In Spades

Style... in abundance

Holiday Gift Guide Under $25


1. Card set – how fun are these cheeky phrases set in metallic foil finish?
2. Soap rocks – these assorted soaps look like natural gemstones and add a glamorous touch to any bathroom.
3. Trinket dish – whether her heart is in Paris, New York or London she can store her dainty pieces on this pretty dish.
4. Brooch – I love the modern and timeless appeal this pearl + silver brooch gives off.  It will look so chic pinned to a winter coat.
5. Metallic pouch – metallics are huge right now and this crocodile pouch is genuine leather and will look great with any outfit.
6. Alphabet mug – let her drink her morning coffee in style.  Add a bag of your local roaster’s beans for good measure.
7. Silver ring – modeled after a Van Cleef & Arpels style, this design is timeless and so sophisticated.
8. Coloring book – I’m all about adult coloring books and this one is designed by blogging duo The House Home.
9. Shower gel – one of Philosophy’s best selling scents, these shower gels are useful and luxurious.
10. Velvet belt – on trend and versatile.  I’d wear it as a choker as well as a belt.
11. First Aid Beauty Balm – I’ve written about this miracle cream before and it’s simply the best beauty product to soothe winter skin.
12. Llama socks – these wool socks have Christmas llamas on them.  Enough said.

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Holiday Gift Guide for Men


1. Handheld Gimbal – perfect for the guy who loves to take photos and videos, this motorized stabilizing gimbal takes your videos to the next level.  We used this exact model to create these How To videos.

2. Himalayan Salt Tequila Glasses – these reusable shot glasses are attractive and eliminate the need for a salt chaser.

3. Survival Bracelets – for the outdoorsman, these survival bracelets include a built-in knife, compass, fishing wire, hooks and materials to start a fire.

4. ABC Pants – short for (ahem) anti-ball crushing, these pants allow for maximum comfort while still being socially acceptable to wear in public.

5. Tools: How They Work – the vast majority of men have little knowledge of how to actually use the tools they own. This book, described as unexpected and entertaining, provides excellent instruction for how to apply and grow your knowledge of handiwork.

6. Beer + Food Pairing Towel – these handy bar towels include every kind of beer imaginable and what meal to pair with it.

7. Virtual Reality Headset – currently 40% off, this is one of the best virtual reality headsets I’ve ever tried (and yes, my inner geek has tried several).  If he doesn’t have a Samsung device, this option or this option are the gold standard of VR headsets but at much higher price-points.

8. Taka Hayashi x Vans Hightops – a super stylish yet classic collaboration from two of the great sneaker makers.

9. Shinola Wallet – handcrafted in Detroit, all of Shinola’s products are the highest quality at transparent prices.

10. Portable Wireless Speaker – for the music junkie, this compact, portable speaker is perfect for roadtrips, bike rides, outdoor excursions and just about any activity you want to pair with music.

11. Sansaire Sous-Vide – for the chef, this is the most revolutionary cooking tool on the market.  Place it in a pot of water along with the protein of your choice in a sealed bag, and voila, you have the perfect meal in about 45 minutes.

12. Etip Gloves – he doesn’t have to freeze to stay connected.

13. Turntable – for the vinyl lover, this turntable is stylish, compact, affordable and has excellent sound quality.

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Gift Guide: For the Beauty Guru

Today’s gift guide is a special one because every product on the list is one I swear by and have personally seen amazing results from.  Read below for why they’re my favorites.  You can shop the guide three ways: by clicking the product images above, the links in the descriptions below, or within the slideshow at the bottom of the post.

  1. Cane + Austin Miracle Pads – comprised of glycolic acid, you wipe these pads across clean skin to exfoliate and build collagen.  I noticed results after just one use – reduction of dark spots and wrinkles, overall even tone – and almost missed a flight once because I was out and couldn’t bear a weeklong trip without them.  They’re that good.
  2. Foreo Luna Mini 2 gift set – this facial cleansing brush uses T-sonic pulsations to deeply cleanse and exfoliate the skin.  I use it each night to take the day’s makeup off and have found no equal when it comes to truly cleaning my skin.
  3. Diptyque gift set – this set is a great departure from the norm, offering more robust scents like my all-time favorite Feu de Bois (smells like a crackling fire).
  4. Lorac Pro eye palette – every color you’ll ever need from an everyday look to a smoky eye is included in this richly pigmented palette.
  5. Sunday Riley Good Genes serum – the third weapon in my trifecta of good skin (along with the Foreo and Cane + Austin pads) is this serum.  Its powerful lactic acid treatment is the closest thing you’ll find to making your skin look like Cate Blanchett’s – luminous and otherworldly.
  6. Nu Evolution lipstick in Femme Fatale – every woman searches for the perfect red lipstick and I can proclaim the quest over with this shade.  It truly looks amazing on any skin tone and comes from the cleanest, greenest cosmetics line on the market.
  7. R + Co. dry shampoo – nothing smells or works better than this miracle dry shampoo.  No powdery, flaky mess or residue. It zaps oils quickly and gives your hair amazing volume.
  8. Rudolph Skincare gift set – I’ve written about this amazing skincare line out of Denmark before (even Helena Christensen swears by it).  This set of their four best selling organic skincare products is a steal and ships free for the month of December.
  9. Sigma Beauty brush set – one of the best valued brush sets on the market, these brushes are super soft and durable.  You’ll own them forever.
  10. Maison Margiela Replica fragrance in Jazz Club – I’m in love with all of the Replica fragrances, but Jazz Club is the perfect sexy, winter scent.  Not heady or overpowering, it makes me think of chic parties in NYC during the Sammy Davis Jr. era.
  11. Benefit Gimme Brow Gel – three words: quick, easy, effective.  It takes 3 seconds to apply, is foolproof and makes your brows look like Brook Shields during her heyday.
  12. Smashbox lipstick set – every color in this lush lipstick set is wearable (even the vivid lavender) and comes with a mattifying gel should you want to change the creamy look to something more editorial.
  13. Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin – the holy grail of makeup application, this book covers every look you could ever want to recreate with easy steps, tips and amazingly beautiful photos for inspiration.
  14. Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Spray – I’ve tried a million different detanglers and leave-in conditioners and this one wins, hands down.  I believe the secret is in the consistency – it’s more of a silky gel than a liquid, yet comes out in a super fine spray to strengthen follicles and make for the smoothest comb-through post-shower.

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