style
CulturePOP Gift Guide: Style
December 9, 2010
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Gift giving is an art and a science — especially when it comes to clothing (picture your spouse trying to convert U.S. to European sizes… or remember yours in the first place). Former fashion stylist turned blogger L.A. Stylist Mom, a.k.a. Bethany Winters, gives her top picks and advice for choosing utterly wearable style gifts.
bethany’s top gift picks
Hanging Man Tee by Ai Weiwei
Wire hangers may be bad for the rest of their wardrobe, but your fashion-forward friends will love that 100% of profits from the sale of this organic cotton top go to Doctors Without Borders.
Why it POPs: “Des Artistes tees are super unique. I love that Ai Weiwei is a real artist (best known for helping design the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing) putting his work on the shirt, not to mention that it gives back.”
Get it: DesArtistes.bigcartel.com €85 (approximately $112)
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*Now through January 5, get 30% off Ai Weiwei tees from Des Artistes by entering the code culturepop at checkout!
Konduz Earrings by A Peace Treaty
This 4-inch, antiqued gold-plated pair is handmade by Kurdish artisans, care of a partnership between a Libyan Jew and a Pakistani Muslim dedicated to supporting craftspeople in areas of socio-political unrest.
Why it POPs: “They look like an Egyptian artifact—that feels very new to my eye, a real departure from everything else punky and spiky that we’re seeing this season. They’re classic, but not in the expected way.”
Get it: APeaceTreaty.com, $170
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Grace Jumpsuit by Kristinit
“Let the beauty we love be what we wear,” says artist and designer Kristina Lenss, who’s outfitted celebs like Zooey Deschanel and Scarlett Johansson. This organic linen halter-neck number will certainly fall into that category for the right recipient.
Why it POPs: “It’s probably the most specific piece on my list, but I’m in love with it. The silhouette is super modern and feminine at the same time. I know Kristina’s work, and it’s beautifully made and beautifully tailored.”
Get it: Kristinit.com, $285
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La Tropézienne Bag by Clare Vivier
In brown or black, with a 5- or 8-inch handle, this unlined tote is made of gorgeous Italian leather tanned in an eco-friendly way without heavy metals.
Why it POPs: The fact that you can change the length of the straps makes it super versatile.
Get it: SeeVivier.com, $320
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Faceted Labradorite Triple Wrap Bracelet by Jeffrey Levin
Dozens of smoky-gray, iridescent, 3-millimeter stones adorn this bangle by Levin, a lifelong jewelry designer from SoCal by way of South Africa, who learned the art in the workshops of the family business.
Why it POPs: “I love not only how it looks, but also the artist’s story. His pieces are timeless, and there’s a lot of love put into them. You can see his hand in everything he does, which I think is really rare.”
Get it: JeffreyLevin.com, $185
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CP: People have to really like a gift to be willing to wear it. How do you avoid yours ending up on the return rack?
BW: The first thing is, I wouldn’t buy clothing for everybody. I have a friend who’s a big fashion person but she’s so particular, she doesn’t even want her boyfriend to buy for her. There are other people I could buy clothing for really easily. Secondly, go with accessories — they always fit. They can punch up an outfit and make it more relevant without costing a fortune.
CP: Should your aim be to match the recipient’s style as closely as possible or expand their horizons with a piece they never knew they always wanted?
BW: As a stylist, I don’t do that to my clients unless they’re open to it. Part of being fashionable is feeling comfortable and confident, and if you’re wearing something in which you feel out of your element, it’s going to come across as such. That said, there have been certain things I never would have bought for myself — like the resin skull bracelet that my kids picked out — that have been some of my favorite gifts.
CP: When in doubt?
BW: You can never go wrong with simple, classic, high-end jewelry. And a gift receipt!
Melissa Daly is a freelance writer in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She has (quite literally) taught classes in underwater basket-weaving and dabbles in the art of photography, architectural drafting, and cookie design (occasionally all at once).
Images: Hanging Man tee by Ai Weiwei: courtesy of Des Artistes; Konduz Earrings: courtesy of A Peace Treaty; Grace Jumpsuit by Kristinit: courtesy of Kristinit; La Tropézienne bag: courtesy of Clare Vivier;
Faceted Labradorite Triple Wrap Bracelet; courtesy of Jeffrey Levin
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