TRULY GIFTED: 15 GIFTS FOR THE GAL OR GUY ON THE GO

We all have those friends that never stay on the ground for too long. For those with serious wanderlust that can't seem to stay put, lavish them with travel appropriate accessories.  Satisfy their travel bug with the necessities that make their journey one to remember.  Adventure seekers and design divas alike will forge ahead in style this season.

 Photo courtesy of Mrs. Strong

 Getting a little tongue in cheek, the Don't Fuggedaboutit tablet notepad from Mrs. Strong will help the recipient  remember to tackle everything on their to do list before they step on the plane or train.

http://www.katieridder.com/

Everyone loves a crisp new tote to use while running errands. For the print and pattern fan, Katie Ridder's signature fabric and wallpaper prints now come on a cute tote bag. Order by emailing: info@katieridder.com

 Photo courtesy of T. Anthony

I need a new rolly bag in the worst way. The new carry-on Wheeled Duffle from T. Anthony fits in the overhead bin and is a nice addition to give to someone that has their luggage already. Mom, are you reading this?

Photo courtesy of Land's End

For the pal who is always en route to a picnic or party, the Lands End Wine Tote is just the thing.

Photo courtesy of Sister Parish

These little zippered pouches help keep the contents of a bag neat and tidy. Sister Parish printed fabric Cosmetic Bags come in a set of 3, and can keep your charger cords and passport separate and easy to access.

 Photo courtesy of Anya Hindmarch

A tiny bag that can serve double duty as a clutch and hold your camera, Anya Hindmarch's Courtney Moire Clutch will make interior designer friends happy with it's big ol' custom leather hanging tassel. 

Photo courtesy of Turkish T

Super lightweight and easy to pack, a robe is a travel must. Turkish-T's beautiful soft cotton Spa robes have a fringed hem and sleeve with spirited candy colored stripes. They can multi-task from breakfast to the beach.

Photo courtesy of Shop Bop

Mary Green's Sleeping Mask from Shop Bop will make for rested travelers.  Rested travelers are happy travelers.

Photo courtesy of Julia B.

It might surprise you how many people love to have the comforts of home while away. Long-haul flights and hotel rooms are just better with the addition of a pretty boudoir pillow.  Bring the comfort of your own bed with Julia B. baby pillows, she has a variety of  beautiful customized options.

 

 Photo courtesy of Saks

Ward off a chill with Queen of Cashmere's monogrammed travel throw with matching case. You never know when a bit of cashmere may come in handy.

Photo courtesy of Barneys

For those that never leave home without a signature scent, Frederic Malle's highly addictive Carnal Flower perfume comes in a portable spray (case not included).

Photo courtesy of mypressi

On the go and need a pick-me-up? Take the tiny well-designed My Pressi on Safari and always have your caffeine fix close at hand.

Get a game going anywhere. Play to win with Tory Burch's sleek Printed Portable Backgammon set.  Such a luxe version.

Photo courtesy of Momastore

Crisp sound, an FM Radio and alarm clock make Geneva's  bright red XS Sound System from Moma Store worth packing to travel.

Photo courtesy of Clare Vivier

A classic vide poche for a fraction of the Hermes prix, Clare Vivier's zesty red version is perfect and portable for keeping jewelry and other lotions and potions on the nightstand.

JULIA REED'S STYLISH HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

You may know her wonderfully descriptive writing from her political coverage in Vogue, Southern life and culture for Garden and Gun Magazine, and more recently, home coverage for The Wall Street Journal.  Or, you may know her as the erudite foodie who often writes about her beloved New Orleans.  One of the most stylish women there is, Julia Reed, is also the creative director  and  Fetch editor for online shopping site Taigan, which gathers unique finds from specialized boutiques around the country.  

I had the great pleasure of sitting next to Greenville, Missisippi-raised Reed at a Garden and Gun dinner this fall, held at Bunny Williams' and John Rosselli's vast garden emporium, Treillage.  I went to school in Virginia, so I get the South a little bit. But Reed's South is a mystical, magical place, with heritage and special traditions that seem to have existed for ages. A total dynamo, she has nabbed interviews with so many remarkable people, is incredibly well-traveled, and is the most fun you could ever hope for in a dinner partner.  Every adventure has an unbelievable story to go along with it. With this diverse and interesting background, I knew she was a perfect gift guide candidate! I asked the New Orleans-based author of Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns and Other Southern Specialties to weigh in on her holiday traditions and go to gifts this year. 

