holiday shopping

Holiday Shopping Guide: 10 Gifts for Women

Filed under: Apparel, Jewelry, Holiday Guides

We already covered gifts for mom so this list is geared for the other special woman in your life, your wife or girlfriend. It definitely leans to the romantic and personal (no vacuum cleaners or washing machines here) but some things, like cashmere and laptop bags, are universally appealing and would be great for a friend, sister, or neighbor as well.

Tiffany Keys 'Kaleidoscope' Pendant, $12,000

It just wouldn't feel right if we didn't start our list with diamonds, as they really are many a girl's best friend and are a sure-fire way to dazzle your special someone this holiday. The possibilities are endless but for this list I've chosen one of Tiffany's Key pendants, the Kaleidoscope, for its recognizable style (and little blue box) as well as its dazzling beauty and 'statement piece' potential.

Tags: gifts for wife, gifts for women, holiday gifts, holiday shopping, women

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Holiday Shopping Guide: 8 Gifts for Book Lovers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides, Books

In a world that increasingly favors digital and paperless technology the experience of reading books is not the same as it used to be, but no matter if you prefer turning pages by pressing a button on an e-reader or by hand the old fashioned way there will always be something magical and mysterious about real paper books. A new Kindle and a boatload of e-books is great for some reads (like working through the current New York Times best-seller list) but when it comes to true reading luxury and timeless, endearing gifts for the book lovers on your holiday shopping list we say go for good old-fashioned hardcovers and beautiful, well-made accessories.

Bee & Butterfly Bookmarks, $30
As pretty as antique jewelry these Bee and Butterfly bookmarks are handmade in the USA of brass and plated metal with colored Swarovski crystal accents, beautiful floral patterns, and long colorful tassels. Perfect for a gardener or nature-loving reader, unwrapping them will be easy but hiding them away in a book won't be!

Tags: books, holiday gifts, holiday shopping

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Holiday Shopping Guide: Inspirational DVDs

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Some of my favorite gifts over the years have been the educational ones. The holidays give us much needed down time. It's the perfect excuse to picking up a new skill such as cooking, taking a journey of our planet with Oprah Winfrey, or exploring the history of our solar system. Here are the top new releases this season for some truly inspirational gifts.

Cooking From A to Zest

While we love to watch cooking classes on Food Network as much as the next person, we can't remember one instance of actually going off and baking that 7-layer meringue cake. Finally, a box-set that takes cooking from entertainment to instructional. The perfect present for the newlyweds or college grad on your shopping list, "Cooking From A to Zest" ($59.99) covers the basics and beyond. Your lucky gift recipient will perfect their knife skills and build an arsenal of sauce recipes. Here's hoping you'll be on the receiving end of a great meal well past the holidays.

Tags: dvds, gift guide, holiday shopping, holiday shopping guide

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Holiday Shopping Guide: 10 Gifts for Your Man

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides, Men's Style

Shopping for a husband, boyfriend, or significant other can be intimidating for many of the same reasons shopping for dad often is, but you can take at least some of the guesswork out of the process by focusing on gifts that are fun, functional, and really good at doing whatever they were meant to do. And of course if they're also expensive and brag-worthy (like most of our favorite picks below) that's frosting on the cake.

Leather Officer Jacket, $2,195
If you want to buy him clothes take our advice and steer clear of the sweater aisle and set your sites on something like this Leather Officer Jacket instead. Soft dark brown lambskin and clean lines result in a look that's both trendy and timeless and will easily mesh with a variety of personal styles.

Tags: gifts, gifts for men, holiday gifts, holiday shopping, men

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Chocolatier Michel Cluizel's Holiday Chocolate Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

The Michel Cluizel chocolate shop in Rockefeller Center Shop in New York City is celebrating a year as a retail location in New York City with the creation of three signature, seasonal collections.

The Harvest Collection captures autumn with a selection that includes Hérisson Noir, a croquant shell filled with rich hazelnut and almond praline, shaped like a thistle you might see in the fall forest; Châtaigne, which is the shape of half a chestnut and has chestnut paste ganache with rum; the Noix Lait or Noix Noire are a milk or dark chocolate walnut shaped confection, made with pure hazelnut praline, white chocolate and walnut pieces; the Cannelleo, a milk chocolate shell made with 45% cocoa filled with cinnamon gianduja; the Champignon Caramel, a mushroom shaped chocolate filled caramel at the bottom and crunchy croquant at the top; Pomme de Pin Or, gianduja with vanilla pod in the shape of a seasonal pine cone; the Tango, a crunchy praline and caramel ganache in dark chocolate; Macarolats, or Macaroons, that come in assorted flavors such as cinnamon, chataigne whiskey, pumpkin, and Earl Grey tea and a Milk Chocolate Bar studded with salted butter caramel pieces. This collection is available in three sizes: $45, $75, and $125.

