Holiday Gift Guide for Chic Cinephiles: Part 8 — Gifts Inspired by Revenge‘s Victoria Grayson
As the unofficial queen of the Hamptons, Victoria Grayson has been the thorn in Emily Thorne’s side way before she discovered the payback-seeking blonde’s true identity. A hellion in heels and figure-hugging sheath dresses, Victoria will do anything to hold on to her fortune and social stature — whether it involves betraying a lover and sentencing him to life in prison, attempting to rewrite history for an amnesia-stricken frenemy (Lydia), hiding a secret son from her husband and younger children, faking her own death, or poisoning and smothering an enemy with too much leverage (Aiden). As long as she’s ruling her little kingdom, Victoria remains content — even if she does sit on a throne of lies. Sure, in Season 4, Emily has stripped Victoria of much of her fortune and moved into her posh mansion, but the war is far from over, and Victoria is as determined as ever to regain her power, her palace-like home, and enviable wardrobe. As calculating and shrewd as she is beautiful and poised, the matriarch in Manolo Blahniks proves Nietzsche’s theory that, “In revenge and in love, women are more barbarous than men.” Her wicked ways aside, Victoria possesses impeccable taste — a necessary attribute in such exclusive circles — and that’s what we’ll be celebrating in this particular gift guide installment. Get ready to covet these chic goodies!
Roland Mouret Velia Dress, $2532. Available at RolandMouret.com
Victoria is quite fond of Roland Mouret’s minimalist sheath dresses, which feature architectural necklines, intricate folds, asymmetrical slashes, and more. This red Velia dress is reminiscent of the black Roland Mouret Myrtha dress Victoria wore to celebrate her 25th marriage anniversary in Season 1. Made of a viscose blend with 2% elastane for a bit of stretch, this red hot number features high capped sleeves and a dramatic neckline formed from a folded origami panel.
Nancy Gonzalez Seville Laser Cut Dome Bag, $4100. Available at Bergdorf Goodman and BergdorfGoodman.com
This domed handbag features a black crocodile skin overlay with intricate, swirl-shaped cut-outs that reveal a contrasting ivory croc base. The shape is timeless and classic while the craftsmanship is unparalleled, but the cut-out motifs add a modern edge without compromising the design’s overall elegance.
Fresh Holiday 2014 Skincare All-Stars, $68. Available at Sephora stores and Fresh boutiques.
She may be in her 50s, but Victoria Grayson looks better than many 20-year-olds — especially those who have frequented tanning booths, smoked countless numbers of cigarettes, and bathed in the sun until their skin was practically burnt to a crisp. To keep her complexion looking radiant, we imagine Victoria would rely on Fresh’s radiance-boosting, hydrating, and revitalizing skincare products. This limited-edition set features some of the brand’s most popular products: the Soy Face Cleanser, Rose Face Mask, Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex, Lotus Eye Gel, and Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15.
The Soy Face Cleanser gently removes topical dirt and debris while also retaining the skin’s moisture level thanks to such ingredients as soybean oil, which moisturizes parched areas of the skin while decreasing oiliness in other areas; glycerin, a natural humectant; and sunflower seed oil, which is hydrating and also rich in vitamin E. Soybean oil, meanwhile, is rich in isoflavones that diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The Rose Face Mask, meanwhile, smells romantic and feminine, but most importantly, it hydrates the complexion, soothes the skin, and works to correct uneven skin tone via a combination of Rosa Centifolia extract, Rosa Damascus flower water and oil, castor oil, cucumber extract, aloe extract, and yeast extract. Both the Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream and the Lotus Eye Gel contain lotus extract, which has been used for centuries to soothe and cool the skin, as well as improve its overall texture and reduce redness. The face cream also contains brightening lemon peel oil; skin calming cucumber extract; algae extract, known to have skin-firming benefits; fig extract, which contains beta-carotene and phenols and flavonoids that yield anti-aging benefits; and hibiscus extract, which some call the “Botox Plant” because of its lifting and firming properties. Lastly, the Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment relieves dry and chapped lips, infusing them with moisture and helping to soften and plump the delicate skin along the pout, while also coating your smoocher with a sheer veil of rosy pink color.
