Burberry

Cozy by the fire place

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

Good things come in small packages

Wonder what Rudolph brought?

Winter Wonderland

The Perfect Xmas Gifts Curated By Mimi

Heck, I know the holidays are more than a month away, but coming from this crazy, xmas obsessed gal….I can’t wait!

I already started practicing Christmas Carols in my singing lesson with Kim Sutherland, and let me warn my friends, I will be singing “Santa Baby” and “Silent Night” from now until January. Not to mention my obsession with xmas movies, especially the super cheesy one’s on ABC Family.

But let’t get down to business….

Priding myself on being an observer of human beings(I find them fascinating), I have learned a thing or two about gift giving.

Firstly, it’s not the thought that counts-people do not want something they cannot use or is not beautiful to look at. Secondly, a good gift does not need to cost an arm and a leg.

Here are my gifts that will make you the hero in your loved one’s lives this xmas, broken down into 3 categories: For Everyone, For the Special Girl, For the Special Guy.

For Everyone:

1) Diptyque Holiday Candles

I am obsessed with these candles, especially the Holiday Collection! My absolute favourite is the Resine. When I light this candle, I am transported to my childhood home in Connecticut with a vision of my dad propping up an enormous Evergreen. The sweet and woody smell permeated our house, and although I sucked at decorating those xmas trees, they were still beautiful nonetheless.

For folk in NL, you can buy the candles at Skins. They run for around 60 Euro, but last so long and have such a vibrant scent. Trust me!!

Get them before they run out!

2) Hermes Coffret With 3 Customizable Luxury Soaps

Cuz I can't afford the Birkin... — Cuz I can’t afford the **Birkin**…

This Hermes coffret will look absolutely beautiful in the bathroom and can also be placed in closets to gently scent your clothing. Now who in your life wouldn’t benefit from some Parisian style?

A gift this elegant is more than worthy of its 48E price tag. And, no, I don’t think your friends will be offended if you buy them soap, and if they do, then I wouldn’t be friend with them anymore.

3)Charbonnel et Walker Truffles

Hey, if they are good enough for the Queen...they are good enough for me! — Hey, if they are good enough for the Queen…they are good enough for me!

These are the truffles that Queen Elizabeth loves and my absolute fave flavour is the Marc de Champagne. Heck, why not throw in a baby bottle of Rose Moet while you are at it as these babies start at around 12E for a small ballotine.

In general, everyone loves chocolate, especially great quality chocolate. And if they don’t then they should not be your friend.

For the Special Guy:

It can be tough buying a great gift for your guy, but I have a few no fail ideas…

1) The Mr Porter Paperback-The Manual for a Stylish Life

This bad boy will set you back 175E but…it is completed with gold-edged pages,and is limited to just 500 copies around the world.

I love receiving and giving books, and if you do too, check out Mr Porter for more ideas

2) Mulberry Leather Gloves

I must say that most guys don’t think to buy themselves a classic pair of leather gloves, so it is my sure fire way to buy something both beautiful and useful.

For the Special Girl:

Women, no matter how practical, love beautiful things and love the thought that you actually put some effort into buying her a special gift. So if you don’t have your special girl’s bff on speed dial to get the insider tips, here are my recommendations that will make her xmas morning even better….

1) A gift box of her favourite perfume

Did you notice I emphasised the her? Perfume is a very personal thing so don’t risk getting adventurous and buying some new, trendy fragrance or even worse, something your ex wore that you loved. Buy her what she already wears or what she has been mentioning she would love to get. These sets usually come with a body lotion or shower gel which is always super nice.

2) A gift certificate to her favourite spa or the spa she has been meaning to try.

My best pics in Amsterdam are :

The City Street Spa for a great mani/pedi or facial.

If you want to treat your girl to the best massage ever, then look no further than Chill Out Spa. Ask for David Dijkstra and the Mayan Massage.

3) The Fabulous Classic Item(If she has been very good girl this year)

Now what do I mean by this….

The classics are classics for a very good reason. They are timeless and look good on everyone. And there are very few things that remain timeless in this ever changing world. Here are my top picks:

Burberry Trench

Saint Laurent Cabas Y Leather Tote

So I think you catch my drift by now…

And to my dear friends, yes, you will be getting something from my curated list. You all know I am horrible at surprises 🙂

Lots of love,
Mimi

Don’t think you can build a wardrobe without these essentials! These items will never go out of style, so it is worth the investment. Here is my list of go to items:

1) Crisp, white button down shirt. My fave is Brooks Brothers-always crisp due to special fabric treatment. Great for traveling.
2) Black pencil skirt. Zara and JCrew have great ones; just make sure it is a nice, thick material
3) Black trousers. Yup. Full on trousers. All time classic. Ann Taylor has a great selection as well as Zara. My go to pair is Michael Kors. If they are lined, even better.
4) Black blazer. Lined. And make sure you can button it.
5) Classic Trench Coat. Definitely a worthwhile investment. I have had my Burberry one for years and still looks like a million bucks.
6) Classic Winter Coat. Preferably wool, cashmere, etc. Again, worth the investment as you will have it for years. Black, Gray, or Camel. My go to brand is Max Mara in Camel.
7) Cold Weather Coat that doesn’t make you look like the Michelin Man. Love Burberry, Moncler, and Max Mara.
8) A great pair of jeans that make your ass look fab. My fave brand is Hello Skinny! You can order online and they are made in the USA. Great cuts specifically designed to make the most of your figure.
9) A great white t-shirt that you can dress up or down. American Vintage and James Perse are my fave.
10) Dressy top in silk or something embellished that can dress up your staples
11) LBD that makes your bod look awesome. I love Celeb Boutique for great fabrics and designer cuts. Fabric is everything, so ensure for a nice, thick quality material
12) Black Cardigan. Cashmere will get you more bang for your buck. It is worth the investment.
13) A really good pair of black, opaque tights. Spanx Tight End Tights are my absolute fave!! They smooth everything and are a great foundation.
14) Jean Jacket. I have my sister’s hand me down Calvin Klein one for over 10 years now. You can dress it up or down. Looks great with unexpected looks, like a lady-like dress.
15) Cashmere Crew or V Neck Sweater in a classic color. JCrew is my go to brand.

Would love to hear if you have any additions! More to come on Shoes, Accessories, and Make Up!

Lots of love!!!