Holiday Shopping From A To Z — Let’s Start With The ABCs
You’re probably getting ready to rock around the Christmas tree which, of course, means finding just the right gifts to place underneath those fragrant branches. For this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, we’re giving you the scoop on the best gift options out there, moving from A to Z — literally.
Using the alphabet as our road map, we’re picking an aesthetic, theme, or trend for each single letter and amassing items that work within those parameters. To kick off the fun, we’ve started with A, B, and C. What does each of these letters stand for? Well, in our gift guide, A is for Art Deco, B is for Blooms, and C is for Color Blocking.
Excited yet? Then wait until you see our selections!
A-B-C really is as easy as 1-2-3!
A IS FOR ART DECO
Howard Elliott Collection Wilmette Mirror, $839.99. Available at BronsonDesign.com
You’ll be saying, “Mirror, Mirror” way before Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsmen with this glass mirror, which resembles Superman’s Fortress of Solitude with the three layers of faceted, pointed, stalagmite-like glass slices surrounding the rectangular-shaped mirror at the center. Measuring 37″ by 52″, this sunburst-flavored piece will practically beckon you to stare at your reflection.
Sylvie Collection Something Hue Earrings, $1,365. Available at SylvieCollection.com
Nothing quite says Art Deco like the combination of glossy black and gleaming silver or gold. These earrings capture that aesthetic perfectly with elongated, teardrop-shaped onyx stones, capped with 14k white gold. The drop earrings dangle from earlobes by 14K gold fish hook closures adorned with diamonds along their rounded curves and featuring dainty, diamond-embellished chain strands between the closures and the onyx drops .
Gio Diev Phoenix, $875. Visit GioDiev.com for store information.
As if the contrast of black and mirrored gold Nappa leather weren’t enough to make Art Deco fanatics salivate, public-relations-expert-turned-footwear-designer Gio Metodiev added a sculptural, futuristic quality to his Phoenix shoe via mountain-shaped cut-outs along the sides and, most importantly, a trio of leather straps fanning out at the top of the shoe in an accordion-like manner. The pointed toe and straight heel, meanwhile, balance out the more rounded design elements. You can pick between a glossy black leather number with mirrored gold leather details or a soft gold shoe with black leather details — either way, you’ll be attaining style immortality.
Jill Milan Art Deco Clutch in Silver, $2500. Available at JillMilan.com
This boxy, Italian stainless steel clutch measures 4.25″ in height, 7″ in width, and 1.5″ in depth, and it has a silver, mirrored sheen that makes it look glamorous without being ostentatious. The square closure at the top of the clutch is engraved with the JM logo, adding a nice detail to the otherwise minimalist design.
Lulu Frost for J. Crew Wide Deco Bangle, $98. Available at JCrew.com
True to her vintage-influenced aesthetic, Lulu Frost designer Lisa Salzer created this rounded bangle for her limited-edition, affordable jewelry line for J.Crew. The glossy black resin bangle measures 2 1/2″ in diameter and features a gold-plated, brass buckle-like accent at the center, with a rectangular, faceted, smokey quartz-like center stone housed in the metal detail’s interior. The stone’s gold-plated frame is further embellished by handle-like strips along along the length, at the top and bottom of the stone, and arc-like details along its sides — all encrusted with pavé-set Czech crystals.
Salvatore Ferragamo Varina Mosaic Shoes, $270. Available at Couture.Zappos.com
Dorothy would’ve chucked her ruby red slippers had she seen these bow-accented, mosaic-style, mirrored gold flats from Salvatore Ferragamo, which feature a sensible 3/8″ heel and rounded toe.
Kilian “Night Jewels” Collection, $425 for one bottle filled with any scent from the L’Oeuvre Noire or Arabian Nights collection. Available at RonRobinson.com
Fragrance expert Kilian Hennessy titled his Holiday 2011 collection “Joyaux de Nuit” (“Night Jewels”) after the four jeweled bottle designs he envisioned, all of which are meant to capture the black of night and the sparkle of the lights and stars during the evening hours.
