80 stylish gifts for the 2017 holiday season…(some with notes/explanations/justifications). All listed here (and many more) can be found on this Pinterest board.
Fragrance
The Indulgence
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud eau de parfum, 70ml, $300 at Neiman Marcus Tampa Bay ~as an oud lover, this is one of my favorite variations
The Seasonal
- Aēsop Hwyl eau de parfum, 50ml, $125 at Aēsop Oxford Exchange  ~clean, dry, wood
The Everyday
- GALLIVANT Berlin eau de parfum, 30ml, $95 at Uncommon Finds  ~concrete and steel, fresh and zingy and a little musky
GALLIVANT Berlin eau de parfum at Uncommon Finds
The Trend
- Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous eau de parfum, 50ml, $310 at Neiman Marcus Tampa Bay ~sweet, sagey, I get a touch of cannabis too
For Women
Handbags
- Tibi Bébé crossbody bag by Myriam Schaeffer in green, $595 at Tibi.com
- Gucci Olive Ostrich large “1973” top-handle doctor’s bag, second-hand, $1,388 at Couture USA (in Westchase)
Clothing
- Zero + Maria Cornejo colorblock dress (black and white), $850 at Nordstrom.com
- Protagonist classic camisole in dove grey (made in NYC), $325 at The Line
- Yves Saint Laurent vintage camel wool blazer (sz. 38), €330 at RE-SEE
- Reformation Stefan velvet pants in gold, $178 at Reformation
- Argent reversible sleeveless top in blue, $138 at Argent Work ~I discovered Argent from my friend Catherine in DC, and I adore its modern, unfussy cuts…focus on versatility…and for the price, made in New York…very hard to beat!
Argent Reversible Sleeveless Top in Electric Blue Navy. Reversible Trousers, meet the Reversible Sleeveless Top—a sleeveless, crew neck with side seam stepped-hem detailing. It’s longer in the front than in the back. A top with a patch pocket and bright topstitching all around. Made from medium-heavy weight bonded fabric – same as the dress, trousers, and blazer. So, whether you’re in the mood to match or you just want a killer top, you’ll wear this tank out. Literally.
Footwear
- Manolo Blahnik BB (Bridget Bardot) pumps in patterned grey velvet, $695 at Barneys.com ~Manolo Blahnik is quietly revered for his commitment to comfortable, sexy, whimsical footwear designs and this classic pump shape, remade into swirly, leafy velvet (in 3 shade options) is T-D-F
Manolo Blahnik’s BB pumps are handcrafted in Italy of grey velvet jacquard. This signature style is named after French movie star Brigitte Bardot and features a pointed toe and thin heel.
Jewelry
- Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Bean earrings in 18k gold and jade, $675 at Tiffany Tampa Bay
- Céline Alphabet chain and pendants, sold separately, $900 for jersey chain + three brass letters at Céline (stores: Boca Raton @ Saks, Miami, Palm Beach @ Saks)  ~Céline makes effortless, elegant jewelry easy to add as a final touch to any outfit
- Vintage Choker of fresh water seed pearls with sterling clasp, $275 at Plain Goods
PLAIN GOODS VINTAGE PEARL CHOKER
Beauty
- JINsoon x goop Classics 1 nail polish set in nude, beige, and dark red, $48 at goop.com
For Men
Jewelry
- Pearls Before Swine silver double link bracelet in sterling silver, $115 at SSENSE.com
Accessories
- District Vision Yukari running sunglasses, made in Japan, $200 at Barneys.com
- Paul Smith Tough black leather wallet with paisley studs, $275 at PaulSmith.com
- Jack Spade double-handle tote, made in NYC, in black/blue, $698 at Barneys.com ~touched this IRL in NY, really lovely quality and handle
Jack Spade Double-Handle Tote Bag in Black/Blue, made in NYC
Clothing
- Billy Reid speckled henley sweater, $195 at Nordstrom Tampa Bay
- Vivienne Westwood Anglomania corset t-shirt, $225 at Zappos Luxury
- Allsaints Cody shirt in black with polka dots, $165 at Allsaints (or stores: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando)
- Barena Venezia roll-neck wool and cashmere sweater, $230 at Matchesfashion.com
- The White Briefs Wil mid briefs, $38 at The White Briefs  ~these simple boxer briefs are made of 100% organic cotton, super soft, and made in Lithuania (IMO better than ultra-low-wage countries like Bangladesh or Indonesia)