The Holiday Collection features Sapin, a dark chocolate tree decorated with dried fruits, marbles and chips; a Bonhomme de Neige, the cheery white chocolate snowman shown at right; a snowflake with Papillottes, which are traditional French treats in colorful, shiny wrapping in six assorted colors and flavors, including gianduja, almond and hazelnut crunchy praline, almond and hazelnut praline, almond paste, ganache with dark chocolate, caramel ganache; two Succettes des Montagnes, old-fashioned almond and hazelnut praline lollipops that are painted with winter sports scenes, such as skiing, snowboarding and snowball fights and Macedoine de Noel, an assortment of seven miniature Christmas chocolates including a snowman, a Santa, a tree, a gift, a Yule log, a boot, and a stocking. This collection retails for $45.

Gallery: Chocolat Michel Cluizel Holiday Selections

Tags: chocolates, holiday chocolates, holiday gift ideas, holiday shopping, michel cluizel

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SushiSamba's Cocktail Tree

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

Like the cocktail trees at SushiSamba? Now you can get your own through their online store. The cocktail trees were designed by Avi Kendi from Metal Dimension in collaboration with SushiSamba and are handmade from forged steel with a blackened patina and satin lacquer. The trees are available with a set of 12 glasses for $250 each. Perfect for using for your own holiday cocktail parties and making your own versions of the popular SushiSamba cocktails.

Tags: cocktail tree, holiday gifts, holiday party, holiday shopping, sushisamba

J.McLaughlin's Holiday Handbag Collection

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Holiday Guides

J.McLaughlin's holiday handbag collection

This holiday season, J.McLaughlin, is offering a line of handbags that will work for any holiday plans you might have on your calendar.

"We took a little liberty with our holiday 2010 collection," explains Kevin McLaughlin, Creative Director at the Manhattan-based fashion house that is known for its classic American designs. "Party dresses---usually the main event---are just the appetizers."

This season, J.McLaughlin created a slouchy leather hobo bag (see image in gallery) that is luxurious and comes in great colors for the fall and winter. The exterior has an open front pocket. Inside, there is a back wall zip. A key fob is attached inside, which will make it easier for you to find your keys. Dimensions are 16" wide X 12" high; 9" deep at widest point.

Gallery: J.McLaughlin Holiday Collection

J.McLaughlin's Slouchy Leather Hobo Bag and the Gold Metal Frame Faux Alligator Clutch

J.McLaughlin's Dorchester Tote and Wool Porthole Bag

Scarves from the J.McLaughlin Holiday Collection

J.McLaughlin Holiday Collection's Holiday Party Look

J.McLaughlin Holiday Collection's Preppy Ensemble

Another must-have is J.McLaughlin's embossed clutch ($155) that has a rich crocodile look (see image in gallery). Accented with a gold chain and gold buckle, it is available in red or black. The clutch it is an ideal bag to take along to a holiday party. See the black version in the gallery above.

J.McLaughlin's wool tartan porthole bag ($198) comes in two classic plaids---a navy and red combination as well as navy and yellow, while its Dorchester Tote ($275) is 100% cotton with a leather trim. The Dorchester Tote comes in two color combinations: coffee/dark brown as well as sable/tan, and is a classic bag to carry all year round. Both handbags are seen in the above photo.

All of the handbags described are available on the J.McLaughlin website or by visiting one of its boutiques, which are located in 17 states around the U.S.

Tags: accessories, handbags, holiday shopping, J. McLaughlin

Holiday Gift Guide for the Ultimate Barbie Lover

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides

The Holiday Gift Guide for the Ultimate Barbie Collector

Mattel's Barbie has released her next line of unique items in the new Blond Book collection, a collection that celebrates all things blond. This collection is filled with fab items from around the globe, from accessories to a one-of-a-kind corset and dolls designed by fashion's avant-garde duo, The Blonds.

Here's a list of some of some dream-worthy items from the Blond Book collection that are sure to please the most fervent Barbie fan:

For the art lover, there's the pop art piece A Plastic Tan Never Fades. Priced at $750, the (30" W by 40" H) piece is made to order and printed on white Plexiglas. Allow up to 14 weeks for delivery.
A once-in-a-lifetime tour of Beverly Hills, Barbie-style, of course. For $10,000, the trip is complete with two business class round trip tickets, three nights stay at a 5-star hotel (double occupancy), and private car service while in Los Angeles. The package includes professional photography and a custom scrapbook. Only one trip is available. To place an order, contact (800) 491-7514.

Gallery: Barbie's Blond Book Collection

Tags: barbie, barbie doll, barbie dolls, holiday gift guide, holiday shopping, mattel

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The Luxist Top Ten Under the Radar Jewelry Designers for the Holidays 2010

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Holiday Guides

Giving jewelry as gifts for the holidays is something we highly encourage at Luxist. We love all that sparkles. One of our favorite regular features is jewelry design -- we love to showcase the up-and-comers who aren't yet as famous as, say, Tiffany and Harry Winston. Still, finding the right designer with the right price range for you can be difficult, as there's a sea of new designers every year to sift through. Here's our guide to the best of the best under-the-radar jewelry designers whose collections we recommend for the 2010 holidays. Each designer has fresh, enchanting pieces with that timeless je ne sais qoui which will last a lifetime.

