Holiday 2011: What the FASHION editors are giving and getting this season

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE: When I laid eyes on Van Cleef & Arpels new collection at Birks it was love at first sight. I love how they have taken the signature Alhambra clover and shrunk it down for these bracelets and rings. Replacing Alhambra’s usual mother-of-pearl with diamonds was an even better move. The pink gold is very fresh and very now, but these are also classic, pretty, wear-forever investment pieces.

Perlée Ring in pink gold, with six diamond clovers ($14,850, birks.com)

Perlée Bracelet in pink gold, with diamond clovers (by special order only, price upon request.)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE: My son Matthew wants an electric guitar. Our market editor Jordan Porter found this Fretlight for the Gift Guide in the Winter issue of FASHION. I know Matthew will love it as it has little red lights on the fretboard that illuminate to indicate chords and scales. It’s a brilliant way to begin learning to play the guitar.

Fretlight Guitar ($505, fretlight.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE: The Tank Watch was created in 1917 by Louis Cartier and has been worn by Jackie O, Princess Diana, and Andy Warhol. Michelle Obama recently wore one in her official White House portrait, so to say it’s a classic is an understatement. Most girls may dream of diamonds but I long to have this baby ticking on my wrist.

Cartier Tank Solo Watch in quartz, yellow gold, and leather ($4,100, cartier.us)

WHAT I WANT TO GIVE: For my dog Oskar. Nicolas Ghesquière designed these neon dog leashes for his chocolate lab Fred and the orange one is the perfect gift for Oskar, my miniature poodle and number one guy. Would he know the difference? I’d like to think a little Balenciaga would add an extra bounce to his step–or mine.

Balenciaga neon small dog leash in “Orange Fluo.” ($275, barneys.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE: Pyjama bottoms are easy to come by, but finding a set with a matching classic men’s style pyjama top is not. These ones—not only in silk, but with stars—are how I would justify never getting dressed in the days between Christmas and New Year’s.

Silk Celestial Pyjama Shirt and Bottoms (top $144, bottoms $132, jcrew.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE: I would like to give this to all my friends who tried for years to sell me on the show, which I foolishly dismissed for being about highschool football. Giving them each and every last frame of Tim Riggins in existence is the ultimate thank you for the gift that was FNL.

Friday Night Lights: The complete series ($100, amazon.ca)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE:

Right now the walls at my house are basically bare, so I’d like a piece of contemporary art for our place. I’ve already dropped a hint about arranging for a visit from The Art Stylists (artstylists.com) to help me pick something out within my budget.

Consultation (price by request, artstylists.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE:

What I’m giving is pretty stationery and office supplies from from Russell + Hazel, sweet treats from Bobbette & Belle, and an alpaca throw from Plum Gift Co.

Floral Sugar Cookies ($6 for a pack of 2 or $8 for a pack of 3, bobbetteandbelle.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE:

I already have too many art books for one shelf to physically hold, but Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century really encapsulates all my biggest obsessions all in one! I am constantly fantasizing about famously fantastical events, particularly Paul Poiret’s Thousand and Second Night party from 1911 and this book has ‘em all in high gloss.

Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century ($175, assouline.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE:

Hanukkah is great and all, but my family has always secretly just wanted to celebrate Christmas. Every year, my mom buys ornaments for everyone who celebrates, just so she can join in in some way, and I’ve obviously caught the bug. This year, I’ll be buying these little guys for all my Christmas-celebrating friends. Hopefully they will let me hang them too!

Assorted items (around $16 each, anthropologie.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE: There’s no better way to start the New Year off on the right foot. In red or blue, with lots of sheen, these are a sure way to smile even when I’m looking down at my feet.

Repetto oxfords ($260, repetto.fr)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE: This will fit anyone so no returns necessary, and I love that it’s dainty and pretty from afar, and bad-ass up close.

Links of London skull bracelet ($180, linkoflondon.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE: This little piece of luxury adds chic detail to any outfit and will keep me cozy for many winters to come.

Fur scarf ($295, holtrenfrew.com) Photography by Saulo Villela

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE: Felt is my new favourite fabric, it looks so crisp and clean but has a real richness to it. In holiday red, this envelope clutch makes the perfect festive present.

Daff Clutch ($44, available at Pink Tartan’s 77 Yorkville)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE:

The whole fall collection from this French brand is just perfect—can I wish-list all of it?—but I especially love this grey sweater with its leopard Peter Pan collar. I’m really not into animal prints generally, but here it’s so cute in contrast with the grey woolie.