For Home
Living Room
- “The End” blanket from Pendleton for The Theatre Ace Hotel DTLA, $180 on sale at AceHotel.com
- Barneys New York Patchwork cashmere throw in red, purple, blue, and cream, $1,095 at Barneys.com
- The Hype Noses Mon Bel Oranger candle, $34 at Uncommon Finds
- ARPEL Lighting Fine 400 Noir LED lamp, $359 at Wallpaper Store  ~Read my Q&A with ARPEL cofounder FX Balléry
- Taschen Entryways of Milan (Ingressi di Milano) by Karl Kolbitz, $70 at Barneys.com
- Rizzoli Schiaparelli & The Artists, $85 at Barneys.com (Dalà & Schiaparelli blog post)
Schiaparelli’s Tear Dress at Dalà & Schiaparelli exhibit in St. Petersburg, now open
Bedroom
- November Morning Artist Duvet Covers and Pillows by Nora Lüdin, $150 at ZigZagZurich
- Spa Green Linen bath and hand towels set of two each in washed waffle, $150 at LinenMe
Decor
- Hattern Mellow Vase in a rainbow of colors, $179 at Wallpaper Store ~see photo in post header
- Florist Fire floral arrangement monthly subscription in small, medium, or large, from $75/month at Florist Fire Hyde Park
- Hermès Tartan change tray, $630 at Hermès.com (or stores: Atlanta, Miami, Palm Beach)  ~A pop of color is great, and a change tray (contrary to what you might think) comes in handy for all the minutiae that ends up on a desktop
- Dalek Untitled archival ink print on fine art paper, signed edition 1 of 25, $100 at CASS LTD
- Jamie Young Apollo Bust sculpture, $550 at Clayton Gray Home
JAMIE YOUNG Apollo Bust. Offering a sophisticated room accessory, Jamie Young introduces the handmade, classic Apollo Bust. With its roots in Greek Mythology, this grey Grecian statue of the god of music appeals to one’s artistic sensibilities! *Finish will vary.
Functional
- Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, $299 at Neiman Marcus Tampa Bay
- Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Thumbprint bottle stopper in sterling silver, $125 at Tiffany Tampa Bay ~everyday luxury with some polish, and I personally never finish a bottle by myself, so a stopper comes in handy
- Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless vacuum, $599 at MoMA Design Store
Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum. An update on Dyson’s V6, the cord-free V8 has 150% more brush bar power, two cleaner heads, four tools, HEPA filtration that captures allergens and up to 40 minutes of powerful suction per battery charge. It removes large debris and fine dust together and is perfect for hard floors.
Cooking
- Bella’s by Joanie Corneil cookbook, $41 at Bella’s Italian Cafe ~a staple restaurant in South Tampa, Bella’s is known for hearty comfort dishes like confetti spaghetti and salciccia al forno
- Breville Variable-Temperature electric kettle, $130 at Sur La Table Hyde Park
- Onyx Divided Airtight stainless steel food storage container, $30 at goop.com
Onyx 14 CM AIRTIGHT CONTAINER. This airtight, stainless steel container does food storage in the chicest way possible. Perfect for lunches and leftovers alike, it’s a great alternative to plastic that you can keep and reuse forever.
Writing
- Montblanc M Ultra Black rollerball pen, $400 at Montblanc Tampa Bay
- Kaweco Sport fountain pen in brass, $100.50 at The Paper Seahorse
Kaweco Brass Sport Fountain Pen. The Kaweco Brass Sport is a pocket-sized fountain pen that when posted transforms into a full-sized pen that easily fits in your hand. The raw brass will pick up its own unique patina and pattern of scuffs and scratches over time as you use and transport the pen, making this version of the Brass Sport truly unique to you. This fountain pen comes with a stainless steel medium nib. Only accepts short standard international cartridges (comes with one to get you started writing right away).
Reading
- A New York Times Digital Subscription, starting at $8/month at New York Times ~Truly, I relish the breaking news coverage, opinion columns, and excellent lifestyle-culture-fashion coverage. Well worth the price.
