karan Gold What: Donna Karan's latest is a luscious scent of casablanca lily and amber, a big embracing warm floral. Who: a woman with warmth and heart, mothers, teachers, mentors, anyone with both elegance and kindness in good supply How Much: The 1.7 ounce Eau de Parfum is $75
British jewelry and luxury goods company, Asprey has created a 2006 Christmas cracker. Christmas crackers are a classic British Christmas dinner tradition, tubes of paper containing gifts and goodies which are pulled apart at the dinner table. The Asprey crackers are available with a variety of surprises inside including a small red leather notebook and pen, heart necklace, keychain, cufflinks or a purse atomizer. Each cracker also contains a paper crown, balloon and a quotation. The crackers sells for £125 each but are also available in packs of six or twelve.
Looking for a present for your golf junkie? Brooks Brothers has a golf package as one of their ultimate gifts for this season. The package takes place on May 13-16, 2007 at Keswick Hall. The Virginia resort is a 48-room Tuscan-style hotel next to Keswick Club and its 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course. The three-night package includes the chance to play with PGA tour pros Scott Verplank and James Driscoll, who will join you for a day of personal instruction followed by an 18-hole playing lesson. They will also hang out with your for lunch. The golf excursion includes three nights in a master suite at Keswick Hall, four individual spa treatments, dinner each night and a special welcome package. The trip costs $7,200 per couple.
