Sometimes the craziness of the holiday season takes the magic out of sourcing the perfect gifts for loved ones. So we talked with a few of our favorite local shop owners, who specialize in stocking beautiful, useful items, right here around the lake. Take a peek, get inspired and jump in the car. You could have your holiday shopping done—with a few things thrown in for your own home—within an afternoon. Form doesn’t need to take a backseat to function this year. Cheers to that.
Stylish Self Care
How many of the folks on your list could use a few moments to escape the daily grind and pamper themselves? With fun packaging, easy-to-wrap sizes and reasonable price points, self-care staples make wonderful gifts.
Grown Alchemist hand wash ($37, Gray Home + Lifestyle) brings a bit of decadence to a simple daily ritual. With scents of orange, cedarwood and sage, the fragrances are subtle, earthy and appropriate for even the most perfume-sensitive guys or gals on your list. “They also come in really beautiful, striking bottles, which is a plus,” says Gray co-owner Chloe Lappen.
Herbivore’s Calm Indonesian ylang ylang- and vanilla-scented soaking bath salts ($18, Golden Rule Collective) are made for a long soak on a cold winter night. The salt’s beautiful color makes it display-worthy, and the scent is sure to soothe. Pair it with Mast almond butter chocolate ($4.50, Golden Rule Collective) and a bottle of wine for a relaxing evening.
Everyone’s talking about Himalayan salt lamps these days. “Salt lamps are known for their healing qualities, as well as being soothing,” says Bellaluna partner Satail Tailin. Score one at the boutique, which focuses on all things spiritual, healing and beautiful in nature. ($33–$55, Bellaluna Boutique). Wind chimes are another fun option for indoors or out. “You can create a beautiful atmosphere with angelic tones,” says Tailin ($55–$204, Bellaluna Boutique).
Adorable Accessories
Looking for a stylish piece as unique as the person you’re gifting? One-of-a-kind stone rings ($38–$110, Bellaluna Boutique) and Anne Koplik replicas of romantic vintage pieces ($72–$105, Bellaluna Boutique) have striking colors and shapes. Or handmade genuine leather Mo & Co handbags and mini-backpacks ($120–$176, Bellaluna Boutique) are versatile fashion accessories that’ll go the distance. “Mo & Co donates part of their profits to empowering girls to be strong, smart and bold. They also support women who have been victims of domestic violence,” says Tailin.
The Spring Finn & Co. black simple leather clutch ($68, Gray Home + Lifestyle) is like the little black dress of purses. A tiny leather strap gives an added, over-the-shoulder option for wearing on the go. Going with the leather theme, score a handmade Solid Manufacturing Co. leather keychain ($12, Golden Rule Collective), great for daily use or to set apart the cabin or boat keys.
An Apolis Market bag —with a charming sense of place—is made by Bangladesh Project ($68, Golden Rule Collective). Its artisans, identified by the trackable factory code on each label, are given fair wages, and their products are well-made and utilitarian. “That’s the trend right now—giving back,” says Golden Rule Collective owner Erin Duininck. The tote has a waterproof lining and a pocket built in, so it’s perfect for a trip to the farmers’ market, a carry-on for a winter getaway or almost any other occasion.
Alex and Ani bracelets —recycled and made in the U.S.—are artful mainstays at Meridian, with an easy price point starting at $28 (Meridian). At Golden Rule, these Natalie Joy earrings have an edgy, modern feel ($68–$70, Golden
Rule Collective).
The Giving Keys are necklaces made of recycled keys stamped with inspirational words (prices vary, Meridian). They’re hung on ball chains or finer, more dainty versions and provide a tangible reminder to be “Fearless,” “Breathe,” find “Strength” or “Love.” “The idea is that you can give it to someone who needs it; they’ll eventually pass it on to someone else,” says Meridian owner Christine Kuhns. “The company also employs homeless people in Los Angeles.
It’s kind of a pay-it-forward thing, in two ways.”
Meridian carries a full line of limited-quantity women’s clothing and accessories. Buy a gift certificate or personal styling session for the hard-to-shop-for woman on your list, and she can walk away with a head-to-toe ensemble to mix and match well with her current wardrobe. While statement pieces abound, so do quality staples and layer-able, multipurpose ones. “People even bring in a dress or item from another store and say, ‘I don’t know what to put with this.’ We welcome that,” says Kuhns.
Hygge at Home
The Scandinavian philosophy of staying in, cozying up and indulging in all things soft and warm (hygge) has caught on in a big way lately. And with a climate like we have, relishing the warmth and love of home and family does the soul some good. Those northerners are on to something.
To give the gift of warmth and light to your loved ones, check out the Happy Habitat throw, which is made in the U.S. from recycled cotton ($160, Gray Home + Lifestyle). It comes in a variety of colors and patterns, but the trendy geometric triangle version is a hot seller this year.
“We are doing some nice winter whites this year—and lots of warm colors, and moving away from grays toward tans, browns and oranges,” says Lappen. “And shapes. Triangles, circles and squares are huge.” Check out Gray’s bevy of home fragrances, accessories and candles to set a homey tone for the holidays and beyond. Lightwell Company’s room fragrance spray ($18, Gray Home + Lifestyle) offers a room refresh in an instant. “It’s soft and clean and subtle,” says Lappen. The Gray honey pot ($39) is made in Red Wing, Minn., and it’s a perfect accent piece, with or without honey.
“Our palette is really neutral—we’re about great linens and building comfy coziness in the home,” says Highcroft Home partner Ann Seehof. The shop’s signature palette of bright whites, blacks and moody, masculine accent colors works well in most homes, and especially offsets the glitz and glam of the holidays with a little gravitas. “And especially with our long winter, people find themselves entertaining more at home,” says Seehof. Highcroft’s selection of throws —from basic to splurge-worthy and luxurious—range from $75 to $1,195 and come in a variety of colors and materials. Score a copper or brass bowl ($32–$92, Highcroft) to pair with a bag of popcorn and shelf-worthy boxed games like Charades, Trivia, or Sing It Out (from $9.95, Highcroft) for a game night-inspired gift.
The Sitting Room studio specializes in design services, but has a retail space for inspiration, planning and spur-of-the-moment purchases. A table centerpiece is created from textured, layered components ($200–$250, The Sitting Room). “There’s this trend right now toward plants and greenery,” says design assistant and store manager Emily Ness. “A centerpiece makes a great gift for just about anyone on your list, and it can be adapted with vases, trays, succulents and mosses to fit a color scheme or aesthetic.”
Other hits include hanging baskets ($150–$200, The Sitting Room) and wallpaper-like accent fish that add a little outside-the-box interest to a room ($8, The Sitting Room).
Unsure where to start? The Sitting Room team offers one- to two-hour design consultations that make great gifts by themselves. The recipient can bring in a photo of a space—or the gifter can provide a covert one—and they’ll walk away with professional design advice or a few expertly sourced pieces to improve the room.
“This season, we’re taking notes from architecture and art, focusing on clean lines and high design. People are sick of buying just to buy. We need to do better,” says Golden Rule’s Erin Duininck of the way she and her team are approaching the holiday season. Fittingly, their “Waste Not, Want Not” dish towel has been a bestseller, just as appropriate framed as it would be for dish duty ($30, Golden Rule Collective). “We’re trying to incorporate more ethically sourced, sustainable, locally made items,” she says. “‘Forever’ items.”
