PRINTThe gift of taste
Make someone smile — in style
November 30, 2006 | 12:00 a.m. CST
On the first day of shopping, Vox gave to me an answer to all my fashion gift pleas. Have you been plotting to “take care” of Mom’s fanny pack before the next famly vacation? Does your dad look like a future contestant on What Not to Wear? Would you rather eat a stale fruitcake than look at that atrocious outfit grandma is wearing? This Christmas, do everyone a favor, and give the gift of good fashion. With your subtle and tactful style suggestions, the whole family will be singing, “Here comes Santa Claus; there go fashion flaws.”
Help Mom pitch gifts of the past; start with an attack on the fanny pack
Related Articles Related LinksNo matter where Mom travels, she’ll want to be luggage-free. But don’t let her sacrifice fashion for a frumpy fanny pack, the signature look of a pointing, gawking, camera-toting tourist. Civilianlab.com offers sleek harness bags in a variety of sizes, colors and styles. Each harness bag can be worn six different ways: as a belt holster, shoulder bag, thigh holster, bandoleer, chest pack or shoulder holster. And some are so compact, they’ll fit under her jacket.
Covert harness bags: $49.95 to $99.85, civilianlab.com
Replace Dad and Grandpa’s heinous wristwatches; it’s not a mission impossible
The popularity of lovable Napoleon Dynamite has demonstrated that nerdy is the new cool. But if Dad, Gramps or Uncle David is sporting an unattractive black rubber watch that looks like it came from the neighbor’s garage sale, help him replace geek with sleek. Nixon’s The Metal Dork wristwatch is both tech-savvy and edgy. It has a stainless steel caseback, and its large red digits are vintage-cool. The Metal Dork also sports a talking date and alarm with the voices of Tony Hawk, Saxon Boucher and others. Who knew digital timepieces could be so hip?
The Metal Dork Watch: $120, nixonnow.com
Grandma’s sweater got run over by a reindeer
Forget “ho ho ho,” and say “no, no, no” to Grandma’s Christmas sweaters. Candy canes and ornaments belong on the tree, not the torso. Maintain the flare of holiday tinsel in her wardrobe with a sequined and beaded sweater from Victoria’s Secret. That’s right; the lingerie empire also sells full-coverage clothing. A comfortable mixture of silk, wool, nylon and spandex, this gold-tone button cardigan is available in a soft crème brûlée color, so she can glow without blinding you with bling.
Sequined cardigan sweater: $59, victoriassecret.com
Scarves even the snowman shouldn’t wear
If “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland” are call-to-action anthems for your outdoor-loving friend, a fashionable scarf is a good item to wrap up your shopping. Get rid of his or her handmade scarf with the tacky-yarn-knit fit for a sock puppet. For “the sporty chick,” try Nike’s Thermal Fleece Scarf, available in red, black and blue.
If your friend is an artsy fireball, we suggest Urban Outfitters’ graphic intarsia scarf in skullprint. Try Gap’s faux fur wrap for a mix of sass and class. Don’t forget to remind the guys that stretchy gloves and ski masks bring terror, not holiday cheer.
For the trap-shooting, always-ready-for-hunting friend, try Gap’s reversible camo scarf with gray or tan camo print on one side and large stripes on the other. The preppier dude will love the long houndstooth scarf.
Thermal fleece scarf: $14, nike.com
Graphic intarsia scarf: $28, urbanoutfitters.com
Faux fur wrap, reversible camo scarf, long houndstooth scarf, all $34.50 at gap.com
