I am so beyond excited to kick off the Polka Dot Gift guides for 2014! Today we unveil the first of three guides we have created for the wonderful people in your life with a bit of a twist. With weddings coming up for most of you, our gift guides have a wedding slant. The gift ideas are as ready for Christmas as they are to gift your bridesmaids or groomsmen, They’re at home under that green tree as they are on a wedding registry.
However you want to use our ideas, I’ve worked hard to make sure there’s wonderful gifts at all price points for all kinds of souls and I hope it can go a little way to inspiring you to find the right gift for the ones you love.
First up – bride and bridesmaids! This gift guide is full of ideas that would work for the bride to be in your life or from a bride to her bridesmaids. They’re tokens that are able to be treasured, or add a bit of pampering and love to your life.
Samantha Wills “Fates Ventura” Clutch in Sorbet ($330), Loreal Paris Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lipstick in “Tangerine Sonate” and “Ruby Opera” ($21.95), Lush Cosmetics “Snow Angel” Bath Melt ($8.50), Fleur Wood Food, Fashion & Love Book ($59.99), Eve Lom Kiss Mix Winter Star 2014 ($30 Available at Mecca Cosmetica), GHD Limited Edition Rose Gold Deluxe Set ($370 Includes Rose Gold Styler & Air Professional Hair Dryer), Le Specs Hermosa Sunglasses in Blonde & White Spot ($69.95), Laura Mercier Body Souffle in Fresh Fig ($65), Samantha Wills “A Girl Like You” Bracelet Set ($169)
A bride always needs a clutch filled with her most important items for the day and this Samantha Wills “Fates Ventura” Clutch in Sorbet definitely falls into the “she can wear it after the wedding!” category. It adds a stupendously fantastic pop of colour and allows your favourite lady to carry her essentials with her not only on her wedding day but well beyond it.
For a stocking stuffer and beauty lover, might I suggest the Loreal Paris Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lipstick in “Tangerine Sonate” and “Ruby Opera”? This richly coloured lipstick actually comes in ten shades (including a nude pink, ruby red and even a fuchsia) and applies like a lip gloss with a doe foot applicator. But the colour intensity? Ka pow! Love these as a fun option for bridesmaid gifts (especially if one needs to touch up!). My favourite lipsticks have been bought for me by my best friend and there is something utterly special about wearing them.
I love the Lush Cosmetics Christmas Collection and this year I think “Snow Angel” Bath Melt ($8.50) has to be one of my favourites (gold glitter never really fails me, for the record). Sweet pampering gifts like this are always a favourite of mine and I love these pretties.
I reviewed the Fleur Wood Food, Fashion & Love Book, earlier this year and it definitely makes it to my Christmas list. Whether for a bride or bridesmaid, this book has a cosy feel to it with the most beautiful imagery. It’s the kind of book that is wonderful to curl up with a cup of tea and a soft blanket, or to read while lying on the grass in the sunshine.
Little treats like this Eve Lom Kiss Mix Winter Star 2014 ($30 Available at Mecca Cosmetica) are the perfect size for a bridesmaid gift (plus that sparkly star box? It’s almost pretty enough to hang on your tree!) Eve Lom skincare is divine and this tiny lip balm is sure to make its recipient feel as pampered as can be.
Rose gold has got to be one of the colours of the year and the GHD Limited Edition Rose Gold Deluxe Set ($370 Includes Rose Gold Styler & Air Professional Hair Dryer) is such a beautiful colour. I never thought I’d ever call a hair straightener beautiful but there were a lot of oohs and aahs on this shoot when we pulled it out of it’s box to shoot. The all rose gold straightener comes completed with a sleek black and rose gold hair dryer so it’s an ultimate wishlist gift for a bride to be.
When the Le Specs Hermosa Sunglasses in Blonde & White Spot, were offered up for this year’s gift guide I couldn’t say no. The blonde and white colour tone is perfect for summer, the shape so retro and fifties inspired and you know that I am never going to deny you anything with polka dots on them. Love this gift idea for your favourite leading lady! (Note: these are also on my Christmas list).
I’m a sucker for a divine body cream and Laura Mercier Body Souffle in Fresh Fig, ticks all the boxes for me! This luxurious body cream in its glass jar not only smells good enough to eat but it actually works too. Love this for a bride to be to use in the lead up to her wedding day or as a special gift for bridesmaids.