Tadashi Shoji Corded Embroidery On Tulle Cap Sleeve Dress, $408. Available at TadashiShoji.com
Given all the cocktail parties, sit-down dinners, and luncheons Victoria hosts, it’s vital that she always have an array of show-stopping frocks in which to wow her guests. This gold Tadashi Shoji number, which features corded embroidery on fluid tulle as well as dainty capped sleeves with scalloped edges, would certainly have the desired effect.
Kim Lee Ozawa Celestial Gemstone Earrings, $78. Available at ArteDesigns.com
Victoria actually wore these very earrings in Season 3’s “Payback” episode. Measuring 2″ in length, these drop earrings feature white chalcedony gems and black rutilated quartz stones joined together by sterling silver chain links. Chalcedony is believed to have healing properties and help to bring emotional strength.
Lipstick Queen Red Carpet Edit, $55. Available at LipstickQueen.com
When she wants to exude old Hollywood glamour — whether it’s at her yearly Fire & Ice bash or the Grayson Masquerade Ball — Victoria relies on a striking red pout. She’d doubtless appreciate this treasure chest of red lipsticks, packaged in a red velvet gift box. The three lipsticks in this set feature different finishes and intensities so you can achieve as bold or understated a look as desired. My absolute favorite is Red Sinner, the Lipstick Queen’s classic matte red shade, which is a delicious Firebird red. This makeup must-have is accompanied by Saint Red, a sheer and delicate red with an almost glaze-like quality, and Red Metal, a medium-intensity metallic red which contains ruby-colored shimmer.Check out swatches of all three lipsticks below:
All three rouge lipsticks are formulated with Vitamin E, avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, castor oil, and shea butter to moisturize, condition, and soften lips while also making them appear more supple and allowing each red color to look its glorious best.
Reiss Ambrosia Floral Lace Maxi Dress in Warm Cherry, $660. Available at Reiss.com
Lace is abundant in Victoria Grayson’s closet, and she knows just how to wear it so as to maximize its elegance and romanticism while banishing any potential matronly qualities. She’d be over the moon when presented with this mulberry-colored gown, which features a V-shaped neckline and a sleeveless, figure-skimming, knee-length shell that is made refined via a fine lace overlay that extends down to the floor, creating a sheer veil over legs, and which creates subtle capped sleeves with scalloped edges.
Powell French Calligraphy Wingback Chair, $411.29. Available at Wayfair.com
England’s Queen Victoria had her lavish throne, but this Victoria rules while perched on a wingback chair with calligraphy upholstery. With its dark black legs, neutral canvas upholstery, and calligraphy pattern, this chair emulates the look of Victoria Grayson’s “throne.”
Agraria PetiteEssence Diffuser in Bitter Orange, $50. Available at AgrariaHome.com
She may have grimaced when certain visitors arrived at Grayson Manor — whether it was Daniel’s fiancée Emily Thorne, Charlotte’s beau Declan Porter, or former bestie Lydia Davis — but, at least on a surface level, Victoria always hoped guests would see her home as warm and inviting. In addition to decorating tables with peony and hydrangea arrangements, then, Victoria would make sure to create a delightful aromatic experience for visitors — and the Agraria PetiteEssence Diffuser would allow her to accomplish this feat while also adding yet another elegant touch to her décor. Each 1.7 oz. fragrance comes in a faceted glass bottle with a square base and sloping, domed sides, and is accompanied by a glass tray on which to place this bottle and a decorative flower handmade with slices balsa wood. Unlike so many diffusers, which contain wooden reeds that need to be flipped routinely in order for the scented essential oils to continue wafting through the air, the Agraria PetiteEssence Diffuser requires no such upkeep. In fact, as the essential oils in the bottle are absorbed by the cotton wicks below the wooden flower, the latter’s petals begin to change color, becoming all the more fragrant. The scent, meanwhile, combines zesty, woody, and spicy notes of bitter orange, clove, and cypress.
