We never really understood that expression, “It’s better to give than to receive,” until we managed to find someone a perfect present.
Instead of a befuddled expression that translated to, “Next year, maybe just... Amazon vouchers?” we saw a gleam in their eyes, and got a warm glow in our bellies.
What constitutes a perfect present? It’s not about money, or what you think the other person ought to like. It doesn’t even have to be a grand, showy surprise, though there is something soulless about families that simply email each other lists, stony-faced, at the beginning of November.
All that matters is whether this is something the recipient would not have bought for him or herself, and that they would love – not need. Here are 10 winners.
Charlotte Tilbury Naughty & Nice Magic Box
We have a conceptual problem with beauty advent calendars, in that you’re meant to start opening them on Dec. 1, which means they’re a really crap Christmas gift. A better option is the 12 days of Christmas set – typically they have bigger goodies because you don’t have to cram 24 gifts into one little box. The most beautiful for 2017 is thisone, which contains some full-sized products including eyeshadows, lipstick and gloss, and some minis, including a 15-ml sample of the brilliant Magic Cream Moisturizer.
$250, at Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom and CharlotteTilbury.com
Faux Fur Throw
At the last office Christmas party we went to, there was a White Elephant Gift Exchange, during which several people got very tense over a blanket like this one. Lies were told, angry looks shot across the room; and in the end, everyone sat nicely and ate pie together because, you know, we’re still Canadian.
$99.50, at Indigo
Membership at Club Row
Vancouver’s newest fitness club is like spin class, but with rowing machines instead of bikes. The sell? Rowing works your entire body at once and combines strength and cardio, which leads to lean muscle. It’s also low impact, so easy on the joints.
Club Row is at 211 East Georgia St. $209 a month for unlimited classes (vouchers are available up to $500, which gives $600 worth of classes).
Customized Roots Award Jacket
At Roots’ concept store in Pacific Centre, you can create a unique take on the brand’s classic varsity jacket: choose the colour, add different logos, and finish with your loved one’s name on the back.
$568 colour customization; add $100 to customize crests and embroidery. Roots.com.
Barber & Co. Beard Regimen
Who is this really for? The beardy bloke who wants cool products from a Vancouver brand? Or his long-suffering partner, who has to kiss (and look at) his silly hairy face? This kit contains beard oil for softening and strengthening, beard balm for moisture and whisker wax so he can shape his ’stache into Poirot-like peaks.
$52, at Barberandco.ca
Indochino Suit
Men in well-fitting suits look great, and that’s a fact. Local brand Indochino does bespoke ones at a reasonable price (somewhere around the $500 mark) and you can get gift vouchers so your guy can be fitted up on your dollar.
Warm Indigo Glen Check Suit, $519. Indochino.com.
Lost and Found perfume
Instead of heading to the department store for a generic designer scent, put a little more thought into your fragrance gift. Lost and Found is a Toronto brand with a hippie sensibility that makes its perfumes to order from essential oils. There are four scents to choose from. Our pick for winter is Ember, which has touches of tobacco, sandalwood and nutmeg.
$46, at Lostandfoundapothecary.com.
Roque Diane earring
Local brand Roque does beautiful minimalist jewelry in luxe materials. These earrings, named after fan-of-the-brand Diane Kruger, come in silver or gold, with a ball and freshwater pearl detail. Photo by Kyrani Kanavaros
$560 for silver and $660 for gold, at Roque.shop.
RYU Locker Pack Lux
If you spend way too much gym time delving into your bag like Mary Poppins looking for a lamp, this is for you. It has a 24-litre capacity, is full of little compartments so you can stay organized, and has a drop front for easy access.
$220, at RYU stores and RYU.ca.
Kobo Aura ONE
To those people who go on about how e-readers are terrible and nothing can match the smell of the ink and the feel of the paper: We hear you. We were once like you. And then we got an e-reader and realized we can buy books from our beds, never lose our place, and read till late without bugging our partner. This one is even waterproof so we can drop it in the bath if we want.
$249.99, at Indigo.