- Monocle Magazine annual subscription, from £100/year at Monocle
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (Goodreads)
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain (Goodreads)
- The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time by Alex Korb (Goodreads)
- American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Heese (Goodreads)
- Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline (blog post)
- Fanzine #002: Loved Clothes Last, £15 at Fashion Revolution
- Americana: A 400-Year History of American Capitalism by Bhu Srinivasan, signed, $40 at Oxford Exchange
- Scale and the Incas, a groundbreaking work on how the topic of scale provides an entirely new understanding of Inca material culture by Andrew Hamilton, $65 at Amazon
Consumables
- Harney & Sons Japanese Sencha green tea, $11 at The Paper Seahorse
- Orange and Chocolate Panettone cake from Muzzi Tommaso, $22.80 at Eataly.com ~panettone is a holiday classic treat…milder than traditional cakes, more like a sweet bread. Excellent as breakfast 🙂
- Toffee to Go Dark Chocolate Pecan Toffee, 8oz for $20 at Oxford Exchange
- Florida Set of Dark Chocolate Bars (Orange, Salted Lime, Datil Pepper), $20 at Pinellas Chocolate
Pinellas Chocolates’ Florida Bar Set
Travel
- River Cruise: 7-night Prague to Budapest, July 2018, from $3,420/person at Outings & Adventures
- Montblanc Nightflight clear liquids case, $70 at Montblanc Tampa Bay
- Oxford Exchange leather travel journal, $59 at Oxford Exchange
- Blunt Umbrellas Metro umbrella in forest, $60 at East Dane
- Herban Essentials Lemon Oil towelettes, $16 for 20 at Herban Essentials ~instead of using hand sanitizer (which is full of chemicals and can damage jewelry and leather on handbags or on steering wheels, use a natural antiseptic—lemon! Smells divine too
- Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano Globe Spinner 55cm leather-trimmed hard carry-on, $330 at MRPORTER
FABBRICA PELLETTERIE MILANO
Globe Spinner 55cm Leather-Trimmed Polycarbonate Carry-On Suitcase
Stylish Mobility
- 1995 BMW 325iS with 25,000 miles, burgundy over tan, 5-speed; $13,990 at Avazi Auto Group in Gaithersburg, MD
- 1992 Mercedes 300E with 32,000 miles, gold over saddle; $7,000 at A-Lux Auto in Norwalk, CA
- 2018 Volvo V90 Cross Country station wagon; from about $55,000 at Volvo of Tampa (blog post)
2018 Volvo V90 Cross Country
Activities/Memberships
- Tampa Museum of Art annual membership, starting at $50 (up to $10,000 for Director’s Circle) at Tampa Museum of Art
- WUSF Public Media (local NPR affiliate) annual membership, starting at $35 (up to $1,200 for Cornerstone Member) at WUSF.org
- Tampa Theatre annual membership, starting at $50 (up to $2,500 for Chairman’s Circle) at The Tampa Theatre
- Urban Kai Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) board rental package, 20 pack of 1-hour rentals, $400 at Urban Kai
- Equality Florida Sponsorship, from $500 to $50,000/year at Equality Florida
Extra Special Stylish Gifts
For Her
- THE ROW Adela mule with glass heel, $1,190 at Neiman Marcus Tampa Bay
- Bottega Veneta ring in silver and tourmaline stones with yellow gold accents, $820 at BottegaVeneta.com (or stores: Miami, Palm Beach)
- Hermès Lindy 30 bag in bordeaux evercolor calfskin, $7,850 at Hermès.com (or stores: Atlanta, Miami, Palm Beach)
- Tiffany HardWear Link Bracelet in 18k white gold with round brilliant diamonds (1.7 carats), $12,000 at Tiffany Tampa Bay
Tiffany HardWear Link Bracelet in white gold with diamonds
For Him
- Montblanc 1858 Automatic watch in stainless steel and bronze, $3,475 at Montblanc Tampa Bay
- Lemaire Kaftan coat in charcoal wool, $1,593 at Need Supply Co., Richmond, VA  ~Christophe Lemaire is the former creative director of Hermès, now with an eponymous label of clean, sophisticated looks
For Home
- Something from one of my favorite artists, Chris Dahlquist of Kansas City, perhaps from the Mile Markers series
- Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in various wood + upholstery combinations (now in mohair!), $4,960 to $6,470 at Design Within Reach (or stores: Atlanta, Miami, West Palm Beach)
Eames® Lounge Chair and Ottoman at Design Within Reach
