It’s crunch time for shoppers, and these gifts are sure to be anything but ho, ho, ho hum for this holiday – or any special occasion:
Sweet slumber for everyone – The last time I was on Maui, my husband Bill and I stayed at The Montage Kapalua Resort, and the bedding was blissful. Now you can purchase it for your favorite person. Montage International hotels just unveiled the Pacific Dream bedding collection, a line of signature sleep essentials that integrates the heart of the company’s luxury hospitality experience into guests’ homes. Enjoy 400-thread count, 100% Egyptian-cotton sheets woven in Italy. Three-piece sets are sized from twin to Cal King and include one fitted sheet, one flat sheet and two pillowcases. From $320. www.ShopMontage.com
Please weigh me down — From restless nights to the return of cold weather, the deep-pressure therapy of Eli & Elm’s new weighted 100% cotton comforter will appeal to anyone. This luxuriously soft blanket gives the feeling of a cozy hug thanks to the perfect distribution of thousands of micro-sized glass beads. This gentle pressure is said to help your body release its “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, putting you in a better mood while helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. I swear by mine and sleep every night in a cocoon of comfort. $140. www.eliandelm.com
Carry it off – beautifully. The luxury brand Mansur Gavriel designs its gorgeous bucket bags in SoHo. The calf leather purse is then made in Italy and embossed with a metal plate to replicate the scales of a crocodile. This material is durable and water-resistant. The interior lining is a smooth PVC coating. The Mini Bucket Bag in Chocolate Croco ($595) is a limited-edition piece, but the Mini Bucket is available in 18 other color and material combinations. Additional crocodile-embossed pieces can be found in the Limited Edition collections. Dyed with vegetables instead of toxic chemicals and left more natural than other leathers, the vegetable-tanned leather takes on a patina with time and use. On the footwear front, Gigi Hadid, Zoey Deutsch and Katie Holmes just love wearing the brand’s lambskin ballerina flats.
Resort-ready sandals – The Westchester-based company Very Lovely Soles features the finest in craftsmanship and comfort, so make sure to pack their footwear for your trip to Hawaii – or the Caribbean – this winter. The products are made with Italian kidskin leather, a hidden, foam-cushioned footbed and rubber sole for endless wear all summer long and priced from $40 to $50, depending on material. I love the San Juan pink sandals in rose gold. They are a definite “gilt” trip. The company also makes charming, very wearable leather ballet flats. Verylovelysoles.com
French Kande land — French Kande jewelry features French medallions from the 1960s that designer Kande Hall discovered in a Paris flea market back in 2009. Handmade to order by artisans in Kande’s Los Angeles studio, each piece is designed to elevate any outfit and any woman’s confidence. After all, Hall said, French Kande isn’t really about jewelry. “It’s about how beautiful a woman feels when she wears it.” Prices range from $100 up to $600. www.Frenckkande.com
Scents and sensibility, via the Caribbean — Ligne St. Barth Homme makes invigorating, sexy scents for men. Start the new year in style with a splash of fragrance from the upscale island company that is a favorite of Michael Kors and Steven Spielberg. A dashing new trio of men’s scents brings the Caribbean home every day. Choose from L’Original (based on salty sea spray); Islander (an update on classic bay rum); and Vetiver (tangy citrus fruits). Each eau de parfum is $165/100 ml. Beautyhabit.com.
On the best-tressed list – TreCeuticals is a skincare brand that has been featured in Forbes and on the “Jennifer Hudson Show.” The company just released a product line designed for everyone to achieve hair-care goals. The More Hair Please! Kit ($159) includes a daily shampoo, conditioner and leave-in serum. The easy three-step system is infused with biotin, amino acids, antioxidants, full spectrum CBD and hyaluronic acid. These key ingredients promote healthy hair, stimulate hair follicles, control oil and increase moisture retention. Meanwhile, the Damage Control facial sunscreen made of tinted minerals is one of my absolute favorites. It’s fabulous. www.TreCeuticals.com
The eyes have it — Blinc’s Lash-Extension Tubing Mascara is an award-winner that is clean, vegan, gluten-free and buildable. It creates length and definition for a lash extensions-effect in a semi-matte finish. Infused with biotin, shea butter and castor seed oil, it also provides deep treatment for your lashes. Blinc’s pioneering technology forms tiny water-resistant “tubes” around your lashes, rather than painting them like conventional mascaras. Once applied, the tiny tubes bind to your lashes and can’t run, smudge, clump or flake, even if you sweat, cry or rub your eyes. Clinically tested to be nonirritating, it’s ideal for long days, active lifestyles and those with sensitive eyes or oily skin. $26. www.Farsedakis.com
Explore your ancestry – Jumpstart your journey with the Family Tree DNA Family Finder test kit. It provides you with a breakdown of your ethnic makeup and is designed to help you find relatives on either side of your ancestral lines within the last five generations. You can compare your DNA matches by parental lines and view and compare the DNA segments that you share with your matches. $49. https://www.familytreedna.com/ or Amazon.com
Drink it in — Cincoro Tequila, an award-winning portfolio of luxury tequilas, has launched a collaboration with visual artist Joshua Vides. Cincoro co-founders Michael Jordan (yes, the basketball superstar) and company CEO Emilia Fazzalari personally selected the Añejo Tequila for this limited edition, as they do for every batch of Cincoro Tequila. Vides, in collaboration with the Cincoro Tequila team, has also conceived a decorative wooden box to house the limited-edition Añejo bottle. The Cincoro Añejo x Josh Vides collaboration will be available online for exclusive pre-release through luxury e-commerce platform, ReserveBar, for delivery in January.
$649.99 (750ml).
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