Well look what we have here…it’s the proverbial big one ladies and gentlemen (but really, ladies). Today is my annual ‘Gifts for Her’ roundup, and once again…every single item you see featured in this post is actually up for grabs as part of an incredible prize package. Interested? Read on!
Jacqueline Piron Organic Bamboo Embellished Tees – $325 – $495
Looking for a luxe way to upgrade your lady’s wardrobe? Toronto-based designer Jacqueline Piron’s new collection of embellished tees is a perfect place to start. All of her tees – currently available in classic black or white – start with an organic cotton bamboo tee as the base, which is a flattering, sustainable fabric. From there, each tee is embellished with extravagant details like Swarovski crystals, French angora fur, Japanese ribbons, and Czech Republic crystals. The result are stunning tops that work equally well with a simple pair of dark jeans or tucked into a sleek pencil skirt. Check out the full collection online!
Luxe Pick: These gift ideas represent splurge-worthy picks from some of today’s most luxurious brands. Be on the lookout for other Luxe Picks this holiday season and beyond!
City Collection – $68 – $115 @ Samantha Faye
Home is where the heart is – especially during the holidays – so commemorate a special place in your gal’s life with a piece from Samantha Faye’s chic and sleek ‘City’ line. Choose from pre-created cities or custom design your own cuff, bangle, or necklace charm. Each piece includes the coordinates for your chosen city, and many of the pieces are available in several different finishes, including gold plated, rose gold plated, or rhodium plated. I love this gift as a pick for someone that recently moved away from their home city, or perhaps is on the road to moving to a new city in the new year. For the record, the City collection is just one piece of the Samantha Faye lineup – check ‘em out for plenty of sparkly, gift-giving inspiration.
BONUS! Get 20% off your Samantha Faye order when you enter the coupon code CGG20 at checkout, for the next two weeks only.
Danny Seo Reserve Global Rollerball Set – $60 @ Trufragrance, Danny SEO Reserve, or The Shopping Channel
So I’m featuring one specific gift idea above, but I want to talk about Danny Seo’s awesome lineup of eco-friendly perfumes – Danny Seo Reserve Global, Danny Seo Reserve Australia, and Danny Seo Reserve America, each of which has a distinct scent profile that reflects the culture and energy of its namesake. These beautiful scents also have serious staying power, in part because of the earth-friendly method of extraction they employ, called Nature Print™. This unique method expertly captures the smell of the various fragrances’ featured flowers, without taking petals or removing them from the ground. You can purchase each of the fragrances in a full-sized 50 ml bottle, or as a 15 ml purse-friendly rollerball. The Danny Seo Reserve Global Discovery Rollerball set above is a little different, in that you get the main Danny Seo Reserve Global fragrance, as well as its three prominent notes – Rose de Mai, Tahitian Tiare, and Haitian Vetiver. Layer them on to create your own custom scent day after day, based on whatever accords you love the most. Not a big perfume gal? You may want to check out Danny Seo Reserve Global Deluxe Body Cream, which includes the same ‘secret’ ingredient as Creme de La Mer, but at a fraction of the price. Either way, she’ll be smelling spectacularly after diving into this fragrant collection.
Monogram Stationery – $16 USD each @ Rifle Paper Co.
A lovely gift doesn’t have to be a pricy one, as these customized monogram stationery sets from Rifle Paper Co. demonstrate. Each lavishly embellished set includes eight flat notes and envelopes with your gal’s initial on prominent display, all housed in a sweet folio in Rifle Paper Co.’s signature charming hand-painted look and feel. 19 of the most common alphabetical letters are available in either orange, blue, pink or green (note that the colours are pre-determined – but all gorgeous). This is a super cute idea for a friend that just got married this year and wants to flex her last name in her stationery, or it works for a sibling that’s recently moved across the country but ‘promises to write’. Heck, it even makes a swell stocking stuffer idea!