Agent Provocateur Kiki Kimono, $990. Available at AgentProvocateur.com
When standing on her balcony and spying on Emily Thorne, Victoria typically does so in fluid robes like this one from Agent Provocateur, made of heavyweight crepe silk. Inspired by a traditional Japanese kimono, this black robe features oversized sleeves, a reversible sash belt, and a contrasting light pink collar.
BCBGMAXAZRIA Ninah Color-Blocked Gown, $398. Available at BCBG.com
Given that the annual Grayson Masquerade Ball has a strict black-and-white dress code, Victoria would have plenty of use for this magnificent BCBGMAXAZRIA gown. The basic component of the design is a strapless, floor-length, white column gown, but this minimalist core is then made magnificent via a draped, black polyester georgette fabric. Thanks to this overlay, the gown has a graceful color-blocked motif. A sheer yoke and a draped detail at the waist add to the fluidity of the design.
Jaboneria Marianella Rejuvenating Bath & Shower Gel in Aura Elena, $28, and Antioxidant Milk Cream Lotion in Aura Elena, $32. Available at MarinellaSoap.com
A bar of Dial soap in Victoria Grayson’s bathroom? Never! A woman with such refined tastes would never entertain using products so pedestrian to maintain her still effervescent beauty. Instead, a lady like Victoria would keep her skin baby soft with Jaboneria Maraniella’s new range of shower gels and body lotions, which incorporate vitamins, oils, and antioxidants meant to hydrate, replenish, heal, and protect the skin, and which are infused with unusual and enticing aromas. The Aura Elena scent, for instance, incorporates a creamy and indulgent coconut scent that’s tempered by the earthiness of oak moss and the mouth-watering, juicy ripeness of mulberry. The Aura Elena Rejuvenating Bath & Shower Gel, then, titillates the senses with its scrumptious fragrance while also nourishing skin thanks to such emollient, fatty acid-rich and antioxidant-packed ingredients as argan oil, babassu oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, rice bran oil, borage oil, olive oil, and shea butter. Similarly, the Aura Elena Antioxidant Milk Cream relies on a formula that incorporates moisturizing, softening, fatty acid-rich shea butter; skin-firming and wrinkle-reducing rosemary extract and argan oil; avocado oil, which stimulates collagen production while also conditioning the skin; milk thistle extract, which heals skin inflammations ranging from acne to eczema; and sunflower seed oil, which boosts the skin’s moisture retention levels while also protecting it from free radical damage. From their fresh ingredients to their exquisite aromas and appealing textures, these Jaboneria Marianella products will make any bathroom feel like a five-star spa.
Tacori Classic Rock Stud Earrings, $220. Visit Tacori.com for retailers.
As someone who appreciates the finer things in life, Victoria would pounce at the chance to wear these faceted, cushion-cut, black onyx stud earrings, set in .925 silver.
Wedgewood Butterfly Bloom Tea Collection, $44.99 for cup and saucer set Available at BedBathAndBeyond.com
When Victoria Grayson first welcomed her new neighbor Emily Thorne into her home, the two chatted over tea about their shared interests (Emily’s, tellingly, was “history”). Victoria, of course, showcased her finest china while propped atop her calligraphy-adorned, throne-like armchair. To add a bit of color to her collection, Victoria could use a cup and saucer set from the Wedgewood Butterfly Bloom collection, consisting of lavish cups and saucers adorned with delicate florals and fluttering butterflies. Each bone china cup holds 6 ounces and comes with a matching saucer measuring 4″ in diameter.
French Connection Encrusted Lace Dress, $298. Available at USA.FrenchConnection.com
This stretch cotton French Connection bodycon dress features a scallop-edged neckline that mimics the intricate cut-outs associated with lace fabrics but adds a bit of a kick to the motif via intricate beadwork and sequined accents. Similarly, the heavily embellished lace-like center panel adds to the design’s party-ready glitz.
