Christmas Gift Ideas, Staff Picks: What our editors are giving and getting this holiday season

I do not ski, toboggan, snowshoe or skate. However every time I walk by the Moncler store in Paris, I duck in to admire the goods. The French skiwear brand, now owned by Italians, has a way of making down edgy, exciting and chic, though I have yet to follow through on a purchase (there’s only so much room in a suitcase). However, with Christmas and Jack Frost both imminent, a hooded puffer jacket stuffed with 100% down just makes a whole lot of sense. And this purplish fuchsia would make a cool statement amid the inevitable snowbanks on my street.

Moncler quilted down bady jacket jacket ($975, shop.fashionmagazine.com)

Simon Doonan’s The Asylum is a style watcher’s dream read. The long-time creative ambassador of Barneys New York is one of fashion’s most plugged-in insiders, but his upbringing in Reading, England gives him the heart and soul of a voyeur. So his “collage of couture reminiscences…and hysteria” truly is that. The depictions of fashion characters like Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham, Tom Ford and Suzy Menkes are often searing, and always entertaining. Like this catty tidbit from Karl Lagerfeld when Pierre Cardin banned the press from his shows: “That’s like a woman without lovers asking for the Pill.”

The Asylum: A collage of couture reminiscences…and hysteria by Simon Doonan ($17, chapters.indigo.ca)

Colour is great in the wardrobe except when I’m getting dressed in the morning and cannot match a thing. I need some basic black in my life, and these mannish boots are sophisticated, cool and Saint Laurent.

Saint Laurent ranger boots ($920, shop.fashionmagazine.com)

I love this speaker because it’s portable, attractive and can hook up to most of our audio devices, as well as my husband’s guitars: Anything to get him out of the basement.

Box amp speakers ($600, drakegeneralstore.ca)

I haven’t stopped thinking of this image of Lana Del Rey’s lips since I saw this piece of art at the NADA Art Fair in New York City. The artist—who is Del Rey-obsessed—is B.C.’s Shannon Bool and the Daniel Faria Gallery represents her.

($1,700, [email protected])

This year I’ve read a few books that I’d like to gift, including short story collections like Katrina Best’s Bird Eat Bird, Flannery O’Conner’s A Good Man Is Hard To Find and an unforgettable essay in verse about All About Eve called Phoebe 2002 (written by Jeffery Conway, Lynn Crosbie and David Trinidad).

Phoebe 2002, an essay in verse by Lynn Crosbie ($23, amazon.com)

Bird eat Bird by Katrina Best ($20, chapters.indigo.ca)

A Good Man Is Hard To Find by Flannery O’Conner ($18, chapters.indigo.ca)

An uber-chic fragrance line introduced to me by one of the most uber-chic women I know. Kim Newport Mimran was raving about her latest discovery and when you smell these you will understand why. Merging the artistic expression of photographer (from a handful of renowned photographers) with perfume created by the interpretation of specific imagery; creating some of the most unique scents that will blow your mind. Rumor has it the Pink Tartan store in Yorkville will soon add this to it’s increasing list of unique and special things.

Olfactive Studios fragrances (from $145, olfactivestudious.com/e-boutique)

I discovered Vosges Chocolates a couple of years ago and they are to die for. Everything from this amazing brand of haute chocolate is beyond words and reasonable in price. It’s a little tricky to find in Canada but you can now order online and I promise you won’t regret. The packaging is great too.

Vosges toffee trifecta ($58, vosgeschocolate.com)

I love this Phillip Lim dress, a super-modern take on Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

3.1 Phillip Lim Beaded Collar T-shirt Dress ($645, shop.fashionmagazine.com)

This will be my first Christmas with a sister in law and I’d love to give her these adorable Burberry mittens. She spends a lot of time outdoors and the hearts match her cheerful disposition. Plus everyone in London, Ontario can use a bit of London, England in their lives.

Burberry Prorsum Gloves ($675, ssense.com)

I’m so obsessed with the Ballet Russes. It’s just such a fantasy mix of talents, from Nijinsky on stage to Stravinsky and Debussy under it to Picasso and Delaunay creating sets and costumes. All of those people working for one company just blows my mind and this book would have all of it, wrapped in gold.

Ballets Russes by André Tubeuf ($750, net-a-porter.com)

Travel is the ultimate gift, so why not help someone get a little closer to their next vacation with one of Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s Get A Room gift certificates, good for all of the boutique hotels in their portfolio.

Get A Room Gift Certificate (from $50, mrandmrssmith.com)

My grandmother has a cabinet full of vintage crystal champagne coupes that I’ve been coveting since I was little. There’s something special about drinking from this shape as opposed to the ubiquitous flute. The sophisticated silver rim on this set will make them stand out on my bar cart.

Vintage Silver Coupe Glasses ($35, chapters.indigo.ca)

This has my little brother written all over it. Having just moved into his own place, I believe no bachelor pad is complete without a foosball table. If price were no object, this beautiful version would be waiting for him under the tree.

Foosball Table ($3,450, dwr.com)

Chuck Taylors are a classic shoe that has stranded the test of time. So when I heard that Maison Martin Margiela was doing a collaboration with Converse I was excited because I knew it would be genius. The way they coated the shoes in white it is meant to crack and peel off so it gets better with time, which is exactly what a Chuck Taylor does. They took something so iconic and made it even better, which is almost impossible to do.