Celeb Crush Leggings – $70 USD each @ Clashist
If you’re amongst the millions (okay billions) of women out there that have been swooning for Ryan Gosling since The Notebook (or in my case, Breaker High) then I’ve got sort of good news: you can finally wrap yourself in him. Or at least his image, as is the case with these cheeky leggings from super hip fashion brand Clashist. And if Gosling ain’t your bag, well, they also carry Zach Galifianakis and James Franco variations. Digitally printed on stretchy spandex, consider buying these eye-catching leggings for your best friend, younger sister, or daughter to wear with an oversized sweater or casual tee. While you’re at it, you should definitely check out Clashist’s entire lineup of quirky tops and bottoms – with more celeb-inspired pieces like a Bill Murray tee or a Lena Dunham tee (and plenty more love for Gosling & co). Clashist does ship to Canada, but you can also shop their line at Canadian boutique Jack & Elliot.
12 Days of Christmas Gift – $99 @ Lush
Forget partridges in pear trees – what your true love REALLY wants this Christmas is Lush’s amazing ’12 Days of Christmas’ set. Before I dive into what’s in this perfect-for-gifting package, I have to say that I feel like Lush has more new holiday products this year than any other I can recall! New and updated products have hit the shelves – like their spicy Hot Toddy shower gel and their Satsuma-scented Dashing Santa bath bomb – alongside tons of classic faves, like their Golden Wonder bath bomb and champagne-infused Celebrate lotion. The only problem with shopping at Lush this season, really, is how to narrow down your choices. The good news is, their gift sets are, as always, packed with savings and amazing products that’ll make it easier for you to sample the new stuff and indulge in the traditional body care treats. This particular gift sort of functions as an advent calendar, with 12 separate compartments for all of the goodies contained within – including the new shimmery Holly Golightly bubble bar and Fairy Ring soap, as well as some skin-quenching delights like The Olive Branch shower gel and Lord of Misrule bath bomb. Lather up and enjoy!
Sseko Shoes – $74.99 – $129.99
Every gal loves a pretty pair of shoes – but what she loves even more is a pair of shoes that makes her feel good. The cool news is I can pretty much guarantee every time she glimpses down at her suede booties, leather loafers, or interchangeable sandals, a smile will appear on her face as she both takes in her beautiful footwear – and the story behind it. Sseko is a very admirable brand that works with women in Uganda to make and sell a lineup of shoes, accessories and bags. These women are paid fair wages and over 100 of them to date have gone on to further their studies in college or obtain full-time employment benefits. Talk about fashion empowerment, am I right? In terms of their shoes, Sseko carries two collections of interchangeable sandals – swap out the beading or the ribbons (the latter style isn’t picture) – which are perfect to gift to your snowbird auntie or your honeymooning sibling. But they also carry more Canuck-friendly styles, including a trio of cute ankle boots and a lineup of plain, embellished and metallic loafers – perfect for dressing up any holiday look.
Chunky Knit Throws – $39.99 each @ Winners and HomeSense
The lovely thing about Christmas being during the wintertime (at least here in Canada) is it gives us a chance to grant warm winter wishes and gifts to our loved ones. With snuggly socks and robes on the shelves alongside hot cocoa kits, you better believe these chunky knit throws fit right in. They’re also made for a good cause – as I profiled this past week, the Canadian Women’s Foundation ‘Shop for Hope’ line is being carried at Winners and HomeSense stores across Canada, with net profits supporting organizations that prevent violence against women and help women in need. That line includes a ton of amazing and affordable gifts – but I particularly love these snuggly blankets because honestly…you can’t have enough blankets in our climate. Toss one in the car for an extra layer while watching your kid play a game of outdoor hockey, drape one over the couch and warm up while watching your fave TV show, or leave it at the foot of your bed to keep your toes warm at night. Available in navy and cream and red and cream, this is truly a gift with heart.