Laura Mercier Golden Honey Musk Body & Bath Duet, $50. Available at LauraMercier.com
Having attended a prestigious art school in Paris, Victoria Grayson is quite the epicure, so she would indubitably relish this bath and body kit, which features a scent inspired by the artisanal honey sold in France’s Provence region. This limited-edition duo, then, revolves around the newest aromatic addition to Laura Mercier’s Gourmand collection: Golden Honey Musk. Both of these products boast a distinct honey aroma, but this sweet scent is married with amber, sandalwood, and musk notes for a more carnal and sensuous overall effect. The Laura Mercier Golden Honey Musk Honey Bath comes with a wooden wand featuring a grooved, beehive-shaped tip. To create a pampering atmosphere in the bathroom, simply fill the tub with water, dip the wooden wand inside the bath jar, then twirl it underneath the running water and watch as bubbles begin to form along the water’s surface and the air is permeated with the warm yet sweet fragrance. Once you’ve relaxed in the tub, you can dry off and smooth on the Honey Musk Soufflé Body Cream to complete your decadent experience — and leave your skin smelling good enough to eat!
Natasha Couture Minaudiere, $68. Available at Shop.Nordstrom.com
Whether watching Daniel compete in a polo match or hosting a mother-daughter banquet with Charlotte, Victoria always makes sure her figure-flaunting dresses are paired with equally refined accessories. This petite box clutch, with its filigreed gold-tone finish and faceted crystal top clasp, would add an Art Deco elegance to any ensemble.
Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Toilette with Atomizer, $96. Available at fine retailers nationwide including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom.
A passing glance at Victoria Grayson’s marble-top vanity table will reveal several perfume bottles, many of them in luxurious flaçons with atomizers for an old world feel. She’d be enchanted by the latest iteration of Narciso Rodriguez’s iconic For Her EDT, which features an atomizer bulb as a nod to haute parfumerie. The atomizer allows users to dispense a finer mist than what would be produced by a typical spritzer nozzle, thereby rendering the experience of perfuming oneself more delicate and luxurious. And, of course, the bottle is a statement-making piece that belongs front-and-center on every woman’s vanity. Apart from its limited edition packaging, however, the fragrance remains unchanged — which is welcome news for those who like, Victoria Grayson, know that like ancient works of art and world renowned sonatas, some scents should be preserved in their glorious original form. Romantic and seductive, For Her features a musk heart surrounded by floral osmanthus notes, a hint of amber, and a touch of patchouli.
Ginette NY Extra Long Pearl Sautoir, $395. Available at Ylang23.com
Even while visiting her son Daniel in prison after he was arrested for murdering his college buddy Tyler (a charge on which he was later exonerated), Victoria didn’t look the least bit frazzled. In fact, her ensemble conveyed the image of a woman in complete control rather than a woman plagued with worry or anxiousness. Pairing a long-sleeved black top with a black pencil skirt, Victoria spiced up the look with a chunky multi-strand black pearl necklace with a knot accent and tassel-like strands dangling down and grazing the navel area. For a similar look, Victoria style lovers can try wearing this Ginette NY piece, made of an 80″-long pearl strand that can be worn loosely or looped several times around the neck for a chunkier look.
Ted Baker Elenna Embellished Midi Dress, $395. Available at TedBaker.com
When it comes to her color palette, Victoria Grayson likes to experiment with the full spectrum of hues, but she does seem to have a weakness for red, which is why she’d approve of this midi-length Ted Baker number, featuring capped sleeves and a neckline that rests atop the collarbone area and is meticulously embellished with light-reflecting crystals. As Bill Blass once said, “When in doubt, wear red.”