Read on for Julia Reed's inspired selection:

When I moved to New Orleans, I decided it should be all about the citrus that is so plentiful this time of year. I have must hundreds of Meyer lemons in my pots outside, along with kumquats and Satsuma oranges, so I use them everywhere. I wire them to wreaths, I drape garland around the front door frame and affix clusters of the fruit in the corners, I swag garland up the banister and put more clusters between the swags. I use them on the dining table in bowls or arrangements (it’s gorgeous to mix stems of kumquats or even lemons and oranges with deep pink and yellow roses, hot pink and red camellias, branches with berries, whatever). On the table, I also mix the fruit with their silver counterparts from Creel and Gow, one of my very favorite stores in the world.

 Photo courtesy of Taigan

This year I added silver birds from William Wayne. The real birds eat the oranges right off the trees every year, 

so I figured they might as well keep company inside!

ENTERTAINING TRADITIONS:

 This year I’m giving a big Christmas bash for my neighbors and I’m going to do an old-fashioned cocktail supper menu that is almost the exact same thing my mother use to serve at her own holiday parties: seafood Newburg in a chafing dish with toast points, spinach Madeleine, country ham with homemade hot mustard and biscuits, tenderloin with horseradish sauce and yeast rolls. I’ll pass things like sausage balls and olives wrapped in cheese pastry—the kind of stuff people secretly can’t get enough of. When my mother hosted her own party, she always wore a plaid hostess skirt with a satin blouse.

Photo courtesy of Taigan/Jules Reid

  I might just have to follow suit—I adore this skirt from Jules Reid on Taigan.

Photo courtesy of Taigan/Herend

On Christmas day, most of my family will be here and we’ll sit down with close friends for another ridiculously rich feast that will include a standing rib roast, scalloped oysters, and Charlotte Russe.

I usually use my raspberry Herend Chinese Bouquet plates because they look so pretty with all the citrus on table.

GO - TO GIFTS:

Always books. There’s a bookseller called Nick Harvill on Taigan that sells out-of-print and rare books and there’s always something spot on for everyone—I got my friend Jon Meacham (whose first bestseller was “Franklin and Winston”) a book by Winston Churchill about his own watercolors. I also love to give and get gorgeous coffee table books.

Photo courtesy of Taigan/Nests

 This book called “Nests: Fifty Nests and the Birds that Built Them” is right up my alley.

Great soap. My friends call me the soap fairy because I keep a stash on hand for last minute gifts. For special friends at Christmas, I try to find a pretty silver or antique porcelain dish to go with it. And everybody gets a bar or two in his or her stocking.

Photo courtesy of Taigan/Aidan Gill

For guys it’s always this fabulous Italian cypress-scented soap from Aidan Gill on Taigan.

Photo courtesy of St. James Cheese Company/Taigan

Stilton. We always have a wheel of Stilton after at least one sit-down holiday dinner. When I give it as a gift, I usually accompany it with a bottle of good Port or Madeira.  This is Colston Basset from the St. James Cheese Company.

Photo courtesy of Taigan/Notti Toffee

Yummy toffee. My mother is a toffee fanatic, so for years I stuck a handful of Heath bars in her stocking. Now I’ve graduated to this divine butterscotch toffee with pecans from Notti Tofee on Taigan. It’s a great stocking stuffer for everyone. Butterscotch Toffee with Nuts by Notti Tofee on Taigan.

Photo courtesy of Taigan/Hollyhock

Italian paper. I’m a paper freak, so I am forever giving notebooks, letter holders, or desk trays covered in pretty Italian paper. My friend Suzanne Rheinstein’s fabulous L.A. store Hollyhock has a great selection. I especially love this table-top-sized paper garden pavilion. It’s just big enough to fill with a treasure—a bird’s nest, a seashell, you name it.

