If you're in need of the perfect gift for the cigar-lover in your family circle but you're not looking to be as spendy as high-end cigars consider the classic and sleek XIKAR Xi Ultra Slim Cigar Cutter. It's the kind of gift that's small enough to be given without too much of a personal investment but still unique and tasteful enough to avoid being passed off as just a token effort. Plus, being barely thicker than a credit card and weighing only 1.5oz, it would also make a perfect stocking stuffer. $49.99
Think of the holidays and of all the images that come to mind I bet none of them are the famous hippie symbol of Peace, but this holiday season Barneys is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the peace sign with an exclusive collection of Nixon watches all featuring a Happy Hippie theme. Designs include watch bands made of hand-stitched hemp, hand-stamped leather, and even one limited-edition version designed by Gabriel Urist that has a band of sterling silver with coral and turquoise inlays. The watches are available only at Barneys CO-OP stores (click here to find one near you) and prices range between $500 and $8000.
A steaming hot drink is one of the universal comforts of winter and what better way to enjoy yours than in a beautiful porcelain cup in the company of somebody you love? Hermès has a beautiful collection of cup and saucer sets that come in a variety of cheerful and colorful patterns, many of them with a jungle animal theme, and are sold in sets of two so you won't have to enjoy them alone. Or if you prefer your beverage in something more substantial you can always opt for one of the matching coffee mug designs which are equally beautiful. $320-$510
Kim Kardashian is auctioning off her belongings on eBay yet again for her favorite charity the Dream Foundation. And this time it's not only her old clothes, shoes, and dresses but several members of her car collection also -- including a Range Rover, a Mercedes, and a Maserati. Plus this time she's convinced her boyfriend Reggie Bush, her two sisters Kourtney and Khloe, and her mom to participate in the auction with her by cleaning out their own closets and selling stuff as well.
Touted as "stronger than a conventional bank vault" the Traum Heirloom Vault is the perfect solution to the dilemma of having your precious jewels and other valuables both easily accessible and adequately protected. Fully customizable to your specifications, the safe features pull-out drawers and interior lighting so you'll have no trouble finding what you're looking for, plus Relastan armoring and the ability to connect to your existing home security system so you'll have peace of mind.
Sporting a beautiful golden interior and blue laquered exterior, the Traum Heirloom Safe is available exclusively from Frontgate for $180,000.
Deciding where and how to display your best bottle of wine or champagne can be a tough time unless, of course, you have a golden Fort Knox wine rack. Both strikingly elegant and appropriately simple, the Fort Knox displays and protects a single prized bottle inside a cage of shining gold. Each piece is unadorned except for the engraved logo and limited-edition number that's hammered on by hand.
Certainly not for the modest household, the Fort Knox would make a great gift/investment that could be passed down as an heirloom for years to come. Price upon request only.
Designed by Vivianna Torun for Georg Jensen these bangle watches are sleek, elegant, and classic. Intended to "free people from the slavery of time," Vivianna Torun made these watches extremely simple -- featuring a plain face with no numbers and simple hands. In addition the open bangle design symbolizes that "time should not bind us" while the mirrored face serves as a reminder that "life is now."
Very dramatic sentiment but it works in this case as the watches themselves are certainly dramatic. Available in gold, silver, and black stainless steel, the simplest designs sell for $2,200 while the limited edition version (that includes 173ct of pavé diamonds) is priced at $28,500.
Louis Vuitton's 1001 Nuits (or 'Nights') is a striking collection of brass, pewter, and multi-colored crystals that come together to form a group of sparkling, logo-heavy jewelry pieces perfect for wearing this holiday season. Available in Amarante or Orange color schemes, the collection includes earrings, bracelet, brooch, ring, necklace, and even a hair barrette (an accessory that often gets forgotten these days) all of which tie together nicely but can also stand alone. Key design features include inset multifaceted strass crystals and a logo-engraved nail located at the center of each flower. $355-$890
When it comes to feasting on Thanksgiving day the turkey is the star of the show so it's only natural to display it on something beautiful. And since large serving platters aren't as prone to being broken or worn out by daily use it seems worthwhile to invest in one you'll be proud to show off on special occasions like Thanksgiving and other gatherings for years to come. So what kind of platter will go best with your Turkey Day tabletop decor? Whether you choose one that matches your dinnerware or one that stands out on its own, there's literally thousands of choices out there -- see the gallery below for some ideas!
Gallery: Turkey Platters for the Thanksgiving Holiday
I always love looking at bathroom fixtures that include crystal accents but I have to admit I don't ever plan on having any in my home because although they're very beautiful they also look outrageously difficult to keep shiny and clean! But I still enjoy browsing and these latest designs from Joerger are as pretty as any I've seen. You can go classic and opt for silver hardware with clear or frosted crystal knobs, or more modern and styled by choosing colored crystal in one of five hues including the red shown here. No matter which you choose, they're sure to make a statement of luxury and refinement in your bathroom.
I'm always a little torn when it comes to liking box-style clutches because although I like the way many of them look, carrying a hard-sided bag with sharp corners and rough surface textures doesn't feel very luxurious in my hands. This Shagreen Mini Audiere (in pink) by R & Y Augousti might be worth the compromise, though. It's a very structured rectangle adorned with red carnelian embellishments, lined on the inside with leather, and featuring a simple but attractive push-lock closure on the top. Certainly a solid investment if you're looking for an all-season evening clutch that will roll with the fashion trends year after year. $900
The House Of Grauer is catering to the cigar smokers among us this holiday season by offering The Aficionados Collection of chocolates specially designed just for them. Depending on the assortment you choose, flavors include delicacies like Italian roasted hazelnut, milk chocolate with French organic bee pollen, and Sri Lankan cinnamon. Leaves, sticks, and rings of swiss chocolate are boxed up beautifully and formulated expressly to enhance the cigar smoking ritual and bring new levels of flavor and sensation to the experience. Prices range from $65 for 14 pieces to $275 for the 104 piece Magnum Mixed Collection.
I like the idea of an envelope clutch, and at first this one appealed to me, but the more I look at it the uglier I think it is. It's the Micol Metallic Envelope Clutch by D&G and it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like -- a large leather envelope. It zips closed instead of folds over like a typical envelope, and from the pictures it looks like that ends up being a a little awkward. It has a leather pull with an attached silver padlock on the front, a contrast panel and dangling key bell on the back, and (perhaps the best part for me) the interior is lined in a pretty shade of pink silk. $695
Flashlights are not an exciting or even particularly interesting part of life but they certainly are a necessity when the power goes out or you hear something creeping around in the backyard at night. So whether for yourself or as an interesting gift for the gadget-lover on your Christmas list, the Light for Life flashlight is certainly worth looking at. Thanks to its ultracapacitor technology it has the longest uptime and fastest recharge available in the market today -- which amounts to 90 minutes of light after just 90 seconds of charging. And because it's made of a durable polymer and will never need new batteries this could just be the last flashlight you ever buy -- which is good for the environment. $169.99
This Ombre Logo Basket Tote's versatile coloring means it can pass nicely through the winter as an icy blue, and then through the spring also if dressed up as a sky or pastel blue. It's shimmery, it's simple, and although it's not totally outrageous it's definitely an acquired taste. Fendi makes this bag out of coated vinyl with textured white leather trim, plus it has a smooth vinyl lining, an open top, a flat base, and 3 interior pockets. It's available at eLuxury for $1,030, plus they have also have a version in red.
