The holidays are fast approaching, and while you’re probably busy sipping seasonal cocktails and penning all those New Year’s resolutions, now is the time to finish up your last-minute shopping. For those of you with a fearless fashionista on your list, here are eight ideas your savvy gal pal is sure to adore.
Abbie Drue Designs – Perusing Abbie McKenzie’s exquisite leather accessories, it’s hard to believe the designer is only in her early twenties. The young Houston artisan buys sheets of high-quality leather, hand stitches the hides together and stains the rough clutches various hues. McKenzie’s leather bags come in small, medium and large and are a classic addition to any girl’s wardrobe. Check out her website to place an order or ask a question about McKenzie’s designs.
Net-a-Porter – Worldwide madness ensued when Hunger Games: Catching Fire debuted in theaters last month. Weeks later, viewers still can’t get enough. Most every fashionista can learn a thing or two from fictional heroine Katniss Everdeen, and online fashion house Net-a-Porter has taken notice. The digital fashion retailer has released a special collection based on outfits featured in the movie. While the line is somewhat pricey, there are a few pieces in the collection that are reasonable, such as the Love Sweater and the Girl on Fire T-shirt.
Rifle Paper Co. – Writing letters is an art of days gone by, but many stationery outlets are turning it into a modern hobby. Companies like The Paperless Post and Rifle Paper Co. feature an assortment of beautifully designed, quirky stationery sets and personalized cards. For any fashionista, sets like the Queen Collection or the Hello Gorgeous cards are a great investment.
Birchbox – By now, you’ve likely heard of Birchbox. The boutique beauty brand has grown significantly over the past year, and for good reason. Birchbox curates a small but stellar collection of unique beauty goods and accessories each month, sending them out all boxed up to their loyal subscribers. For $10 a month, you can send your bestie a box of beauty products. Not only will she love the goods, she’ll be reminded of your glorious gift every time her little Birchbox arrives in the mail.
Leighelena – This South Congress store has long been a favorite of Austinites. The brand is known for their leather goods, which come in an assortment of colors and hides (think ostrich, lizard, alligator). While the accessories are a bit exotic, they’re extremely versatile, pairing well with both daywear and nightwear.
La Patisserie macarons – When in doubt, go with sweets. La Patisserie’s macarons are not only decadent treats, they’re also breathtakingly beautiful. These petite cookies were born in Paris when bakeries and patisseries began dyeing their egg white shells nearly every shade imaginable. The rainbow cookies don’t run cheap, but they’re a sweet choice for any stylish lady. Austin’s La Patisserie carries these cookies in assortment of flavors.
The Anatomy of Fashion – Publishing powerhouse Phaidon publishes a spectrum of titles in photography, cooking and fashion, but The Anatomy of Fashion is one of their most thought-provoking, visually stunning books yet. The well-photographed title The Anatomy of Fashion chronicles the history of why we choose certain dress, why we look the way we do and how this has changed over time. One of the world's leading fashion commentators, Colin McDowell, breaks fashion down into specific parts of the body, examining in detail how each has been clothed. He uses this novel arrangement to map out the different considerations that influenced clothes throughout history.
Kendra Scott — Austin-based designer Kendra Scott has propelled her Texas brand into the national spotlight in just a few short years. These days, Scott's accessories brand features a wide selection of jewelry in various stones, shapes, colors and cuts. Check out any of the Austin locations, Kendrascott.com or Neiman Marcus to see what has caught the eye of celebrities like Eva Longoria and Jessica Alba.
Houston's Abbie Drue hand makes her leather goods.
