Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving.
The sun, the rain, the snow, the cold… no matter how much you may love any of these elements, there’s an inevitable, almost instinctual need to shield against them. Give protection with the utmost style and panache.
1. Sky Umbrella by Tibor Kalman, available at the momastore.org – $48
It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, but if you’re from elsewhere, protect them from the rain with a cheerful haven of cloudy blue skies.
2. Faux Fur Leopard Jacket by alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet, available at www.aliceandolivia.com – $385
It’s okay to fake it. Faux fur is having a big season, and this A+O one just happens to one of the cutest. Warm, fuzzy and fierce… protect from the chilly weather and any fashion faux-pas.
3. Montecarlo Dog Coat, available at puppy-clothes.com – $28
Fido needs protection from the elements AND a holiday present too. This is a darling little jacket… I’m just hoping that’s faux-fur otherwise there are some serious off-kilter moral compasses at the puppy store.
*If you go beyond the puppy coat and get someone a pet this season, please FIRST be sure they 100% want it and are ready for it. Let’s keep the number of animals being given to shelters this February lower that ever before.
4. Love/Hate Convertible Chain Sunglasses, available at amorir.bigcartel.com – $250
There are no words to describe my obsession with these sunglasses. Googoogaga. If nobody gets these for me this holiday, I might have to listen to the website which commands: “just buy them and get it over with.”
5. Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 8-Ply, available at shopknitch.com – $42.50
A beautiful scarf-, hat- or blanket-to-be. A luxurious gift for a knitter or crocheter, and an inspirational gift for someone you think needs a little more relaxation time. Even though I never quite made use of my yarn ball and knitting starter kit from the Spring ’09 Ports gift bag… it still made an adorable gift.
6. Pom-pom slouch hat, available at ae.com – $29.50
Pom-pom overload in the chicest way possible. If you think they can keep a white hat relatively clean, they make the perfect accessory to a snowy day.
7. High-lasting SPF 50+ Sun Block by Laneige, available at yesstyle.com – $30
Remind them how important their skin is by investing in a top-of-the-line sunscreen with an over-the-top SPF factor.
8. Rouge Volupte Provocative Pink No. 10 by Yves Saint Laurent, available at saks.com – $34
As you may have noticed… I consider bright YSL lipstick a good friend of mine. What’s more, it has SPF to protect them too. Give six months of a beautiful, vibrant, haute couture smile.
You can’t protect from all everything– if the sun has gotten to their skin or they are one of those people whose joints get sore on a rainy day, give a gift to ease or protect against any further damage or discomfort. The spa is an invaluable source of health and wellness. Treat someone to a $100 SPA WEEK® Gift Card, on sale for just $80 this holiday season. They’re redeemable nationwide for massages, facials, acupuncture, haircuts, pedicures, med spa treatments and more. It’s also great protection against getting someone upset over an unwanted ball of yarn.
