Round Up of the *It* 2020 Holiday Shopping Guides
Christmas encapsulates everything I love in life: booze, decorations, family and friends, food, gatherings, gifts, glitz, planned outfits, movies, music, shopping, and years other than this, all of that can happen at a destination of your choice. How good would a beach be right now? I’m looking at you, 2021.
As we hunker down, shopping may be more online this year than ever before. Online can be tricky – I love to see, touch, and feel what I’m considering before buying in years past – but vetted gifts guides can take some of the guesswork out of the process. Fashion friends, just in time for Black Friday sales, here is a roundup of my favourite holiday gift guides for shopping across the world wide web.
In my very best RuPaul Charles impersonation being sure to respectfully channel Ballroom influence, please hear me when I say, “The Ho-Ho-Holiday gift category is…”
More is More… Collections of Gift Guides
The powers that be at American Vogue are always good for a collection of guides each year. This year is no different. Shop by category – Him, Her, Parents, Dog Lovers – or peruse it all.
What do you think when I say, “GOOP Holiday Guides?” You may roll your eyes, but she has quite robust categories this year. She’s gathered up lists for wellness, kids, men, click and send, hosts, travellers, lovers, under $100, and the most infamous, the “ridiculous but awesome” gift guide.
If you are looking for something more accessible, Buzzfeed will not let you down, They have gathered collections of guide for a tonne of categories sure to delight. Pajamas sets, anyone? Click away.
Esquire has quite the kitty of ideas for everyone on your list – Mom, Gramps, tech focused, even Comic Book fans. The collection of guides may be some of the carefully curated I’ve seen this season.
Saying it with Fashion… Style-Centric Gift Guides
Harpers Bazaar provide a stylish, lust worthy list for the fashion friends in your life. Sure, it’s pricey, but there’s a lot of cosy shearling to accompany silks and glitzy gold. I’m not mad about it.
Refinery29 lays it out on the embellished, drip[ping in decor table for the “lovingly picky” stylish woman in your life. I feel seen after scrolling through this list.
A shout out to the team at GQ for their annual effort with shopping for the gentlemen in our life. The collections and genres help sort out even the toughest guy to find a gift for. Well done, you.
Gifts that Give Back… Mindful Gift Guides
A gift for you that gives a gift to someone else? Bingo bango that’s a two-in-one if I must say so myself. Fashion Canada has this list that may delight the conscious consumer. And tonnes of Canadian brands to boot.
Leave it to the youths, they’re going to save us all if we get out of their way. Here’s another roundup of gifts that give back via Teen Vogue.
How about gifts that don’t cost a thing? Marie Claire has tonnes of ideas for those thinking beyond physical tokens this year. These sentimental ideas are sure to warm even the coldest of hearts.
Shopping local ensures that your hard earned money goes to another Albertan or Canadian that lives, works, and play here too. Here are a few guides for those wanting to keep it close to home or support marginalized communities. Avenue Calgary, BOM Calgary, Indigenous-owned, LGBT-owned, and Made In Alberta to name a few.
Gift Guides for Other Parts of Your Life… aka: Not Just Fashion
If you cheat on fashion with home décor like me, perhaps you’d like to take a boo at what’s popping inside the home. House and Home and Architectural Digest have some stellar lists.
Taking care of the greatest love of your life – that’s you silly – is important. Never more so that this trying time we’re in. Teen Vogue has got self-care covered. In Style has rounded out soothing items here, too.
If you’ve got money on your mind and your mind on your money, this Good Housekeeping list may just be the ticket. Spending modestly on gifts like these will translate to the receiver as budget savvy rather than the dreaded cheap junk.
Ho-Ho-Hop To It
I hope that helps you finish off that list of people you are hoarding instead of gifting. Get it.
If you’re needing a mood boost, here’s a list of some of Christmas’ best classic movies. I’m a sucker for a holiday flick and wrapping gifts marathon session like no other. All that’s missing is the beverage: tea is lovely; bourbon is even better.