Photo courtesy of Treillage

Pot of Paperwhites. This trellis cachepot from another of my favorite shops, Bunny Williams’ and John Rosselli’s Treillage, is the perfect thing to fill with my favorite Paperwhite Narcissus, but an an Amaryllis Lily or a Rosemary Topiary would be equally festive—and of the season.

Photo courtesy of Creel and Gow

Tiny mineral bowls. Creel and Gow is a magical place full of treasures, including these bowls that come in a couple of different sizes in everything from lapis and malachite to this lovely moss agate.

Photo courtesy of Creel and Gow

Silver citrus. I have long decorated during the holidays with Creel and Gow's silver fruit. When I give someone a piece, as in this tangerine, I usually tuck it into a crate of clementines. There’s also a silver walnut that you could include in a bag of the real thing. 

 Photo courtesy of MacMillan

If you need some great Southern food for your holiday table, Reed's book, Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns and Other Southern Specialties: An Entertaining Life, will help you create some holiday rituals of your own.

HIGHLY GIFTED: SALLY HORCHOW'S TOP 10 GIFT GUIDE PICKS

 When I learned that Sally Horchow, the styish gal about LA,  was filling the role of Lifestyle Director at Horchow, the company her father founded over 40 years ago, I knew I had to reach out to her about her new gig. With a penchant for things like gift wrap closets and stylish entertaining at home, her return to  the company her family founded is news.  She started the lifestyle blog, Very Good Looking based on her mother's favorite expression to describe something she felt was stylish, and has earned a following for her candid, fun and approachable video advice and tips. Here, Horchow shares her thoughts on her new appointment, what she brings to the party, and her top 10 gift suggestions for the holidays.

After working to establish yourself as a lifestyle expert, what prompted you to join Horchow? 

I was approached by two executives who knew me through my blog, verygoodlooking.com, and the “Art of Friendship” book I co-authored with my dad. They were looking for someone who could represent the brand to its customers.

Did you want to explore other things before joining your family at Horchow?

My father hasn’t been very involved in the company since the late ‘80s, when it was acquired by the Neiman Marcus Group. That was part of the appeal to me – to come full circle and engage with the company he founded.

My background as a lifestyle journalist gave me a perspective on the way people live and decorate and entertain today. But my parents also have had a profound effect on my design sensibilities. I grew up surrounded by their extraordinary taste in everything from furniture and to art, and I still try achieve a style that would earn my mother’s ultimate accolade: “That is verygood- looking.”

What do you bring to the table that was missing?

When someone new joins the conversation, that new perspective helps everyone see things in a different way. I hope I bring a fresh point of view to our furniture and accessories mix, and I bring my personal love of entertaining with a casual-chic look and feel.

As a voice of the brand what are you most excited about? What big plans are in store?

2013 is Horchow’s 40^th anniversary, so we’ll be celebrating with some special events and looking back to the days when my father started the company. In fact, I’m interviewing him for a video about how he found some of the amazing items that were featured in the Horchow catalogs in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Also, like anyone approaching “the big 4-0,” we decided to give ourselves a little makeover – with a new collection called Horchow Now. It’s furniture with classic lines in versatile colors, layered with new accessories from boho to edgy to updated traditional. Easy to use, easy to live with, and easy on the budget.

What is your favorite thing about Horchow today?

The variety of styles. So many sites offer one look, but very few people like only one look – they respond to lots of colors and patterns and styles. It’s like fashion: most people mix designers to create their own unique look. They like to do the same thing to create a unique home.

What are your top 10 fail - safe holiday gifts?

 1.  Monogrammed cocktail napkins. Crisp linen adds panache

 2.  Coffee table books, this Vogue tome is a favorite

3.  Wine with personalized tag. These animal prints are fun

4.  Frames with a personal photo included in it, I love these by Ralph Lauren

5.  Travel Organizer accessories to recharge in style

 6.  Pewter Napkin rings

 7.  Champagne flutes – like these Kate Spade Say The Word ones

8.  Beautiful candlesticks – like these 3 Ursula Candlesticks

9.   Swing Design Lacquer trays  and boxes

 10. Pretty Throws from Ann Gish