Radical Skincare Radical Start Kit, $99. Available at Sephora.com
Victoria will fight visible aging signs with the same Bobby Fischer-like strategies she employs to foil Emily Thorne’s personal attacks. To make sure she wins the war, then, Victoria might rely on Radical Skincare’s potent anti-aging products, which contain firming and hydrating agents, along with active ingredients to help reduce signs of hyperpigmentation (including age spots) and even skin tone. The Radical Start Kit, now available at Sephora stores, gives users a taste of the Fountain of Youth. The kit includes: 15 Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads, pre-moistened towelettes that contain AHA and BHA acids that gently exfoliate the skin while promoting cellular turnover, along with chamomile extract to soothe the skin and reduce redness; a 0.5 oz. bottle of the Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum, which incorporates such antioxidant-rich ingredients as cranberry extract, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil, coffee extract, jojoba oil, and rice bran oil, along with two hexa-peptides (alistin and sepilift), both of which support the natural production of proteins that keep skin looking supple and firm while repairing DNA damage; a 0.5 oz. jar of the Anti-Aging Restorative Moisture cream, which contains ingredients that increase the skin’s moisture retention capabilities, reduce the appearance of discolorations, and boosts skin radiance; and a 0.17 oz. bottle of the Eye Revive Creme, which battles puffiness, reduces the appearance of dark circles, hydrates the sensitive skin along the eye area, and smoothes under-eye wrinkles.
Pamela Dale Jewelry Amethyst Drip Earrings, $5800. Available at PamelaDaleJewelry.com
Purple is the color of royalty, so amethyst earrings would be more than befitting for Hamptons royalty like Victoria Grayson. These luxurious and slightly gothic sparklers feature branch-like strips of 14k peach gold metal encrusted with 0.30 carats of rose cut diamonds and 0.32 carats of white brilliant cut diamonds that culminate with teardrop-shaped African amethyst gems that amount to a total of 15.80 carats.
Mary Katrantzou JQ Babelonia Cap Sleeve Dress, $1192. Available at Stylebop.com
Though Victoria tends to favor saturated jewel tones and the occasional metallic shade, she has played with photorealistic prints in the past — most memorably, in Episode 19 of Season 3, when she donned a stunning strapless Mary Katrantzou frock. Given how lovely she looked in that tree print dress, Victoria would welcome the chance to wear another Katrantzou masterpiece such as this fit-and-flare dress, crafted out of a fine silk blend and featuring a moody, artsy, black-and-white landscape photo print. This classy piece features a round neckline, cap sleeves, a cinched waist, and a full skirt that hits below the knees.
Jane Iredale Smoke & Mirrors Kit, $50. Available at JaneIredale.com
As a master of illusion and expertly crafted appearances meant to strengthen the public’s view of a united and blissful family unit, “smoke and mirrors” is an expression that Victoria Grayson knows all too well. But this is no kit for sly spin artists. The “smoke” here pertains to illusions of the cosmetic variety. The Jane Iredale Smoke & Mirrors Smoky Eye Kit, then, features eight eye shadow shades designed to help women achieve a multitude of smoky eye looks — from the traditional sooty, grayish style to earthier twists and demure pink and purple takes. As for the “mirror” portion of the kit’s name, it simply refers to the handy mirror below the CD case-sized kit’s top lid.
The Smoke & Mirrors Kit contains three main hues meant to anchor any look: Nude, a shimmery carnation pink; Champagne, a warm nude hue with a matte finish; and Smoky Gray, a medium-intensity gray shade with a stormy feel and a matte finish. Below these basic shades, you’ll find five more dramatic hues: Cappuccino, a matte light brown that borders on a roasted almond color; Dark Suede, a deep and chocolatey brown with a matte finish; Aubergine, a wine-soaked aubergine shade with just a hint of shimmer; Sizzle, a sooty black with unexpected gold flecks; and Charcoal, a coal black hue with a matte finish.
Because most of these shades have a matte finish, they can easily transition from daytime to evening, and they feel appropriate for women of all ages. But by adding three shimmery options, Jane Iredale also allows women to add a hint of flash to their makeup looks. Best of all, the kit comes with a handy booklet featuring detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to create a handful of looks using the shadows in the palette.
Check out swatches of all eight shades below:
