HOLIDAY '14 | 20 Gifts that WOW

via Pinterest

Originally posted in The CLOSET

It's never easy to find that perfect thing. Since time is of the essence, I thought I'd try to help, and since I know you have places to go and things to do, I'll keep this intro brief. These 20 gifts will wow them, from the highly sentimental to the just plain awesome. Oh, and be sure to check back next week for the most genius stocking stuffer ideas. Happy Shopping! 

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GIVE JOY | Our Top Gift Picks of 2014

Yes, a Crockpot can be cool, but only when done up in rainbow chevron.

Originally posted in The LOOK

It's the most wonderful time of the year. No, really, it is. But sometimes, all of that wonder and joy can get lost in the rush. One look at my December calendar and chances are you'll find me either crumpled in a quivering heap on the floor, seeking advice from my Elf on the Shelf and/or downing another box of Turtles. Between the parties, family get-togethers, work deadlines, school plays and Christmas concerts, I'm left wondering if I'll have time to shower. And don't even get me started on the lists: lists of cards to send, lists of things to do, lists of gifts to buy. And gifts. And more gifts. 

Speaking of gifts, I've put together a great gift guide for Intercity Shopping Centre that should help you as you look around for that perfect present. Check it out and sorry for the poor effort at posting this week. I've been busy (read: crumpled up in a corner, seeking advice from my Elf on the Shelf, eating Turtles)

xx

SEE THE GIFT GUIDE HERE...

HOLIDAY '14 | Stylish Gifts for Her

Carey Mulligan in the Dec '14 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK. 

Originally posted in The CLOSET

She's wonderful. You adore her. And she's a nightmare to shop for. I mean, total nightmare. And since you want to give her something she's going to love, it's a perennial struggle to figure out what to buy for the woman who's already got it all. 

This season, my shopping M.O. is all about giving her exactly what she wants. And while you're never going to get it perfect every time, I've got three tricks that I rely on to please any picky giftee, without having to resort to gift cards: keep it luxe, keep it festive, and always include a gift receipt.

Luxe gifts work because the stylish woman is naturally snobby; she can't help herself. Whether it's an HBC stripe, Prada sunglasses, or a bottle of Tom Ford on her bathroom counter, luxe labels serve as daily inspiration to her fashion-fuelled aesthetic. And luxe doesn't always have to mean expensive - a tiny gift from a respected label means more to the stylish woman than loads of little random gifts. If you want to splurge on a larger purchase but can't make it work for your budget, call on friends and family and go in as a group for a bigger buy.

Another fail-proof way to shop for the style maven is to keep it festive. The holidays are all about a little impracticality which means yes to shine, yes to sparkles and definitely yes to that perfect Christmas red. Whether she wears it all year or not, she'll love being able to bust out that gold lame snood every year when the snow starts to fall. What's a snood? Exactly.

And, of course, be sure to ALWAYS include a gift receipt. This small gesture means you've taken the time to go out and pick something for her (which is always appreciated), while still giving her an exit strategy in case the gift doesn't fit/she already owns it/she had her eye on something else.

Still not sure what to get her? Scroll through the thumbnails below for 50 stylish gift ideas...

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HOLIDAY '14 | The Splurge vs. Save Edit

Photo courtesy Target

Originally posted in The LOOK

Ever get that feeling that you're in a time warp? One minute we're back to school shopping and the next - Thanksgiving, Hallowe'en, first snowfall, Christmas. Um, sorry, what just happened? Suddenly, there we are, white knuckled on the steering wheel, stealing parking spots from grandmas, sprinting through Target trying to score that last Zoomer Dino, pick up more tape (why does tape always go missing, btw?), and find more time. Can you buy time? If you find some, can you tell me where it's on sale?  

It's chaos. And since it's hard to think straight when our heads are spinning, ideas can be tough to come by. So, this year, I've decided to get a jump on shopping so I can enjoy every December minute. I've put together a list of the holiday season's most-wanted gifts to help inspire you while you're out shopping, too. And since, like time, our budgets are always stretched to the max this time of year, I've found splurges and saves for each perfect gift.

Time to put your slippered feet up, grab a glass of wine and remember your yoga breaths. It's not even December yet. You've totally got this...

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