December 2006 Archives

I guess the New York Times Magazine this weekend made me think. Let's all buy something extra for someone we don't know, and may never meet. Here are three incredibly worthy charities to start you on your philanthropic way.

Heifer.org- This amazing organization wants to eradicate world hunger. What's your part? Well, instead of just sending a check, you can choose to send a chick, a duck, a cow, rabbits, and any number of other sustainable agricultural and animal resources to people who really need them. It's a real life version of the give a man a fishing pole parable. And you can follow your gift's progress! And even cooler then that, the people you gift with a goat, are expected to pass the gift on, by way of offspring, when they become able to.

Leukemia Research Foundation- The Leukemia Research Foundation has been funding research for a cure for Leukemia and other blood cancers for 60 years. 30% of cancer in children is Leukemia, and I almost guarantee you know someone who has or has had it.

Dress for Success- Got some nice old work clothes in good condition? I know I do. This amazing organization helps disadvantaged women prepare for the job market by giving them training, nice clothes, and confidence!

Oh this book begs to be bought for the chic catlover in your life! I love it so much, it has driven me to alliterate. The Catwalk Cats was written by the amazing Grace Coddington, the Creative Director or American Vogue and her partner the stylist and photographer Didier Malige. The book chronicles, through drawing and sketches, their relationship via their cats, full of color, catfights and travel. One of their cats sits in for Grace as she sits front row at the shows in Paris. Another suffers through an ad campaign. T.S Eliot would be proud!

I got up on the wrong side of bed today. Maybe if someone gifted me with some Origins Peace of Mind Gumballs, I wouldn't be such a brat. I'd like some Float Away Sleep-Inspiring Milk Bath while you're at it. If you are lucky, the lavender, chamomile and lemon scent will put me to sleep in the tub, and I will drown. No more cranky for you! Merry Christmas AND Happy New Year!

You've known her now for a few years. She used to be cute and sweet, and she thought you were cool. Now she's fourteen, and obsessed with US Weekly. You are too, but still, that's no excuse, you've earned that right. Do her a favor, give her a little culture with her celebrities. Get her a subscription to Vogue. Maybe she'll even think you are cool again. But probably not. At least her taste in shoes will improve. And hopefully she'll stop wearing those low jeans with her thong sticking out.

Sometimes I wake up, and I don't really feel like getting dressed. I still want to look good, but my jeans need to go to the cleaners (yes, I dry clean some of my jeans. It keeps the color.) And I need to do laundry. What's a girl to do?

Well, if someone gave me one of these tunics from Steven Alan, I would know EXACTLY what to do. I would throw it on, with a pair of leggings and some good boots. (These are the most elegant shirts to wear with leggings, and an interesting solution to the layering problem we all face.)

I would also hope for a pair of these cute panties. They are sexy without being cheap. And they are all cotton.

By now you might know that I am a fragrance junkie. And even though scent is a pretty personal thing, I think it makes a great gift. You just have to really know the person. For example, my friend KT likes light warm florals like Marc Jacobs. I would try to stick to that range. The genius website Basenotes can be very helpful; it's like menupages for fragrance. You type in a perfume and it tells you everything about it, gives you customer reviews, and recommends other scents.

Hedge your bet by buying the scent with the best bottle. A good bottle never fails to please. Even if your giftee hates the scent, the bottle will look nice on her shelf. I prefer bottles with something in them as opposed to empty artsy bottles. You know what I mean...

1) Prada- The chicest of chic bottles. I personally love the spicy amber based fragrance, but it's not for every one. It is very feminine, but not floral at all; let's call it the difference between womanly and girly. Love the scent or hate it, the bottle is a keeper.

2)Shalimar by Guerlain - If you're feeling splurgy, you can't go wrong with Shalimar, a true fragrance classic. Laced with bergamot, vanilla, iris and others, this is the ultimate maximalist scent. And the bottle is as decadent as a character in Waugh!

3) Penhaligon's Bluebell- This lovely floral scent is positively dainty, if you can imagine such a thing. It is sweet and fresh and blue. And who can beat that bottle! Or any bottle from Penhaligon's, that bastion of English fragrance?

If you have a friend with a sense of humor and great taste, get him/her/it these things:

1) Nasty by Simon Doonan- I worship Simon Doonan. He is chic, talented, hilarious, and loves dogs. These are all the most commendable traits in my book. Professionally, he is the creative director of Barneys, and is responsible for those amazing windows. But more importantly he coined my favorite term for fashionistas: Non-Contributing Members of Society. I walked around with NCMOS on my cell phone for a year! No one had any idea what I meant, but I didn't care! This book is his memoir of his English childhood. Like David Sedaris but better. And I love David Sedaris!

2) Anything from Jonathan Adler.- What do glorious and whimsical housewares have to do with Simon Doonan? Well, besides sharing great taste, these two men also share a home. They are husbands. Celebrate love with kissing fish salt and pepper shakers! (And please read and learn the manifesto for happy living. I have it hanging on my wall.)

I used to think that stationary was the least sexy gift ever. And maybe I was right. But then I met these cards.

I was on a trip to London this past fall, and trying to stick to a very strict budget. As I passed in front of Liberty I thought, "Oh well, I have strength, I might as well pop in and look around. No buying though. I have a very strict budget to adhere to!"

I wandered successfully enough, ignoring the clarion call of hand creams and shoes. But there, tucked in a corner on the first floor was a stationary and chocolate shop. It was full of delightful wonders. And above all, these cards by Hello Lucky called out to me.