Converse Maison Martin Margiela ($200, maisonmartinmargiela.com)

Keeping with the theme of things getting better with time, I thought this book was a great gift for one of my many new nieces or nephews. I never had a copy as a child, but I remember reading it over and over again whenever I visited my cousins’ homes during the holiday season. The story is cute and you get to open the letters and read them, which is way more fun than opening an e-mail. I also like the idea of giving something to a new member of my family that I enjoyed as a child as well, that way its more than a gift, its a memory you are passing on.

The Jolly Postman and Other Peoples Letters ($17, chapters.indigo.com)

I’m getting ready to move house so I’m on the lookout for interesting things to put in my new place, and one of these beautiful hand-painted wooden paddles by Montreal’s Norquay Co. would bring a bit of outdoorsiness to my living room wall. Of course, I could use it for an actual canoe trip, but let’s be real.

Norquay Wooden Paddle ($225, norquayco.com)

I like sending locally made things to my friends in Australia as a kind of cultural exchange, and this spunky eyeball leather clutch by Falconwright is screen-printed in Toronto, decently priced and won’t cost a bomb to ship across the world.

Falconwright Eyeball Clutch ($68, falconwrite.bigcartel.com)

I’ve been lusting after a hammered gold cuff for some reason, and this one is just perfect. I’m not a big jewellery girl, so simple and clean is always my go-to when I do wear it. I’ve been lusting after a hammered gold cuff for some reason, and this one is just perfect. I’m not a big jewellery girl, so simple and clean is always my go-to when I do wear it.

Kenneth Jay Lane hammered gold-plated cuff ($140, shop.fashionmagazine.com)

I’m about to become an Auntie for the third time (!) so no one deserves a Kiehl’s gift basket more than my sister-in-law. She loves their products and I’ll be sure to fill it to the brim with Crème Des Corps and all her other favourites.

Kiehls Crème Des Corps (from $13, kiehls.ca)

I’m a sucker for comfy loungewear, especially in the winter. This year, ideally I’d get cozy with some classic Canadiana — the Hudson’s Bay Co. cashmere robe would be a perfect fit.

Hudson’s Bay Collection Cashmere Robe ($325, shop.fashionmagazine.com)

This iPhone dock turns your phone into a cute, retro alarm clock. Plus you can charge the phone while it on display. ‘Natch.

iPhone Alarm Dock ($43 uncommongoods.com)

My obsession with the South needs no encouragement, but this book, from the editors of Garden & Gun magazine, will certainly help me host an even better Kentucky Derby party come spring. Bring on the bourbon!

The Southerner’s Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life ($18, amazon.com)

Okay, so this gift isn’t from me so much as it’s for my boyfriend from our dog, Lionel. Even though he’s no longer a puppy, socks remain Lionel’s favourite chew toy—with brightly-patterned pairs being at the top of the hit list. It’s only fair that he gives back during the holidays by putting a few pairs of these Paul Smith socks under the tree.

Paul Smith Multistripe Socks ($30, ssense.com)

It should surprise no one who knows me well that all I really want this year is to own every last frame of the show that has ruined me for future television watching. The only thing missing from this collector’s edition set is a pair of white Y-fronts.

Breaking Bad: The Complete Series ($210, chapters.indigo.ca)

Before they started a blog that focused on how to satiate the unending hunger of kids in a fast yet nutritionally-dense way, Ceri Marsh and Laura Keogh worked at this very magazine as EIC and beauty director, respectively. Not only do they suggest ways to present ingredients like quinoa and kale in a kid palette friendly way, but they do so with a sense of humour; calling dinnertime the “six o’clock shit show” is parental real talk I can get behind.

How To Feed a Family: The Sweet Potato Chronicles Cookbook ($18, chapters.indigo.ca)

I love my Nespresso machine, I don’t think I go a day without talking about it and although I am usually an espresso girl it would be great to add the milk frothier to my machine to whip up lattes and cappuccinos.

Nespresso Aeroccino 3 ($100, thebay.com)

My boyfriend has become fascinated with the electric violin ever since finding YouTube sensation Bryson Andres. This Yamaha electric violin may need to be paired with lessons.

Silent Violin (thebay.com)

I collect tarot cards and this deck by The Wild Unknown is beyond beautiful. I actually already have one in my collection, but when I find a deck I really love, I like to have two: one for readings and one for safekeeping.

Wild Unknown Tarot Card Deck ($45, drakegeneralstore.ca)

Roberta’s in Bushwick is one of my all-time favourite restaurants. The pizza is legit, the vibes are always fun and their block parties are legendary. My husband loves to cook and the new Roberta’s Cookbook will be the perfect addition to his kitchen shelf. Plus, more pizza for me!

Roberta’s Cookbook ($25, chapters.indigo.ca)

Edward Burtynsky’s stunning large-scale photographs make environmental degradation look like beautiful art. Water, in which he explores how we use and waste our most important resource, is absolutely dazzling, and I am coveting it.

Water by Edward Burtynsky ($84, chapters.indigo.ca)

A simple bangle with an unusual twist is a perfect gift for one of the many jewellery-loving women on my list.

Vince Camuto Silver Open Cuff Bracelet ($48, shop.fashionmagazine.com)