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1.) Action by Richard Kern
This book is chock-full of Richard Kern's unpretentious photos of real, natural women. Kern toes the line between sexy and sexist, but girls who aren't afraid to get a little down and dirty will appreciate these modern pin-ups.
Perfect for: Aspiring photographers, aspiring models, that one friend you have who is very comfortable in her own skin. $39.99, Taschen.
2.) Sephora Brand Vanity Brush Set
Who doesn't love getting some brand-spanking-new cosmetic tools as a gift? They're one of those things that girls love having but don't usually feel like spending money on. This little case, with its dedicated brush slots and snap-on top, is equally good on a countertop or for traveling.
Perfect for: Any teens in your life -- there're few things high school girls like getting more than makeup shit. $48, Sephora.
3.) Pink Princess Phone
Growing up in the early '90s, if you had a phone in your bedroom, you were lucky, if it was a princess phone, you were super lucky, and if it was a pink princess phone, well, you were pretty much the luckiest girl in the world. Getting this as a gift would be kind of like finally getting that pony you asked for every year as a kid -- childhood dreams, realized.
Perfect for: Your most talkative friend; anyone with Pillow Talk fantasies. $49, Fred Flare.
4.) N2 Jewelry "You Want Or You Want To" Stacked Ring Set
Worn alone or together, this set of three rings is a little bit weird, a little bit freaky, and all around pretty cool, and you definitely won't have to worry that the giftee already has them.
Perfect for: Your quirky teenage sister; your most cutting-edge friend. $50, Karmaloop.
5.) BleachBlack Rhinestone Bracelet
Kristin and Valerie of the awesome blog BleachBlack have put out a couple of cool collaborative pieces with Urban Outfitters -- this chunky layered chain-and-rhinestone bracelet is unusual and on-trend.
Perfect for: Your friend who subscribes to French Vogue and listens to Slayer. $28, Urban Outfitters.
6.) Portugese Flower Seeds
These little packets of flower seeds are imported from Porto, Portugal and emblazoned with beautiful, perky-bright photos, and they come in a pack of thirteen different varieties -- they'd be a cute gift as a set or tied individually to the top of packages.
Perfect for: Anyone in your life with a green thumb and mild wanderlust. $26 for a set of 13, Kiosk.
7.) Fifi Lapin Print
Even people who aren't familiar with Fifi Lapin will find this designer-decked bunny adorable -- this limited-edition print of 100 features Fifi in Chanel's half-tint sunglasses, but there are several different prints to choose from.
Perfect for: Fashion mavens both adult and aspiring -- this would be just as cute in a baby's room as a boudoir. $40, Fifi Lapin.
8.) Orquidea Teapot
This simple, feminine teapot covered in relief ivory flowers is the kind of piece that would mesh with anyone's kitchen decor, and it would look just as cute used as a vase as it would for its original purpose.
Perfect for: Your grandma; homebody friends. $48, Anthropologie.
9.) 4711 Eau de Cologne Splash
4711's clean, unisex citrus scent is the original cologne -- it was created in the early 1700s and its name is where the term "cologne" came from. It's steeped in history (just check out its Wikipedia entry!) and smells really delicious.
Perfect for: Your history-buff older sister; 4711's backstory will totally appeal. $27 for 13.5oz, Small Flower.
10.) Aldo Sequinned "Mangini" Flats
These versatile, party-perfect silver flats practically scream "holiday," so they make a really festive gift, but they're totally wearable year-round.
Perfect for: Your always-in-heels girlfriend; give her feet a break. $50, Aldo.
11.) Portugese Girl Head Candle
At once cool, pretty, and a tiny bit creepy, this unusual candle is imported from Lisbon, Portugal and would be quite the conversation piece whether it gets burned or not.
Perfect for: Friends whose decorating tastes lean toward the macabre. $32, Kiosk.
12.) Mini Espresso Maker
This slick Italian-made mini espresso maker brews up one double shot at a time, and its clean design is surprisingly chic. I love the included enamelware demitasse -- so cute!
Perfect for: The caffeine-addicted; the perpetually hungover; studio-apartment dwellers with limited kitchen space. $39, Restoration Hardware.
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1.) Pac-Man Video Game Kit
Giving someone the new Call of Duty is totes boring, but classic arcade games should excite men of all ages. This little kit hooks directly into the TV and includes twelve classic games such as Galaga and Pac-Man, which is way cooler than Xbox, at least as far as I'm concerned.