Three of the four bottles were inspired by the L’Oeuvre Noir fragrance family: a heart split in two by a silver strip lined with rectangular smoky crystal stones and round clear crystals captures the heartache associated with “Love and its Prohibitions;” a shifting, distorted version of the square shape of the Place Vendôme in Paris channels the regal quality of “The Temptations” scent; and a futuristic design consisting of two staggered semi-circles facing one another, then adorned with vertical strips of faceted jewels resembling tower formations, captures the naughty, salacious spirit of “The Artificial Paradises” scent. The final bottle deviates aesthetically from the others by incorporating gold accents and Swarovski crystals, all of which are meant to capture the opulent spirit of the Arabian Nights fragrance collection.
All of the handcrafted bottles are refillable, making them timeless treasures worthy of the most extravagant boudoir.
Passman Seven Hills Earrings, $11,285. Available at Passman in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Call 702.791.3376 for more information.
Cubism and Art Deco collide with these Passman earrings, which feature three strands of 18k gold, diamond-shaped charms, each of which has black coral along its bottom half and diamond crystals along its top half.
Chanel “Camellia Festival” Cuff, $1,695. Available at Bergdorf Goodman’s Main Floor. Call 212.872.8775 for more info.
This Chanel black resin cuff features a massive camellia accent with clear diamonds of various sizes and shapes encrusted into each petal.
Carolee Lux Art Deco Crystal Chandelier Earrings, $85. Available at Carolee.com
These affordable earrings manage to look expensive and elegant thanks to the hollow teardrop shape created by tiny round clear stones, with an octagonal, faceted clear stone dangling from the bottom of each droplet form and a triangular outline dangling beneath these octagonal stones. The interlocking triangle and heart shapes at the top of each earring, meanwhile, add a flirtatious quality.
Sylvie Collection Something Hue Ring, $1,730. Available at SylvieCollection.com
This teardrop-shaped ring would make anyone cry tears of joy. Crafted with 14k gold, the Sylvie Collection Ring features onyx along its center, its domed surface fully faceted into perfect diamond faces. The ring’s setting, meanwhile, features claw-like prongs adorned with round diamonds for an ominous but irresistible, rapturous beauty.
Avon Art Deco Pendant Necklace, $19.99. Available at Avon.com
Leave behind those outdated images of the white glove-wearing, suit-clad, door-knocking Avon lady. Today’s Avon-loving woman would wear this trendy Art Deco-inspired necklace, which measures 17″ in length and features a floral shape made of clustered faux onyx stones in faceted diamond, oval, teardrop, and square shapes, with silver-toned metal links attaching the pieces together and an antique-looking diamond accent at the center of the pendant.
B IS FOR BLOSSOMS
L’Occitane Hand Cream Bouquet, $50. Available ay USA.LOccitane.com
A dozen long-stem red roses will only last a week or so, but the L’Occitane Hand Cream Bouquet packs months’ worth of fragrant, moisturizing hand creams. Packaged in a cheeky, lilac, violet, and rose box, this gift set features six 1 oz. hand cream tubes, all featuring different scents and packaging. All of L’Occitane’s hand creams are made with shea butter sourced from Burkina Faso and are beloved for their softening properties. This year’s set includes the classic Shea Butter Hand Cream, along with three limited-edition offerings with scents and packaging inspired by the bogolan fabrics commonly seen in West Africa (the Shea Cocoa Flower Hand Cream, the Shea Hibiscus Flower Hand Cream, and the Shea Desert Rose Hand Cream), the lightly scented Shea Vanilla Hand Cream, and the rose-scented Pivonia Flora Hand Cream.
Rebecca Taylor Shadow Daisy Tie-Front Dress, $134. Available at RebeccaTaylor.com
There’s a Parisian Bohemian ease to this ’70s-inspired, silky, black floral print dress, which features a cinched waist, long sleeves with cinched wrist slots, and an open V-shaped neckline with demure ruffled accents.
Peter Som For Clark’s Botanicals Travel Kit, $59. Available at ClarksBotanicals.com
Talk about the perfect marriage between the beauty and fashion industries. This limited-edition kit comes in a square, wallet-shaped clutch with a magnet-secured top flap featuring a heather gray, mauve pink, white, and black poppy-centric floral print which was peppered throughout Peter Som’s Fall 2011 runway collection.
