By the point this time of year rolls around, I come down with a strange affliction known only to market and style editors across the land as “product fatigue.” The human brain can only hold so many images of exquisite things for so long. If you can believe it, we at G&G started talking about holiday gifts in August when temperatures in Charleston felt like (a humid) 113 degrees. However, the assortment below snapped me right out of it and back in the spirit—the fine art of the splurge is always a fun topic to dream about.
Dress
I’m all for a frock like this emerald beauty by Cara Cara that looks just as chic at a holiday lunch in December as it does at a dinner alfresco in spring. $347; caracaranyc.com
Fire Tool
Leave it to Sid Mashburn to discover an elegant, enameled fire poker with a cool story: This one by Blo-Poke has been made the same way for eight decades. $180; shopmashburn.com
Body Brush
The marble-handled body brush from Jayson Home looks like something Venus or Zeus might use (and yes, it’s luxurious and exorbitant, and that’s precisely the point). $129; jaysonhome.com
Men’s Down Jacket
Curbing plastic in the ocean is a hot topic all over the world, and certainly in the halls of G&G. That’s why I love the new down vests by Patagonia: The shells get made from recycled plastic fishing nets that would otherwise be up to no good. $329; patagonia.com
Readers
Even the younger set who don’t quite need bifocals yet will want to snag these frames from Krewe in New Orleans (and order them with blue light–blocking lenses instead); they’re way more fun than the drugstore variety. $315; krewe.com
Chef’s Knife
There are two basic rules for owning a thing of beauty like this Japanese chef’s knife by SharpEdge: Use a honing stone to sharpen it, and don’t even think of putting it in the dishwasher. Do, however, chop, dice, and fillet to your heart’s content. $309; huckberry.com
Platforms
When it comes to cocktail shoes for women, this year a pair of gold Dolce Vita platforms seems like the ultimate recipe for a good time. They’d particularly pop against colored or black tights. $135; tnuck.com
Dutch Oven
Whether you’re boiling, braising, sautéing, or stewing, a four-quart Dutch oven like this one by Staub will do it well for years to come. $310; westontable.com
Handwash
I don’t know how the magicians at Sangre de Fruta do it; they make their fragrances from dozens of holistic essential oils and nothing else, and this handwash in Neroli Noir is transformative stuff. Especially after chopping onions. $60–$102; sangredefruta.com
Tea Set
Sure, you may own the proper glasses and accoutrement for all things bourbon, but what about the necessary utensils for the pageantry of tea? This alluring teapot and other coordinating specimens by Polspotten fill that gap with serious style. $90–$104, luisaviaroma.com
Garden & Gun has affiliate partnerships and may receive a portion of sales when a reader clicks to buy a product. All products are independently selected by the G&G editorial team.