Perfect for: Guys who were kids in the '70s and '80s; nostalgic nerds. $40, Fred Flare.
2.) Pentagram A Keg Full Of Dynamite LP
Take it from me: any dude who likes metal will be stoked on this record, recorded live by Pentagram in 1978 and featuring jams like "20 Buck Spin" and "Livin' In A Ram's Head." It's imported from Italy (cool) and getting vinyl for Christmas is about a hundred times cooler than getting an iTunes gift card.
Perfect for: Metalheads and record collectors of all stripes. $30.99, All That Is Heavy.
3.) Cardboard Buck Jr. Trophy
This easy-to-assemble cardboard deer trophy is tongue-in-cheek and good looking.
Perfect for: Vegetarians who appreciate the hunting lodge aesthetic; dorm dwellers and frat brothers. $32, Fred Flare.
4.) Thrill of the Drill Kit
Real talk: men like tools, even if they're not the least bit handy. I guarantee you that whoever receives this mini electric drill kit will stoked -- if they don't have something to drill, goddammit, they'll find something.
Perfect for: Handymen and manly men; anyone who you want to feel like a handyman or a manly man. $32, Restoration Hardware.
5.) R. Crumb "Cop A Feel" T-Shirt
Oh, Fritz the Cat. You're so cute, yet so twisted. This super-soft, slim-cut tee features R. Crumb's randy feline surreptitiously feeling up a lady cat -- you might not want to give it to anyone in front of your grandma or anything.
Perfect for: The loveable perv -- everyone has one in their circle of friends. $32, Altru Apparel.
6.) Tortoise Shave Brush, Chrome Razor and Proraso Shave Cream
There's something so appealingly old-fashioned and gentlemanly about traditional shaving gear -- it smells better, it feels better, and god knows it looks better in a man's bathroom than a gross disposable Bic and a rusty can of Gillette. Give these things individually or as a set; the receiver and the woman in his life will thank you.
Perfect for: Bearded dudes; scotch drinkers with English degrees. Shave brush, $30.95; German chrome razor, $35.50; Italian Proraso shave cream, $11, Small Flower.
7.) Handcrafted Wood iPhone Case
The ubiquitous iPhone is notoriously delicate (I swear, if you know someone who owns one, you know someone who's broken one) and requires protection, but most cell phone cases and sleeves are ass-ugly. This super-handsome wood sleeve is so much better than those heinous belt clips and their ilk.
Perfect for: Techie dudes, or anyone with an iPhone, really -- this case is sure to inspire jealousy among everyone who sees it. $39.50, Gent Supply Co.
8.) The Stooges: The Authorized & Illustrated Story by Robert Matheau
A must-have for any Iggy fan, this tome is packed full of incredible photographs and ephemera spanning four decades of raw power.
Perfect for: Your young cousin who's just discovering punk; that one friend who have who's been wearing the same studded leather jacket for ten years. $35, Urban Outfitters.
9.) Blabac Photo: The Art of Skate Photography by Mike Blabac
Skate photography is incredibly sick whether you've ever set foot on a board or not. This anthology is full of lush, gnarly pics by top skate photographer Mike Blabac, whose simple credo is "It's rad what I do" -- after leafing through this book anyone would agree.
Perfect for: Skate rats and aspiring skate rats; skate photographers and aspiring skate photographers. $32.97, Amazon.
10.) Happy Socks
Listen, I'm going to tell you something right now, and you might not believe me, but it's true: men dig getting socks for Christmas. If you've noticed something saggy, depressing, and threadbare hanging around the ankles of your dude friends, why not offer them cheerful replacements? They might not admit it, but hessians and metrosexuals alike all get a kick out of this shit.
Perfect for: Your most stylish male friend, whether he's tricked out in head-to-toe vintage or head-to-toe John Varvatos. $10 a pair, I Dont Like Mondays.
11.) Finnish Dart Set
Who doesn't like a rousing bar game? Darts is one of the best, and this clean, graphic interpretation imported direct from Toijala, Finland, is a cool alternative to the standard pub style. The set even comes with directions for Finnish play.
Perfect for: Competitive types who are tired of beer pong; your dad (one and the same?). $48, Kiosk.
Coming soon: gifts under $75! And don't forget to check out gifts under $25, too.
2 comments:
Fashion is not frivolous. It is a part of being alive today.
http://twurl.nl/n8swwk
finally, a gift guide for people who aren't rolling in the dough and are buying for real people. I hate buy presents and this will help spur the gift buying juices!
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