"Buy me!" They sang. "We are so lovely and vintage. We look wonderfully Victorian. You can only get us here! And we say 'thank you!'" Once in my hands, I found the cards would not leave. I paid my overpriced pounds, and hugged the small purple Liberty bag. I couldn't wait to have a reason to use my new thank you notes. I vowed to buy appropriately elegant stamps. (Sorry American flags.) I was in note lust!

Then I read the back of the package. Turns out they are made in San Francisco. But that doesn't take away from the fact that they are also really gorgeous. Nothing is in better taste then writing notes and sending them through the actual mail. Buy these for your friend with the worst manners. Soon she'll be sending notes all over town.

If you don't seen anything you like at Hello Lucky, go to Luxe Paperie. They have beautiful cards too. I LOVE these:

He answers your phone. She is your gatekeeper, letting no one pass. He makes your copies, and gets you coffee. She tells your boss you are at a breakfast meeting, when you are really home with a hangover.

Ok, honestly? I have never had a great assistant. I was once a mediocre assistant. I got some really great gifts ($200 dollars to Crate and Barrel) and some terrible ones (The Sopranos Soundtrack. That opening song makes me cringe.) But I know good assistants are out there- I have seen them in action. And they have it rough. So treat them to something a little luxurious. Practicality is for moms.

1) Marie Belle Chocolates- I know there is a trend for fancy exotic chocolates. And I will admit to trying out a few (stay away from the Vosges!) Marie Belle Chocolates are the best. Beautiful, delicious, and chic in their little french boxes. I would be thrilled to find these on my desk.

2) A session at Angel Feet- This tiny massage parlour in the West Village focuses entirely on the feet, and my guy friends love it as much as my girl friends. Make sure to get your put upon assistant the 60 minute session! Remember how mean you were yesterday!

3) Marc by Marc Jacobs Clutch- You will inspire complete devotion and loyalty forever if you get your assistant this lovely and handy clutch. Do it for you!

You know your boss in certain intimate ways, and yet not at all in others. The employee-employer relationship is full of political pitfalls. Get your boss the wrong thing, and well, you are seen differently forever. The gift should be generic enough to be inoffensive, while being specific enough to please.

1) Stainless Steel Compact- I just thought this was the chicest compact ever. Modern, simple, and classic. I love the idea of a compact! No one thinks of them anymore, but they are as useful as ever. If I worked in the lipstick industry, I would give one of these to everyone. Who wouldn't be proud to take this out to fix her lips? Sales of lipstick would go through the roof.

2) Burton Holmes Travelogues- The subtitle of this books says it all. He was the greatest traveler of his time. And his pictures of life around the world, at the turn of the last century are stunning. Maybe it'll inspire your boss to get out of the office a little bit more! By the publisher Taschen, who makes the most amazing and fun books.

3) Vintage broken-in fleece hooded sweatshirt from J.Crew- It's a little expensive for a sweatshirt, but that's why it's a great gift. So nice and relaxing. It'll remind you that your boss is human too. And he/she can always return it. I would get the men's (pictured) for a woman too.

My mother is impossible to shop for. She buys herself everything she wants the second she wants it. And she is picky, so when you buy her a fun frivolous gift, she looks at said frivolity and says something like "why would I want this?" My sister and I figured out a solution to this last year for her birthday. We entered her in a cheese of the month club. It was half a joke, and half a serious gift. She was surprised, and she liked it.
Here are some ideas for the person in your life who is impossible to please.

1) Vans Custom Shoes - For the cool hunter. On the Vans website, in the time it takes for the perfect coffee break, you can customize both the Classic lace-up sneakers and the old school Spicolli style slip ons. There are tons of patterns, colors and fabrics to choose from. You even get to decide what color the band around the sole is. Call them couture sneakers, and wrap them with a big bow. All you have to do is dig up your giftee's shoe size.

2) Lobel's Steak- Who doesn't love a beautiful steak? Nothing wraps nicer, except maybe diamonds. Unless your target is a raving vegetarian, the Madison Gift Box from the venerable Lobel's Butcher shop is the way to go. You get two tenderloins, a dry aged strip steak and a dry aged porterhouse. That's a nice amount of steak! Even billionaires like to bar-b-q.

3) Anything from the MOMA store- Sometimes the secret to getting something for the impossible to please, is getting them a gift that is both indispensible and beautiful. Elegant scissors, the perfect bowl, why not? I personally love this bottle opener.

4) This T-shirt (for a guy)

5) Anything Chanel (for a girl)- Nail Polish or a Glossimer Lip Gloss is bound to please.

So every weekday until Christmas, I am going to post ideas for great gifts. Some will be discoveries, and others will be great finds at established purveyors. Nothing will break the bank. They will be archived in the Gift Guide Section. So without further ado, here is Day One.

Erica Weiner Jewelry is gorgeous. That's all there is too it. Get a trinket here for your most difficult to please friend.

All her pieces are handmade, using vintage and scavanged materials, such as brass book-shaped lockets, charms of guns, daggers, and grasshoppers just to name a few. My personal favorites are the nautical charm bracelet, the ginko fan necklace and the letter press necklace, which has a real vintage letter hanging from it. Each piece has a sense of whimsy as well as a unique elegance. Your lucky recipient will feel like the queen of the alcoholic pirate NRA ball. You have to go to her site to figure out what I mean.