Anna Sui Nail Color N – $15 each @ select Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix, Murale and Hudson’s Bay locations
What could be more wintery than nail polish inspired by chocolate chip ice cream? That’s exactly the idea behind Anna Sui’s new ‘Tempting Sweets’ collection, which consists of four new ‘mouthwatering’ shades flecked with cookie-esque specks. From mint green to rich berry pink, these adorable, limited edition polishes are housed in Anna Sui’s signature ‘dress’ bottles – which if you’ve never seen before, are almost too cute to crack open and actually use. For the record, this is just part of the Tempting Sweets line – other pieces include two holiday gift sets, and various creamy pots for your lips, eyes, and cheeks. It’s a must-have for whatever beauty maven is on your shopping list this season!
Intimate Britney Spears Collections – $17 – $79
It really does make sense that Britney Spears – who once famously rocked a bra on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine before being nude on magazine covers was kind of de rigeur – would launch a sensual sleepwear line. And in typical Britney fashion, the collection landed with a splash this fall with a New York City launch party and retail placement in hundreds of boutiques across the U.S. and Canada. Of course, the easiest way to peruse the entire (and quite frankly, massive) collection is to visit the Intimate Britney Spears site, which does indeed ship to Canada. For guys shopping for their ladies, be sure to check out the sexy mix-and-match lingerie sets and cute retro bustiers with fun details like patterned lace, satin ribbons and detailed shoulder straps. Shopping for a daughter, friend or sibling? There’s also plenty of cozy, relaxed loungewear including sweats, shorts, and camis. You can shop by whatever pieces you’re interested in – but the brand is also organized into lingerie ‘stories’ or mini-collections, including the very festive, appropriately named ‘Cherry‘ red line – or check out their handy gift guides for some further inspiration.
Palais des Thés N°25 Limited Edition Teas – $21 USD each
As I mentioned earlier in this post, a big part of holiday gift-giving are things that help your loved ones feel toasty and warm – and I can think of few better ways to accomplish that then with a cup of French brand Palais des Thés limited edition holiday teas. Available for a short while each season, this collection of five blends is scented with exotic, flavorful notes like vanilla, almond, rose petals, citrus zest, and spices. Available in black, green and roobios blends, this year the latest addition to the brand’s Christmas collection is Cannelle & Orange, which as you may have guessed, is a green tea layered with zesty orange peel and spicy cinnamon sticks, alongside almond pieces and vanilla petals. Buy the canisters individually to suit your loved one’s personal tastes – or check out their gift sets to load up your lady with the most indulgent calorie-free treat she’ll enjoy all season.
Life Brand Sonic Skincare Solution – $74.99 @ Shoppers Drug Mart
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – if you’re a haphazard beauty whiz throughout the rest of the year, at the very least, give your skin the love and attention it deserves during the harsh winter months. That means washing, exfoliating and moisturizing on the regular. And the handy gadget above can definitely help you with the first two tasks on that list. The Sonic Skincare Solution is a mechanized facial brush that offers three speeds and two different brushes – one for a normal scrub down and one to exfoliate and slough off dry flakes to reveal revitalized, baby soft skin underneath. It’s gentle enough to use everyday and requires nothing more than a splash of water and a bit of facial cleanser to deep clean your skin and leave your lady glowing. And with an advance oscillating head, it’s also fabulous for anyone suffering clogged pores that can lead to blackheads or acne. An ace choice for that hard-to-buy-for mother-in-law, sibling, or close friend.