In terms of beauty essentials, the travel kit includes: two new Ultra Rich Lip Tint shades, Moore Nude (an orange tint inspired by Julianne Moore) and Because I Love You (a vanilla nude); a tube of the clear, moisturizing Ultra Rich Lip Balm; a deluxe sample of the Smoothing Marine Cream, which softens lines, exfoliates skin, and nourishes the complexion with algae extract and glycolic acid; a deluxe sample of the Intense Radiance Mask, which relies on white clay to brighten the complexion; a packet of the antioxidant- and neuropeptide-rich Nourishing Youth Serum; and a packet of the Anti-Puff Eye Cream, which minimizes the appearance of under-eye bags with vitamins A, E, and isoflavin.
Marni Sleeveless Floral Print T-Shirt, $220. Available at Marni.com
This cotton jersey tank features an emerald green hibiscus flower with black shadowing to give it dimension and depth, luring the onlooker and beckoning him to gaze for a bit longer.
Virgins, Saints & Angels Rose of Venus Earrings, $202, and Rose of Venus Rosary, $359. Available at FairEndel.com
At the center of their two concentric, hoop-like, French twist circle shapes, the Virgins, Saints & Angels “Rose of Venus” Earrings include gold-plated Maltese crosses made of petal-rich rosebuds, all accented with aqua-colored Swarovski crystals. The Rose of Venus Rosary Necklace, meanwhile, features a prayer bead-style chain with faceted aqua-colored, clear, and gold-plated beads an faceted stones, as well as a cross-shaped pendant made of rosebuds with aqua-colored centers.
Tibi for Power Support “Leandra on White” Air Jacket, $54.95. Available at PowerSupportUSA.com
This iPhone case was designed by Tibi founder Amy Smilovic and features a watercolor-like illustration of a blushing damsel clad in a sleeveless white blouse and a voluminous skirt covered with red flowers harboring dark blue centers.
Valentino Rose-Front Stretch Bootie, $1145. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com
The sculpted, leather sunflower and rose blossoms adorning the vamp of this ankle-high boot will make any woman look fresh as a daisy, while the elastic fabric used to construct the back of the shoe ensure a snug and secure fit. The 4″ heel, meanwhile, elongate any girl’s silhouette.
Topshop Floral Print Blouse, $79. Available at Topshop.com
Layer this scoopneck floral print blouse atop a black tank and pair it with some wide-leg trousers and a floppy hat for a ’70s-flavored, Carly Simon-esque look.
TOUS Blossomy Earrings, $189. Available at Shop.TOUS.com
These innocent, ultra girlish, oh-so-cute sterling silver drop earrings feature domed, octagonal turquoise stones along the top, followed by rounded posy charms made of pink quartz and rhodocrosite at the centers, and teardrop-shaped green aventurine and ceramic stones finishing the linear design.
D.L. & Co. Modern Alchemy Diffuser Set, $34. Available at HSN.com
This diffuser set consists of three 1 oz. ceramic bottles: a tall, cylinder-like bottle; a short, bulbous, round number with a slim neck; and an inkwell style bottle with a square base and curved edges. Each diffuser comes with a paper flower that covers the neck opening. A rope-like wick is attached to each paper flower accent so that, when you dip the wick into the bottle, it will soak in the fragrance oil and disperse the scent throughout your home. The scent, meanwhile, is a hypnotic incense-like fragrance that will bring a peaceful vibe to your temple.
Boden Tablet Case for iPad, $28. Available at BodenUSA.com
Made of 100% cotton canvas with a PVC coating, the Boden tablet case features a brown backdrop with vintage floral illustrations in yellowish lime green, coral pink, grayish periwinkle blue, and muddy brown. The interior of this case, meanwhile, is lined with a soft micro fiber that will protect your precious iPad.
