A Collector’s Edit of Covetable Luxury Gifts |
Whether she is the giver or the recipient, this gift guide is for a specific type of woman. She is refined yet effusive, a connoisseur and collector who gravitates to heritage brands, cutting-edge tech and creatives producing extraordinary designs. Yes, there's an underlying current of reverence for the featured designers and an assumption that our shoppers are part of a rarified world where a $6,000 trunk and $1,700 earrings are covetable splurges. That is, of course, intentional (and stating so is, perhaps, redundant). Spanning fashion, art, accessories, home decor and tech, these are the types of treasures that will be cherished for years and spark joy each time they're worn, used or displayed. Many of the items below have been personally tested by yours truly. Those that haven't are from brands or retailers I know and trust. All of the items are meant for those who appreciate craftsmanship, design and inimitable style.
Neon pink and green can be challenging to pull off in any medium without looking like a Lily Pulitzer devotee, but Amy Beager's Wetlands is so layered and captivating, and there is so much to see and think about (I am not an art critic) that What to Wear in Palm Beach will be the last thing on your mind. The original, an acrylic and oil on linen, made its debut in 2022 at London's Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery as one of 12 works in the artist's Swan Maidens exhibition, which tells the story of a woman-swan torn between worlds.
In June of this year, Artsy and RHODES Editions launched Beager's first-ever screenprint, featuring this Mother Mary-type figure cradling the emblem that, since 2000 BCE, has symbolized transformation, purity, love, loyalty, intuition and other things synonymous with the most aspirational side of motherhood. This remarkable 25-color screenprint was produced in a limited edition of just 35, each signed and dated by Beager. In what can only be described as a Christmas miracle, it remains available on Artsy for you to purchase as a gift for the mother of your children.
$940 | Shop Now
A screenshot of these earrings has been stored in my cloud, in an album called "yes," for almost three years. Although I still do not own them—only because I find post-backed earrings to be an absolute nuisance—I'm glad to finally remember to share such a delightful accessory with our readers. Handmade in sterling silver and coated in 18K gold, luminous cultured freshwater pearls defy gravity in an interplay of precious metals. The earrings are dainty (less than an inch long) and striking, and the brand's commitment to being ethical and eco-friendly is inspiring; over 90 percent of the silver and gold in Marie Oliver's designs are recycled.
$170 | Shop Now
It takes a certain confidence to wear full-body painter's garb without worrying that you look like a toddler in costume. I've never gotten there (clothes meant to be "worn while creating"), but Imogen Willie's Madisonville Jacket skims the surface. It is the best version of white: not eye-blinding, pristine or precious. The cuffs are smartly grey and black, avoiding the tragedy of ruining pure white anything with everyday wear. Patterned, cut and sewn in the USA and made from 100 percent cotton sourced from a family-operated, seventh-generation 8,000-acre regenerative farm in Alabama, the coat exemplifies American-made craftsmanship. The design was inspired by vintage club jackets, and the antique brass zipper is a thoughtful, subtle detail that complements this aesthetic. If you can get your hands on one (the style seems to sell out quickly), keep in mind that the sizing is unisex.
$295 | Shop Now
If you're on the fence about purchasing a silk scarf for a woman whom you've never seen in a silk scarf, I assure you that any woman who receives this silk scarf will become the kind of woman who wears a silk scarf. With the exception of less than a handful of items (those sandals, that belt and those bracelets, all of which are usually only worn by people who do not understand the heritage of the brand but want to associate in the clearest way possible with an expensive luxury label), you can absolutely do no wrong with Hermès. This wonderfully oversized cashmere-silk shawl was designed by Henri d'Origny, the mastermind behind some of the most remarkable designs to emerge from the French fashion house over the past 50 years.
$1,450 | Shop Now
There was a period of time (five years) that I was loyal to a single pair of sunglasses, steadfast in my belief that I'd never stray from what I mistakenly thought to be the perfect pair of non-prescription spectacles. That was until I met (was gifted) Morgenthal Frederics' Ninety-Eleven Sunglasses, the first version of aviators I have ever worn that do not make me feel like I should don a leather bomber, learn to fly planes and cosplay Tom Cruise. The design was inspired by the intricate, decade-defining creations of Jean Paul Gaultier and Yohji Yamamoto in the 1990s, and meticulously handcrafted in Japan from the finest titanium and acetate. Furthermore, they are ultra-lightweight—important for those who are quick to complain about their nose and........