Thursday, December 19, 2013
The Luxury Gift Guide
Finals are done. Time to think about the presents. And at Fetch hunter, I would be doing a disservice to name check any old Chanel No. 5 for mom, Lacoste polo for the men on your list, and you get the idea. We all know gift giving is about seeing the joy on the recipients face but let's admit now that it is also an opportunity to say "I have the best taste" so for those of you looking for your sartorial cues, I've got you covered with selections of the best in niche luxury that'll impress everyone on your gift list.
1. The Diptyque Holiday Collection: does anyone NOT have a Diptyque candle? That's what I thought, so these limited edition festive candles are just the thing to add some edge to your home fragrance collection. They come in spicy scents like Orange Chai and Indian Incense, and they're packaged in colorful head turning glass jars. Definite buy for the colorful personality or to infuse a kick of color into the home.
2. Toasted Living Casa: an uberchic ultrasonic diffuser for the aromatherapy aficionados out there. If the last sentence didn't make a lick of sense to you, well then open your mind cause this might be the coolest new discovery you make on your gift giving journey this year! This gorgeous ultrasonic diffuser helps to diffuse essential oils through the air in a cool mist. The ultrasonic method means it doesn't heat or change the unrefined oils which keeps it pure. It looks good in any room and makes a great conversation starter. It's great for the Patrick Bateman in your life or for the health freak who is anything but a hippy.
3. Frederic Malle Joyeux Noel: Yes it's another candle (spoilers: one more to follow), no it's not that I'm obsessed with candles. Holidays are when these limited editions come out and for anyone who loves fragrance, these are almost collectors items so now is the time to stock up. Frederic Malle is a brand that represents the best of the fragrance world, the Bentleys and Rolls Royces if you will. His fragrances are mainly unisex and they're so pure and complex, making even the most expensive mainstream fragrances seem juvenille and unsophisticated (seriously this got me completely off Tom Ford). The scent of this candle is decidedly holiday inspired: pine, cinnamon, and cotton candy outfitted in the most gorgeous package. This candle is made of a high quality wax blend that holds onto a lot of the oils so it is only recommended for burning at 10 minute intervals.
4. Byredo LANES: Last candle line on the list. Byredo is the epitome of cool and this collection of limited edition candles are no exception. Outfitted in a beautiful black and white case that fits into mod, art deco, and minimalist home decors, these candles are extremely versatile. The standout from this 3 piece collection for me is the Cotton Poplin, a blend of Blue Chamomile, Fresh Linen, and Sweet Musk but they're all quite good and different from the personal body fragrances.
5. Aesop Athlete Grooming Kit: Ok I admit, just because I work up a sweat at Equinox 5 times a week doesn't mean I'm a legit athlete, no matter how many Tracy Anderson classes I "kill" at. But this Aesop kit of the essential locker room products is absolutely a must have for those on your list who live at the gym. It features the body cleanser, shampoo, and hydrator to take care of all your post work out needs. This actually motivates me to go work out and as odd as it is, I get excited thinking about the post sweat shower because the body cleanser and shampoo are just so fresh. Oh and the dopp kit fits neatly into the gym bag too.
6. Smythson Luggage Tag: We all have someone on our list who travels a lot. For the road warrior on your list, give them a touch of luxury with this understated but high quality luggage tag from Smythson. As a seasonal traveler, I can't tell you how important these little touches are when you're away from home and getting treated like cattle at the airport.
7. LSTN Ebony Wood Troubadours: When it comes to high end headphones, the market is packed. For the discerning gentlemen seeking to break out from the seas of Beats and Bose, there is LSTN, a niche line of quality constructed headphones that has a higher purpose. Every pair that is bought provides a donation to the Starkey Hearing Foundation to restoring hearing to a person in need. Sounds like a good deal: you get a pair of gorgeous headphones made out of handcrafted reclaimed wood (that stuff is LUXE), and you help someone out - which sure beats those "I just donated to random charity in your name" cards.
8. Yuli Immaculate Kit: No matter what your skincare philosophy is, you're hard pressed to find something as scientific, pure, or higher quality than Yuli which sources their own ingredients, produces everything after you order it, is free of ALL the bad chemicals that you know of (parabens, fragrance, petrols) AND do not know of (hormone disruptors, carcinogens, etc.), and uses green biotechnology so everything has chirality and is bio-active. This kit has some of my favorites from their line including full sizes of the Pure Mask and Panacea Elixir (and a sample of their face oil which is AMAZING and actually helps CONTROL oil and acne). The bonus? This limited edition kit comes in a handcrafted leather dopp kit that is actually made by the designer Melissa Fleis of LA's Fred Segal, whose clutch bags normally retail for $500 - in other words, run don't walk to order this kit as the white version sold out in a month.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
It Bag: Viktor & Rolf Bombette Bag
I'm currently obsessed with Viktor & Rolf's Bombette Bag ($1,995) which is a huge contender for "It" bag of the year. Everyone from Cate Blanchett to Gwen Stefani has been seen carrying it around. While I'm not usually one for the most on-trend accessories (such as the celebrity obsession with Proenza Schouler's PS1 bag or the Chloe Paddington), Viktor & Rolf is different because they're interested not in selling to mainstream luxury buyers but the few who get their boundary pushing aesthetic. This bag perfectly matches their minimalist architectural design ideas with mainstream luxury.
The supple leather, understated sophistication, functionality, structural clasp - it is a masterpiece in modern luxury! It's described as the perfect balance: roomy but not cumbersome, simple yet eye-catching. It is perfect for storing just about anything and goes well with most outfits.
I can't seem to find this at most of the regular retailers but I'm told there is inventory at select Neiman Marcus so call to find out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)