For the bohemian bride, these Samantha Wills “A Girl Like You” Bracelet Set is a colourful addition to a bride’s wrist on her wedding day (or equally as beautiful to gift bridesmaids as a gift and a wedding day accessory). The best part? The thinking has been done for you- the combination and stack complete. Just slip it on!
Natalija Robe “Petunia” ($114.95), Natalija Robe “Lace Trim Ivory” ($119.95), Samantha Wills “Bohemian Bardot” Ring in Ocean ($79), Samantha Wills “Beautifully Dressed Up” Drop Earrings ($110), Samantha Wills “Beautifully Dressed Up” Stud Earrings ($99), Samantha Wills “Rumours Unknown” Pendant Necklace ($130), Into The Woods wire Jewellery House in Yellow ($65 Available from The Woodsfolk), Hugo Boss “Boss Ma Vie” Eau de Parfum 75ml ($109), The Body Shop Geisha Doll Lip & Cheek Stain ($32.95), Kit Cosmetics Summer Fiesta Eyeshadow Palette ($34.95), Miss Poppy Design “She Drinks Whiskey From A Teacup” pencils ($14.00), Miss Poppy Design “Necessities” Pencils ($14.00), Clearly LOVE L7002S Sunglasses in “Tokyo Tortoiseshell” ($79.00), Sunday Somewhere “Laura” Sunglasses in Aqua ($265), The Daily Edited Leather Pouch in Black With Gold Monogram ($79.95), Samantha Wills “You Are All I See” Bracelet in Silver ($145), Samantha Wills “Midnight Garden” Bun Cover in Gold ($179), Lanolips Ballerina Tin: A 101 Ointment and Mini Lip Ointment with Colour in Rose ($22.95 Exclusive to Myer), Molton Brown Stocking Fillers Collection ($60)
A luxurious robe for the wedding day morning always makes for a great gift idea, so for this year’s gift guide we included two from Natalija! We chose the sweetest of pink robes “Petunia” ($114.95), and the more bridal robe “Lace Trim Ivory” ($119.95). These tick both boxes for brides and bridesmaids because they’re wonderful for the wedding day but also something you never really buy yourself.
As a jewellery lover, I am a big fan of giving and receiving special pieces for special occasions, so I picked these paces from Australian designer Samantha Wills. “Bohemian Bardot” Ring in Ocean ($79), “Beautifully Dressed Up” Drop Earrings ($110), “Beautifully Dressed Up” Stud Earrings ($99),”Rumours Unknown” Pendant Necklace ($130). Whether you gift these to your bridesmaids, your mum or the bride to be – each is a special token that they’ll be able to wear on the wedding day and well beyond. Part of the allure of Samantha Wills collections is that you can choose multiple pieces from the one collection to suit individual personalities – a ring for your gem loving friend, a pendant for a bohemian spirited girl and sparkly earrings for the bower-bird – the gorgeous turquoise blue in each piece.
For the jewellery lover, this Into The Woods Wire Jewellery House in Yellow ($65 Available from The Woodsfolk), is a fun and unexpected gift idea. Storage, sweetness and fun all in one? Why not gift this to your bridesmaids with a fabulous pair of earrings? Why yes, I think we’re sorted!
Hugo Boss “Boss Ma Vie” Eau de Parfum ($109) is a great idea for a signature scent for a bride looking for something modern yet feminine for her wedding day. With a top note of Cactus blossom to a pink floral bouquet and cedarwood it has a fresh, floral feeling to it that is not your grandmother’s scent. Definitely one for the modern bride who still loves her femininity.
A stocking stuffer for the beauty lover, this brand new The Body Shop Geisha Doll Lip & Cheek Stain ($32.95) comes in the sweetest bottle and does double duty for cheek and lip colour (and double duty always wins points in my book!). A sweet gift for your bridesmaids or your favourite makeup loving lady.
Kit Cosmetics Summer Fiesta Eyeshadow Palette ($34.95 makes a great gift this Christmas. The palette comes complete with ten shades neutrals with plenty of sparkle and metallic in the mix the hard case decorated with metallic gold is easy enough to wrap and slip under the tree to make a makeup lover very happy indeed. I love palettes that have so much versatility- bronze smokey eye? check! Understated nude eye? check!