Rose Athena Custom Dresses – $90 – $125
How many ways can you customize a dress? At the Rose Athena design-your-own-dress eboutique, you’ve literally got over 2,500 different ways to tailor your pima cotton dress until it suits your giftee just fine. Their extremely easy-to-use dress designer gives you full control over everything from the length to then neckline to the sleeves to the colour to the style. It’s a great way to ensure your giftee is getting exactly what they want and feel comfortable in, for whatever occasion – from a casual summer maxi dress to a chic, office-ready wrap dress. Right now Rose Athena carries two ‘base’ styles – a simple a-line dress and a wrap dress. But as the picture above alone demonstrates, the ways to alter the designs is pretty infinite. You also have the option to shop Rose Athena’s ready-to-wear line of pre-made dresses in some of their most popular combos – but I’ll be honest, half the fun is really playing around with their dress designer. Gift cards are a soon-to-be-added feature on the site, but in the meantime you can always sit down with your wife, mom or daughter and help her design the comfy, chic dress of her dreams.
Honey & Bloom Large Screen Prints – from $30 USD each
I love me a graphic print – my house is rife with them – but something about Honey & Bloom’s collection particularly caught my eye. Maybe it’s the way designer Becky Hui Chan uses so few colours (in most prints) yet can still create vibrant, dynamic images that leap off the wall. Heck, my favourite print of the lot is actually the ‘Seeing wonderful things’ text-based print you see above – and that literally uses two colours. It just goes to show you that less can truly be more when it comes to home decor. The four prints above represent a cross-section of what you can expect when perusing Honey & Bloom’s collection of prints, however I should note that there are also a handful of smaller, gold debossed prints that would look ultra cute above your friend’s desk, or hanging in your bathroom. I also, quite frankly, simply love the idea of an art print – it’s so unexpected, yet something that will likely last a lot longer in your gal’s life. For the record, Honey & Bloom is also sold on the Canadian site Brika.
Birchbox Canada Subscriptions – $10 / month + $4.95 shipping or $159.40 / 12 months (includes shipping and tax)
I’ve written about beauty box subscriptions on this blog before…but let’s be real. Birchbox is the queen of the entire beauty box movement – having launched in the U.S. a few short years ago and gone on to become the gold standard when it comes to getting luxury samples delivered right to your doorstep, Birchbox is finally available up north. The great thing about Birchbox is how simple they’ve kept their winning model. Each month you get a box filled with five luxury-sized samples from some of today’s hottest and indie beauty brands out there, semi-tailored to your preferences filled out upon signing up. I actually got a Birchbox of my own and *loved* the range and quality of products I received – including a divine Cynthia Rowley lip gloss, a tube of Benefit’s cult beauty fave High Beam highlighter, and a facial mask from one of my fave natural brands, Juice Beauty. If you’re interested in just trying it out for a couple of months, it’ll set you back just under $15 – but diehard beauty fans will definitely want to opt for the cost-saving annual plan that basically gives you two boxes for free. For the record – it’s pretty easy to gift too, with plenty of options and a handy printable gift card you can hand over at a moment’s notice to any lucky lady in your life (hint: it also makes a swell last-minute gift).
JBL Clip – $59.99 @ Indigo, Telus, The Source, iStore, Canada Computers and London Drugs (West Coast)
If she needs her tunes on her wherever she goes, then this innovative clip-on speaker is a perfect pick for your lady. Designed with a built-in carabiner so you can hook it onto your belt loop, backpack or purse, this lightweight speaker packs a mighty punch, with the quality you’d expect from JBL, including deep rich bass and a full range of sound. With seamless Bluetooth capabilities, you can easily tap into your fave playlists on your phones, tablets, mp3 players, or whatever device you’ve got on hand. It uses a rechargeable battery pack that gives you five hours of play time, perfect for an impromptu campfire dance party or to break out while warming up before a rec soccer game. Of course, with a clip-on functionality comes ultra-durability; this portable speaker is designed to keep up with your pace, whatever pace that may be.
