The Glittering Holiday Gift Guide 2016

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and with it the biggest shopping dilemma of the year: how are you supposed to get the people who mean the most to you a gift that says “I love you, you mean a lot to me, this is something you will use and also something you want”? It seems like an impossible task, but have no fear- I have some great ideas for you! Whether your loved one has an insatiable desire to travel, a never-ending Sephora wishlist, or an eye for beautifully framed shots, you’ll find something on this holiday gift guide for everyone on your list.

I also did my best to include some smaller brands, because I believe it’s really important to support small businesses who make quality goods. Every item in this guide I can either vouch for personally or is on my personal wishlist, so they’re all products I believe in! And of course, some from Amazon because how can you resist Prime shipping?

For the One Who Can’t Stay in One Place:

Cuyana Classic Passport Case in Stone: $95USD

Beyond serving the purpose of protecting your most important travel document, your passport, this leather case is long enough to hold boarding passes and has card slots for other forms of ID and transport tickets. Plus it can be monogrammed!

Smartbox Vacation Gift Set: 25-500€

If you are located in Europe or have someone who plans to travel there soon, why not give them the gift of an experience? Smartboxes are a gift card redeemable for any of the experiences listed in the accompanying booklet. With prices ranging from 25 to 500€, there’s something for every budget, from restaurants to spa treatments to weekends in a chateau! They are available in France, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

For the One Who Aspires to a Killer Instagram:

Sony A6000 Mirrorless Camera; $548USD

Don’t let its size fool you; this little camera packs a powerful punch. This is the latest version of the camera that many bloggers made famous, the A5000, because of its compact size and ability to produce high quality images. With a tilting “selfie” screen and WiFi capability, it’s great for someone who wants to edit images in real time or needs the extra space in their bag that a bigger camera would take up.

Lo & Sons Claremont Leather Camera Bag; $300USD

After spending all that money on a good camera and lenses, you’ll want to protect them. While this bag is made more for a full size DSLR than the above Sony, its padded inside will keep any camera safe while looking on the outside like a regular handbag- which of course it can be used for!

For the One Whose Makeup is Always Flawless:

Karen Murrell Starter Pout Pack: $150NZD

The lovely team at Karen Murrell NZ was kind enough to send me this pack of their lipsticks, and I have to say I really love them! My two non-negotiables for lipstick are longevity and feel on the lips, and these deliver on both counts. The color stayed on all day with minimal touch-ups, and because they’re made with natural oils and wax they actually feel really nice to wear. I’ve never tried anything so pigmented that felt so much like a lip balm! Keep in mind that all prices are in New Zealand dollars. I also have a discount code for you valid between now and Christmas Eve; check out my Instagram for more details!

Bioderma Crealine Micellar Water: $28USD

Unless she’s been living under a rock, chances are your beauty guru friend already knows about micellar water, but this is the original. It removes makeup using tiny oil particles in the water called micelles, and it’s neither drying nor oily, making it perfect for all kinds of skin. I don’t think a bottle of this could ever be poorly received by someone who loves beauty!

For the One with the Endless Closet:

Camelia Roma Leather Shoulder Bag: 80€

I found this Italian bag brand on Instagram and was instantly obsessed. The bags are made of beautiful, quality leather, they come in all styles and sizes, and the best part, they’re totally affordable. I snapped up this one, which is just the right size for my little Canon DSLR, and you get 10% off of your first order when you sign up for their newsletter. Just make sure you order at least 2 weeks before Christmas for it to arrive on time!

Wool Duffle Coat with Faux Fur Hood: $98USD

Despite what magazines or websites may tell you, French girls do indeed wear sneakers (everyone in Paris owns a pair of Adidas), and now that the cold’s arrived I can confirm that for the third winter running, everyone has a coat with a faux fur hood. Whether it be wool like mine from Naf Naf or a military green parka like this one,

For the One Who Wishes She Were French:

Les Parisiennes by Anne Sebba: $17USD

If you’re a bit of a history buff like I am, you’ll dive right into Anne Sebba’s Les Parisiennes, an account of the women of Paris during the German occupation- their lives, their ideas, and ultimately their resistance. Some, like Coco Chanel, dared to continue their glamorous livestyles while living in a city where the Frenchmen, off on the front line, had been replaced by German soldiers. Others, like Geneiveve de Gaulle, niece of the general, were more bold in their fight and nearly paid for it with their lives. A fairly long read, this would be a great gift for someone taking a long trip this holiday season!

French ABCs Print by French Words: 35€

The popular Instagram account @frenchwords has been bringing its followers a daily dose of French since 2013. Spearheaded by founder Julien, the French Words stationary brand was born from that love of the language. The first collection offers small, medium and large prints as well as a notebook. The French ABCs print pictured above would be a perfect wall decoration for the Francophile in your life! Check out this Instagram post to get 10% off your first order.

For the Male Influence in Your Life:

Classes on Skillshare: varying prices

Is there anything your favourite guy has always wanted to learn? Perhaps he’d love to take his photography skills up a notch, or dreams of writing his own app. Buying him a subscription to a site like Skillshare will enable him to learn these things while investing in his personal growth. Just be sure he doesn’t take your suggestion to take an online cooking course as a sign that you hate his cooking!

Vena iPhone 7 Wallet Case: $19.99USD

My boyfriend has a wallet case similar to this, and he loves it! There’s an added level of convenience not to have to take a whole wallet with you when you don’t have to, or even to keep something like a travel transport card in so it’s always close at hand. The kickstand is an added bonus for watching shows on trips or while trying to read a recipe. I love this one for the iPhone 7- here’s one for the iPhone 6S and one for the 5S/SE.

What’s on your holiday gift guide this year? Share your discoveries down below!

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning that when you buy something, I make a commission. It doesn’t cost you anything or change the nature of your purchase. Thank you for your continued support and helping me keep The Glittering Unknown running!

All photos belong to their respective owners.

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