Peter-pan collar Sandro sweater ($350, at The White Space at the Bay)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE:

I’m obsessed with this shiny gold piggy bank; it’s sort of a gift that you’d really rather get for yourself, but who buys themselves a golden piggy bank? I want to get it for a friend of mine who loves all cute farm animals and could stand to save some more of her pennies!

Golden piggy ($220, areaware.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE:

I’ve always loved giving and receiving picture books. A staple it seems in a fashion photography collection which I have yet to add to my own would be Vogue Extreme Beauty. It was produced in conjunction with a Milan exhibit and features beauty images over the decades from Edward Steichen, Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, and Steven Klein and a whole section devoted to Irving Penn. I love how these images push the boundaries of conventional beauty and captivate.

Vogue Extreme Beauty ($45, chapters.indigo.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE: One of my favourite modern photographers who seem to hold a balance between the art and fashion world, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin have come out with a two volume retrospective of their work so far called Inez van Lamsweerde/Vinoodh Matadin, Pretty Much Everything. The title speaks for itself as it contains 666 photos that feature their portraits to fashion editorials from Vogue Paris and V magazine.

Inez van Lamsweerde/Vinoodh Matadin, Pretty Much Everything ($700, taschen.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE: This is one of those gorgeous forever pieces. Perfect with a cozy cashmere sweater and jeans in the winter or a white blouse (sleeves rolled, bien sur!) and swingy skirt come summer. I hope that my husband is reading this post!"

Tiffany Atlas bangle in 18K white gold ($9,000, tiffany.com)

WHAT I WANT TO GIVE: This year I’ll be giving my nearest and dearest these preppy monogram note cards from Kate Spade. A handwritten note will always be synonymous with good taste and elegence.

Kate Spade Monogram Note Cards ($26 for 10 cards, The Stationary Shoppe at William Ashley, williamashley.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE:

I would love to receive a Jonathan Adler pottery vice jar. They are really funny and would look great in my black and white kitchen. I’m hoping for the Kitty Krack one specifically. My cat Lolita is on Prozac (she’s a bit high-strung) so I thought I could keep her meds inside.

Kitty Krack jar ($128, jonathanadler.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE:

I’m going to get this LEGO digital camera for my 6 year old cousin Georgia. It’s really easy to use, hard to break, and you can build into it as well. They make it in pink now too.

LEGO 3MP Digtial Camera ($53, amazon.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE:

I want/need a weekend bag that can work for the cottage and quick work trips.

Deurne 48-Hour Hold-All ($675, parkandbond.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE:

And I’ll be giving the Bill Cunningham New York DVD, because it was hands down my favourite movie of the year and I need to spread the love.

Bill Cunningham New York DVD ($23, zeitgeistfilms.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE:

It wasn’t until I read Furious Love—the biography of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton‘s romance—that I really became obsessed with the life of Liz, and, of course, her many, many diamonds. So it’s just my luck that that this new interest coincides with the Christie’s auction of Taylor’s jewelry, gowns, and other memorabilia. Well, I won’t actually be bidding on anything, but I can covet every last piece thanks to this perfectly curated set of Christie’s auction catalogues.

The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor ($300, christies.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE:

These needlepoint belts are the perfect mix of East Coast prep and cheeky style. I like to think they’re more “afternoons in Trinity Bellwoods park” than “just hanging out on my yacht”—or at least that will become the case when I give one to my boyfriend. And with so many different patterns to choose from, it’s one of those gifts you can keep giving every few years.

Tucker Blair needlepoint belts ($95, tuckerblair.com)

WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE: I’ve been shaving my head for almost a decade, and I tend to shave it three times a week. I motor through product with ridiculous speed, and quality is important—if I were neglectful, I’d already have the scalp of a septuagenarian desert wanderer. Anthony Logistics for Men shaving products are the best I know of, and I love that five of them are bundled together into the Perfect Shave Kit, which costs less than buying three of the products individually.

Shaving kit ($55, anthony.com)

WHAT I WANT
TO GIVE: My partner and I moved from Vancouver to Toronto earlier this year, and both of us—accustomed to the West Coast’s temperate winters and humid climate—have been suffering from temperamental skin since arriving in this city of seasonal extremes. His skin has responded especially well to Skoah products (a Vancouver-based brand, naturally), so I’ll be buying him its Klearity Kleanser, which promises to deep-cleanse and help prevent breakouts.”

Skin cleanser ($30, skoah.com)