I think these sweet printed pencils from Miss Poppy Design in “She Drinks Whiskey From A Teacup” pencils ($14.00) and “Necessities” Pencils ($14.00)are some of my favourite gifts to give. Everybody needs pencils to why not make them the prettiest ones you can find? The “Necessities” collection is my favourite- printed with the best things in life (happy thoughts, cups of tea, pink peonies, vintage books, big dreams and the smell of rain) but there are plenty of sets that suit every kind of girl.
Clearly LOVE L7002S Sunglasses in “Tokyo Tortoiseshell” ($79.00) are a favourite pick of mine when it comes to sunglasses with their slightly retro style. The tortoiseshell makes them slightly softer than black and the shape is very retro glam. I love giving gifts that will continue to be a part of one’s life for many a year to come and these sunglasses fit the bill.
Sunday Somewhere “Laura” Sunglasses in Aqua are so fun for Summer and a great gift idea for a fashion forward lover. The aqua colour is the brightest of tones and the shape fun and sleek for someone who knows what they’re doing when it comes to fashion, and are just the ticket for warmer Summer days.
For me, a personalised gift is the ultimate, so I fell in love with this idea when I saw it. The Daily Edited Leather Pouch in Black With Gold Monogram. Available in a range of colours (and styles, The Daily Edited does business card holders, envelope clutches and more) these luxurious leather goods are one of my favourite ideas for bridesmaids. The Clutches are sleek and stylish- big enough to hold essentials for a girls night out and the gold monogram? Understated and chic while still being personal.
For a bride or bridesmaid wanting something completely sparkly to accessorize with, might I suggest the Samantha Wills “You Are All I See” Bracelet in Silver, It’s sparkling leaves add plenty of glam to a wedding day look and it’s special enough to transform to a black tie occasion or if you’re really into sparkle paired with your everyday shirt and jeans.
Samantha Wills “Midnight Garden” Bun Cover in Gold is a gorgeous gift for a bride or bridesmaid who is a lover of the classic bun. it adds a completely different look to something quite simple and is definitely a beautiful gift for one who might be wearing this hairstyle a the upcoming wedding day or one who just loves a chic hair accessory.
I’m a big fan of Lanolips (their 1010 Ointment is a lifesaver) and this season they’ve released this sweet Ballerina Tin set( $22.95 Exclusive to Myer), that would work wonderfully as a gift for your bridesmaids. With 101 Ointment (which works for oh, everything!) and the popular rose balm intense (perfect for hands and nails) with Colour in Rose ($22.95 Exclusive to Myer), in a limited edition tin illustrated by Erin Whitty it has two little treats that not only pamper but also look great.
For the girl who adores body wash, or the bridesmaids who need the ultimate pampering, this Molton Brown Stocking Fillers Collection ($60) with twelve travel sized body washes in every scent – from black peppercorn to Japanese orange to pink pepperpod and everything in between, it’s a luxurious set that will make for a beautiful gift.
Paddington Tea Natural Soy Candle in Rustic Rose ($27.50), The Wedding Scarf Heirloom Silk Satin Scarves (From $390), Annick Goutal ‘Vent de Folie’ EDT ($160), Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics Auto-Pilot Radiance Boosting Mask ($85), Samantha Wills “Rumours Unknown” Drop Earrings in Turquoise ($120), Benefit Cosmetics Feelin’ Dandy Kit ($40), Benefit Cosmetics Sweet Tintations Kit ($50), Molton Brown Festive Bauble in Pink Pepperpod ($15), Typo Printed Buffalo Notebook in Cream Gold Polka ($16.95), Samantha Wills “Rooftop Romance” Bracelet in Peach ($99), Molton Brown Festive Bauble in Eucalyptus & Black Peppercorn ($15 each), Burts Bees “Best of Burts Bees” Set ($29.95), Lolita Lempicka Elle L’Aime Eau de Parfum ($130) Lush Cosmetics “Golden Wonder” Bath Bomb ($7.50)
I am a girl who would never turn down a candle as a gift (they are one of my favourite things to receive) and this Paddington Tea Natural Soy Candle in Rustic Rose ($27.50) is a special rose scent for your favouritest of girls. Pretty in pink and soy wax it’s going to make any candle lover happy.