S by Shakira Eau Florale Gift Set, $21.99. Available at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Kohl’s, Sears, and other mass retailers. Visit Walgreens.com
Simple, sweet, and full of joful zest, the S by Shakira Eau Florale titillates the senses with citrus-y bergamot and cassis top notes, then seduces them with a floral heart consisting of jasmine, heliotrope, and berry notes, completing the ultra feminine experience with vanilla and musk base notes. When developing her second scent, Shakira sought to create something akin to bottled happiness, a fragrance that would elate anyone lucky enough to smell it. In the giving spirit of the holiday season, share this exuberance with this S by Shakira Eau Florale Gift Set, which includes a 1 oz. bottle of the eau de toilette and a 3.4 oz. scented body lotion tube.
Johnny Was Antique Broach Dress, $371. Available at JohnnyWas.com
Braid your hair, slip your feet into some leather sandals, and embrace your inner flower child with this vintage-flavored dress, which features simple spaghetti straps, a rounded neckline, embroidered red rose accents along the layered, flouncy skirt, and V-shaped rows of embroidered blossoms along the bodice.
Horace Floral T-Shirt, $111. Available at FarFetch.com
This lush floral print tee has an Amazonian feel thanks to the abundance of olive, jungle green, and forest-colored leaves and shrubs, while the burnt coral color of the Chinese hibiscus blossoms make the entire design pop.
C IS FOR COLOR BLOCKING
Prezzo 9906 Clutch, $87. Available at Endless.com
Look ready for a prestigious cocktail fête with this boxy minaudiere. The rounded edges of the square clutch soften the whimsical design, which consists of a cage-like pattern created via silver-toned metal strips in a grid-like formation dividing the purple and black satin-like fabric strips and yielding a checker-like pattern.
See by Chloé Color-Block Cotton and Wool-Blend Dress, $430. Available at Net-a-Porter.com
Channel your inner Twiggy with this long-sleeved, Mod-flavored dress, which features a scoop neckline, long sleeves and a cheeky slit along the miniskirt. The peach accents along the cuffs and at the hipbone liven up an otherwise dreary color scheme, without sacrificing the versatility of the dress by over-saturating it with color.
Case-Mate Quartet iPhone 4 Case, $35. Available at Case-Mate.com
Make accessorizing your phone as fun as playing with a Rubik’s cube with the Case-Mate Quartet case, designed by Erik Arien, which features four interchangeable, impact-resistant, modular sections for days and days of mixing and matching.
Giuseppe Zanotti Neon Colorblock Platform Sandals, $695. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com
As sweet as a candy necklace, this sandal features a hefty 1 3/4″ yellow platform; a 6-inch, color blocked, turquoise-and-pink, split-wedge heel; and two high-gloss patent leather straps, a Pepto pink one atop the toe and a lemon yellow one hugging the front of the ankle. Inspired by the boundary-busting approach to the arts, the blending of architecture, painting, interior design, and sculpture that characterized the Bauhaus art movement, this chunky sandal hits all the right notes.
Bodhi iPad Tab Easel, $98 each. Available at Bloomingdale’s stores and at Dillards.com
You’ve got the hottest tech gadget in the market: the iPad. Now, do you want this hot ticket to be housed in a dowdy case? Give your iPad an Extreme Home Makeover with one of these journal-like Bodhi easels, made of rich Italian pebbled leather and featuring a leather tab closure. Each easel is designed to grant access to all the necessary ports and buttons and can function as a carrying case or morph into a wedge-like stand for upright usage.
Kate Spade New York Harlow Color Block Shoulder Bag, $425. Available at Saks.com
Mondrian would bow down to Kate Spade were he to gaze upon the geometric pattern of this leather shoulder bag, which features color blocked green, orange, purple, pink and black rectangular shapes, separated by glossy patent leather strips that create a grid-like pattern. The turn-lock closure and removable shoulder strap complete the nostalgic, Mod-meets-Pop-Art effect.
Jeffrey Campbell Lita Shoe in Yellow and Blue Color Block, $128. Available at Karmaloop.com
These retro ankle boots feature a 5.5″ heel and a 2″ platform and rely on a spearmint green, sunny yellow, and cobalt blue color scheme to give them a Mod vibe.