Jamdani Scarves – $165 each @ Far & Wide Collective
Continuing on with my recurring theme of ‘pretty with a purpose’ in this post, I bring you some elegant yet vivid lightweight scarves from Far & Wide Collective. As I noted in my Jingle Belles Rock post the other week, Far & Wide Collective operates on a unique model where they bring the incredible work of talented artisans in developing economies to the masses. Such is the case with these ultra luxe scarves, said to be woven with ‘threads of wind’ for their seemingly effortless yet painstakingly detailed weaving method. Handmade using ancient techniques in West Bengal, India, there are four vibrant combinations to choose from, all of which feature some exotic flair in the form of tassels at the end of each scarf. It’s a glorious choice for any fashionista, particularly for that friend that knows how to style her scarf in a million different ways. Plus, everyone knows you’ll look that much better if you’re wearing something that’s this good for artists and designers around the globe.
My Little Shoebox Tablet Cases – ~$32-$39 each
As you guys know, I don’t really feature THE gifts of the season…you know, the standard iPads or whatever latest gadget or toy everyone is crossing their fingers to open on Christmas morning. Because quite frankly, you know about those things. What you may not know about are the cool accessories you can get to go with them – like these adorable, cheerful-printed tablet cases from My Little Shoebox. Each cute case is padded to protect your precious investment, so you can easily slip it into your backpack, purse or carry-on with nary a worry. This stylish brand actually does more than just tablet cases – they specialize in bags of various types, like cosmetic cases, pouches and messenger bags. Check out their distributor’s Canadian site and ask for a stockist near you – or view a wide range of items from the line at Even & Odd.
Pink Cheeks Gift Set – $110 @ 100% Pure
I have a serious crush on 100% Pure’s fruit-dyed cosmetics. I mean, apart from the ingenuity of the concept, the products are actually all amazing. If you’re new to the brand – or a diehard fan already – then you’ll want to get your hands on this incredible beauty gift set that’s being launched just in time for the holidays (it’ll be live on their site in a few short days – hang tight!) This amazing gift set is perfect for creating that soft flush of just coming in from the cold, only you get to skip the snowy part! It includes a soft rose Chiffon blush, Mauvely lip gloss, two sultry-hued shadows, a chocolate-y dual-ended creamstick, Black Tea mascara and two brushes to pull your look together, all housed in an oh-so-pretty gift box.
Columbia Gold 650 TurboDown Hooded Down Jacket – $199.99
The other week my sister dragged me out for a round of Black Friday shopping. The five-minute walk from our mode of transportation to the front door of the mall made me feel like I was about to die in an antarctic blizzard. If you too have experienced a bout of Polar Vortex viciousness, then you best be investing in a new, ultra warm coat. While you may typically associate warmth with bulk, I’ve got good news for you: Columbia’s Gold 650 TurboDown Hooded Jacket features 550-fill-power duck down and 100g of the brand’s signature synthetic insulation for the lightest, warmest, most stylish winter jacket you’ll ever put on. Available in four chic shades, this fashionable, water-resistant, heat-conserving coat works equally well whether you’re bounding from the car to the grocery store doors or enjoying a wintery hike with your hubby. It’s a cozy gift that’ll keep on giving – through every storm, every trek, and every wait at the bus stop en route to the office.