The Luxist Top Ten Up and Coming Jewelry Designers for the Holidays 2010

1. Anna Hu (above)

We covered Anna Hu in January after meeting her in her Plaza boutique (Anna Hu, Custom Jeweler to the Lucky). It was one of our most exciting interviews of the year as we learned about her history as a cello prodigy and her penchant for lucky symbols and numbers. Anna Hu makes breathtaking custom pieces you should seek out either at The Plaza Hotel or in Tainan, Taiwan. A few select pieces are available online from Kabiri in the UK.

Tags: Anna Hu, best of, Carla Amorim, DANNIJO, gift guide, gift guide 2010, Hassan Bounkit, holiday shopping, jewelry, jewelry 2010, jewelry designers, Johnny Brookheart, Lois Hill, Raquelle Bianco, slane slane, Susie Fox, The Great Frog, top ten

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Holiday Shopping Guide: 10 Gifts for Dad

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides, Men's Style

Dads are especially hard to shop for because they always seem to have everything they need and heaven knows they hate getting useless keepsakes and knickknacks. But that's not to say fathers don't appreciate the finer things in life, or getting something with some sentiment behind it, so show your dad how much you care this holiday season by spoiling him (just a little) with a gift that he'll love and use but would probably never have gotten around to buying for himself. Here are our top gift picks for dad -- all beautifully functional, fun, and top of the line.

Vulcain 50s Presidents' Alarm Watch, $8,350-$23,000
The Vulcain 50s President's Alarm Watch is great for any guy really but seems especially suited to dad or grandpa due to its nostalgic 1950s styling and interesting historical story: Vulcain has been gifting one to each new President since Eisenhower. Features include a casing of steel, yellow gold, or red gold and their famous Cricket movement (automatic).

Tags: gifts for Dad, gifts for men, holiday gift guide, holiday gifts, holiday shopping, holiday shopping guide, holiday shopping season

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Holiday Shopping Guide: 10 Gifts for Mom

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Jewelry, Holiday Guides, Luxury Shopping

Moms are the glue that holds the world together. They work hard all year to keep us happy and healthy, sacrifice their own well-being for ours on a regular basis, and just generally smooth over the rough edges of life to make it all a little more bearable. Celebrate your mom this holiday season and show her how much you love and appreciate her with one of our luxe and pampered holiday gift ideas.

Spring Street Design Group 'Garden Critters' Handbag Hanger, $32
Handbag hangers are one of those little luxuries that women love to have but never think to buy themselves. This one, depicting a pretty bejeweled dragonfly, brings a cheerful dose of sparkle to any table along with a reminder of warmer spring days to come.

Tags: gifts for mom, gifts for mothers, holiday gift guide, holiday gifts, holiday shopping, mom, mother

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Harrods 'Vintage Collection' Christmas Hamper

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

When it comes to Christmas few put together more appealing packages of edible necessities than Harrods. This year they have the usual variety of small to large hampers available but their top offering that's new for 2010 is the Vintage Collection. Inspired by their "Vintage Christmas" theme this year the hamper includes four bottles of wine/champagne plus a ham, salami, foie gras, smoked salmon, caviar, two cheeses, cocktail blinis, biscuits, and an olive wood board. It's not the most expensive hamper they've put together (i.e. last year's $7,500 Holiday Hamper) but if you like the idea of classic, tried and true goods you can't go wrong with a classic combination like this. £450

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Tags: christmas, christmas hamper, hamper, harrods, holiday shopping

Best Modern Menorahs 2010

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Each year there are more and more beautiful menorahs on the market to celebrate Hanukkah. Some are sleek and modern, some are unabashedly traditional, all offer a lovely way to commemorate the festival of lights in style.

Michael Aram's beautiful Olive Branch menorah is available in oxidized bronze or polished nickel and sells for $210.
Click through after the jump to see more of our favorites.

Tags: hanukkah, holiday decoration, holiday shopping, menorah, menorahs

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Vera Wang Holiday Cards

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Shopping

One of my favorite things to shop for at Christmastime is beautiful new holiday cards to send out to my friends and family (although finding time to write in and stamp them all is another matter). Vera Wang has captured the spirit of the holidays with a combination of traditional and contemporary images created with classic letterpress and engraving techniques that bring out the rich detailing, colors, and textures that she's known for. And in addition to the ready-to-send Christmas designs there are also several versions with slots for inserting family photos and other personalizations. $254-$456/box of 50

Gallery: Vera Wang Holiday Cards

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Tags: christmas, christmas cards, holiday cards, holiday shopping, vera wang

Best Festive Wrapping Papers For Holiday Gifts

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The wrapping paper is just what you tear through in order to get to the gift underneath but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. We've rounded up some of the most intriguing offerings of the season from the whimsical pups shown above to more elegant options to dress up all the great gifts from your Black Friday haul.

The Santa Hat Dogs Wrapping Paper from The Paper Source sells for $7.95 a roll. it is printed on 100% recycled, 30% post-consumer waste eco-white paper. Archival and acid-free.

Tags: christmas wrapping paper, gift wrap, holiday shopping, holiday wrapping paper

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