Now if we’re talking unique gifts for the bride, this one may just be the most unusual but one that will definitely appease the sentimental nature of someone who holds onto everything because of the memories. Meet The Wedding Scarf Heirloom Silk Satin Scarves (From $390), your wedding bouquet is deconstructed and the natural dyes of the foliage and blooms transferred to create a one of a kind heirloom scarf. From a silk satin scarf to a luxurious pashmina- your bouquet comes to life as a wearable accessory you can keep forever. Now if that doesn’t appease the sentimental bride, then my job as a wedding blogger has well and truly failed.
Wedding day signature scents are one of my favourite things and you can’t go past the bottle that holds Annick Goutal ‘Vent de Folie’ EDT ($160), the vintage inspired bottle with gold top and curved bottle smells of sweet pea, blood orange, blackcurrant and raspberry creating a light, yet sensual perfume that works for a Spring or Summer bride with an air of whimsy.
As a bride to be, you’re doing everything to make sure your skin looks it’s best so investing, or gifting a wonderful, indulgent face mask like the Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics Auto-Pilot Radiance Boosting Mask ($85), is a great gift idea. This gel mask contains Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E and is designed to wear prior to makeup application for softening and smoothing of the skin. Know a bride who needs indulging to get her skin wedding ready? This is the gift for her.
Samantha Wills “Rumours Unknown” Drop Earrings in Turquoise ($120) have just enough sparkle and colour that they’re perfect for a wedding day and beyond. I love the idea of these as a gift for your bridesmaids, paired of course with their gorgeous gowns. Something they can easily wear again (and perfectly sparkly for the festive season!)
I love makeup kits that are a face in a box so the Benefit Cosmetics Feeling Dandy Kit ($40), is somewhat of an ultimate one stop shop in a gift for me. The colours are brilliant (the set includes the pale pink “Dandelion” blush, Dandelion lip gloss, mini High beam highlighter and mini Posie Tint) and it’s going to make a great gift for someone who isn’t too sure on makeup or is always on the go.
Benefit Cosmetics Sweet Tintations Kit ($50) is another great gift set that would look equally as home under the tree as it would wrapped up to gift to your favourite ladies on your wedding day. Containing two of the cosmetic brands most popular tints (Benetint and Lollitint) and matching lip balms packed with moisturising mango butter it’s fun, sweet and a great idea for an easygoing makeup lover.
Molton Brown Festive Bauble in Pink Pepperpod ($15) are a funk trinket- equally as home on the Christmas tree as they are tied to a gift. They come in eight of Molton Brown’s signature scents are are just the right price for your favourite ladies to get a little pampering.
If you’re looking for an ultimate useful gift for a bride to be, might I suggest a beautiful notebook? This Typo Printed Buffalo Notebook in Cream Gold Polka, has my heart (obviously because I just purchased it for myself). A beautiful notebook like this makes an incredible gift for a bride – allowing her to keep everything in one place, writing notes in during supplier meetings, keeping track of details or just journaling all of her special memories. Polka Dots make everything better so of course, this will be a winner.
I love the bold gold of this Samantha Wills “Rooftop Romance” Bracelet in Peach ($99). It works for a bride with a modern style or bridesmaids as a gift and their wedding jewels. The combination of coral and gold is so warm for Summer days.
We had to throw in two more Molton Brown Festive Baubles in Eucalyptus & Black Peppercorn ($15) for your tree, I love these as fun little gifts for your favourite people – a treat, a pamper and a decoration in one!
Everyone loves good quality skincare and the Burts Bees “Best of Burts Bees” Set ($29.95) has the essentials for smooth, wedding ready skin. The package contains coconut foot cream, lemom butter cutitcle cream and almond milk beeswax hand cream. it’s a great gift pack for someone wanting to get over the awful things that cold weather does to your skin (and it smells divine too!)
In it’s luxe gold bottle Lolita Lempicka Elle L’Aime Eau de Parfum ($130) is a blend of floral and coconut notes- bergamot, neoli, limi, cocnout, jasmine, ylang ylang, sandlewood, vanilla and myrrh make this scent just the ticket for a Summer bride looking for something that will become her wedding day signature scent or a scent for summer days.
Nothing is more fun that a sweet bath bomb from Lush Cosmetics and the “Golden Wonder” Bath Bomb ($7.50) is the sweetest gift. Not only does it look like a golden present all wrapped up but it’s packed full of glitter, and the orange, cognac and neroli oils will have you feeling oh so merry.
Photos by Talia Cain for Polka Dot Bride
The post Polka Dot Christmas Gift Guide – For The Bride & Bridesmaids appeared first on Polka Dot Bride.
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