So as I mentioned, I am giving away virtually EVERYTHING I featured in this post (or at least, something from every featured brand). As you can imagine, with 20 incredible gift ideas highlighted here, this is the mother of all prize packages. In fact, it’s valued at over $2,150 – making it the biggest prize package in Canadian Gift Guide history. If you win, you’ll be receiving:
- Jacqueline Piron’s ‘Laura’ shirt
– A custom Samantha Faye ‘City’ cuff
– A Danny Seo Reserve Global Collection (including a 1.7 oz perfume, a 15 ml rollerball, the Global Discovery Rollerball Set, and a Reserve Global Deluxe Body Cream)
– A Rifle Paper Co. set of monogrammed stationery
– Clashist’s Dapper Ryan Gosling Leggings
– Lush’s 12 Days of Christmas gift
– Sseko Vintage Gold Lalibella Loafers
– A Chunky Knit Throw
– 4x Anna Sui ‘Tempting Sweets’ Nail Color N polishes
– An Intimate Britney Spears ‘Cherry’ Kimono
– 5x Palais des Thés N°25 limited edition teas
– A Life Brand Sonic Skincare Solution set
– A Rose Athena custom dress gift code
– Your choice of a Honey & Bloom art print
– A 6-month Birchbox Canada subscription
– A JBL Clip portable speaker
– A Jamdani Scarf from Far & Wide Collective
– A My Little Shoebox floral padded tablet case
– 100% Pure’s Pink Cheeks beauty gift set
– A Columbia 650 TurboDown Hooded Jacket***
As you can imagine, I am super stoked for this giveaway – and I’m sure you are too. So let’s get to it! Here’s how to enter for your shot at winning it ALL:
1) Subscribe to the Canadian Gift Guide by entering your email (or clicking ‘Follow’) in the ‘Gift of Gab’ Box’ on the righthand column of this page. You MUST be a subscriber to enter this giveaway – if you already subscribe, great! Once you’ve signed up, leave a comment on this post by December 30, 2014, telling me what your three favourite gift ideas are from this post.
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 31, 2014 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: Yeah, there’s a lot of ways to earn bonus entries into this draw. There’s a lot of prizes too! Do as many or as few as you’d like. Whatever entries you do, it is imperative that you leave proof of your bonus entry activities in separate comments. If you do them all in one comment, they won’t be counted.
Follow @JacquelinePiron on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) with what you’d wear your #JPTee with. Link back to your Tweet below.
Like Samantha Faye on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall in regards to your favourite piece from their site! Link back to your comment below.
Like Danny Seo on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall on what product of theirs you’d most like try! Link back to your comment below.
Follow Rifle Paper Co. on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo from their site on your Instagram, being sure to tag them. Link back to your shared photo below.
Follow Clashist on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo from their site on your Instagram and tag them. Link back to your shared photo below.
Follow @lushcosmetics on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) with the Lush holiday products you’re most excited about trying. Link back to your Tweet below.
Sign up for Sseko’s Email List and then leave a comment below telling me you’ve done so. Please note that if your ‘email list’ entry is chosen as the winning entry it will be verified by cross-referencing your email address – so make sure you do it or your entry won’t count!
Follow Canadian Women’s Foundation on Twitter and send out a Tweet that tags them + me (@cdngiftguide), links back to this post, and promotes the Foundation’s line of gift ideas! Link back to your Tweet below.
Follow @acibeauty on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) with the Anna Sui ‘Tempting Sweets’ shade you’re most thrilled about painting onto your nails. Link back to your Tweet below.
Follow @intimatebritney on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) sharing what item from the line you’d most love to rock. Link back to your Tweet below.
Follow @PalaisdesThesUS on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) with a note on which of the 5 holiday teas you’re most interested in trying. Link back to your Tweet below.
Follow @ShopprsDrugMart on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) about the Sonic Skincare Solution and be sure to link back to this post. Link back to your Tweet below.
Like Rose Athena on Facebook and leave a comment on one of their wall posts. Link back to your comment below.
Follow Honey & Bloom on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo from their site on your Instagram and tag them. Link back to your shared photo below.
Follow @BirchboxCA on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) while linking back to this post. Link back to your Tweet below.
Follow @ecnewsandreview on Twitter and tweet at them (and me @cdngiftguide) while linking back to this post. Link back to your Tweet below.
Like Far & Wide Collective on Facebook and leave a comment on one of their wall posts. Link back to your comment below.
Follow Even & Odd on Pinterest and pin one of their pins to your own account. Link back to your repin below.
Like 100% Pure on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall regarding the product you’d most love to try from their site. Link back to your comment below.
Pin the Columbia Gold 650 TurboDown Jackets pictured above and leave a link back to your Pin in the comments below.
***Columbia: No cash or other substitution may be made except by Contest Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute a prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason.