- Dow vs. S&P 500: Which is a Better Investment?
- Mick Fleetwood on the MP3 ‘Dumbing Down’ of Music
- Avis on the Road to Strong Growth: Analyst
- Private Homebuilders: Dead Men Walking
- LinkedIn’s Growth Is Already Priced In: Analyst
- The Real Reason Behind Bank of America’s Rally
- 5 Hedge Funds’ Top Stocks Soar After 2011 Rout
- This Valentine’s Day Love Is Served on a Silver Platter
- CEO to CEO: Our Roles Are Changing
- Dividend Payout Could Hit Record Amount This Year
- With Investors So Bullish, Stock Pullback Must Be Ahead
- Is Bill Gross, PIMCO's Bond King, Losing His Touch?
- Greece Austerity Deal Runs Into Trouble Once Again
- Why Saving Greece Could Destroy the World
- Apple’s Record Run: $500 Is a Magic Number
- Housing Still Hurting Consumers, Economy: Bernanke
- Get Ready for $5 Gas This Year: Ex-Shell CEO
- The World's Best Beers
MOST SHARED
- How to Date a Wall Street Man
- Standard & Poors Downgrades 34 Italian Banks
- Dividend Payout Could Hit Record Amount This Year
- Follow Leon Cooperman into RIM, Halliburton?
- Dow vs. S&P 500: Which is a Better Investment?
- Pauley Perrette's Southern Bakery a Hit in Manhattan
- Gene Munster Expects Apple Growth, Dividend
- Dow Logs Worst Day of 2012 Amid Greek Drama
- Stanford's Lawyers Subpoena Attorney of Key Witness
- How Rescuing Greece Could Destroy the World
This blog will look at the winners and losers in the retail space. Who has the right strategy to capture consumer dollars? It also will look for trends in consumer spending and how that will impact the economy.
Last-Minute Gifts for Her … and for Him
If you're that guy who waits until Christmas Eve to do his shopping, no sweat! We've got some great gift ideas for you that won't scream I-just-bought-this-it's-still-cool-to-the-touch-from-the-trunk.
![]() |
Source: anntaylor.com The importance of cashmere at Christmas cannot be stressed enough. |
We'll make you a hero.
FOR THE LADIES:
Electronic photo wallet. Less expensive than a digital photo frame (also a great gift, btw) but more substantial than the photo keychain, this is a great gift to replace those bulky, crumpled photo inserts for your wallet. Macy's [M
Loading...
()
] has one a $30 electronic photo wallet that's the size of a credit card and can hold up to 60 color images. You can also get them at Wal-Mart [WMT
Loading...
()
], Best Buy [BBY
Loading...
()
], J&R Music, PC Richards and other retailers.
Cashmere. If you remember nothing else from this list, remember cashmere. You can go to any department store, any women's clothing store and find soft, luxurious cashmere things that she'll go crazy for, from sweaters to hats, gloves, socks — even pajamas. And, this year in particular, you're going to get great sales on cashmere, given the recession. Cashmere sweaters often go to 50-percent off in the days before Christmas, and 2-for-$100 is a typical deal, but you're going to see even better sales this year.
If you've already got her a big present, why not top it off with cashmere gloves and a scarf? Your only task is to figure out which colors she likes and which colors look good on her. Take a quick peek in her closet on your way out the door. Some good places to shop for cashmere: Macy's, JCPenney [JCP
Loading...
()
] and Ann Taylor [ANN
Loading...
()
].
Gifts that make a difference. Getting her a hand-woven fruit bowl from Macy’s that benefits poor artists in Africa is the Christmas equivalent of bringing a dog to the park. She’ll see your softer, sensitive side, probably give you a big, “Awwww,” followed by a smooch! And, unlike the dog, you don’t have to take the bowl out for a walk on icy winter mornings. It’s a win-win!
A Spa Basket. You could buy her a nice big fluffy robe. Or a nice set of bubble baths and lotions. But if you want to really dazzle her with pampering, go to TJMaxx [TJX
Loading...
()
], Marshall’s, Bed Bath & Beyond [BBBY
Loading...
()
] or Target [TGT
Loading...
()
] and get the largest (but most tasteful) basket you can find. Then, fill it with a big, fuzzy robe from one of those stores or Macy’s, plus the slippers, bubble bath, shea-butter lotion, massage oil, hand cream, eye mask, scented candle — the works. Try something from the Body Shop, like body butter and shimmer lotion in Warm Amber or Rich Plum. (Incidentally, their products also have the “Aww” factor, using moisturizing ingredients from the Community Trade fair-trade program.) You could even throw a bottle of champagne in there. Or a coupon to her local salon for a manicure and pedicure. The fact that you went big, and had to make more than one stop, is sure to be a hit.
Quick Tip: Make sure you know the type of scents your lady likes. If she hates vanilla, don’t get her vanilla bean lotion. To be on the safe side, take a quick peek in the shower on your way out the door.
A Gourmet Coffee Basket. If your lady is a coffee lover, why not get her the best of the best? Use the big basket trick you learned with the spa gifts and fill it with a gourmet coffee press she can take to the office, along with a couple of big bags of Starbucks [SBUX
Loading...
()
] coffee — or, better yet, coffee you hand-picked from Whole Foods [WFMI
Loading...
()
] — a travel tumbler, a big bag of biscotti, some Godiva truffles, chocolate-covered coffee beans or coffee-coated almonds from Starbucks, some Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream (it reduces swelling) from the Body Shop, a coffee-shop music CD, and a copy of “Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed Our World.”
Ed Hardy Gear. If she’s trendy, go for an Ed Hardy t-shirt, handbag or watch. They’re tattoo-inspired designs, which are really hot right now. And don’t worry: Even though the T-shirt s says “Love Kills,” I’ll bet you it will do anything but! Available at Ed Hardy stores, Nordstrom [JWN
Loading...
()
] and some smaller boutiques.
Quick Tip: Try to find ladies-only t-shirts. They’re also called baby-doll T’s. They’re far more flattering, which will make your lady feel sexier. And you know what that means! Has anyone seen my Barry White album?
Diamond Stud Earrings. Whether she’s a trendy lady or not, diamond earrings are sure to be a hit. And, at this late hour, it will be a lot less frustrating than if you were looking for the perfect gold locket or something very specific. A few other options: Dangly diamonds, diamond hoops and a mix of diamond and chocolate diamond earrings. Putting the words diamond and chocolate together, you can’t lose! The only way you could go wrong with these is if she doesn’t have pierced ears. And if you don’t know that, well … seriously? Jewelry chains like Zales [ZLC
Loading...
()
] and Kay Jewelers are offering some good deals.
Quick Tip: You can also buy jewelry from department stores, but don't be a cheap-o and go for the $50 earrings that are a “special buy” when you purchase something else. They’re usually low-quality diamonds. How can you tell? Well, I don’t have time to teach you the four C’s – you probably wouldn’t remember them anyway – but just get ones that shine bright and look clear, not gray. Believe me, you can tell.
A Jewelry-Organization System. If you’re really goosey on the jewelry, here’s a safe bet: A nice, expensive jewelry box or organization system. (Try department stores, Bed, Bath & Beyond or the Container Store.) Here’s a nice one from Crate and Barrel. You know she’s seen those home-organization shows, but just doesn’t have the time to do it for herself. Plus, most girls would rather spend the money on the jewelry than the organization. So, you’ll do it for her. Also has a dog-in-the-park feel to it. Honestly. You are soooo sweet!
Swarovski Snowflake Ornament. A nice luxurious topper to any gift for your lady. Swarovski issues a new one every year (so, you could be setting yourself up for years to come — as well. Imagine a whole tree of crystal snowflakes!) There are a million cuts, so it shines brilliantly to give that dash of holiday magic. And, if she likes to wear big, chunky necklaces, you could also get her a long, thick silver or gold chain so she can wear it as a necklace, or just put it on the tree. They’re so beautiful, she just might keep it out all year long! Available at Macy's.
A few final words of advice: Kitchenaid mixers are super popular and if your lady is a baker, she’d love this, BUT — not for the holidays. Buying kitchen appliances as a birthday or holiday gift for your lady is so 1950. Just don’t do it. Seriously. Don’t.
Also, no lingerie, please. We love it, but really, is it a gift for us or a gift for you? If you really want to make her smile – and get what you want in the process – wrap up a lacy nightgown under the tree, but put it TO yourself as well as FROM yourself. That’s right. Call yourself on it before she can call you on it. Oh snap!
And don't forget: Peek in her closet. Peek in the shower before you leave the house.
If you’re lady is really picky, check out Shop.com’s eGIFTS service. Here’s how it works: You send a set of gift choices to your lady. She chooses which one she wants from the list and voila!
If you’re panicking, don’t worry. Help is available! You can contact Giftgirl.com 24-7 through the holidays to get advice. You tell them about your lady and they'll give you advice on what to get her.
**************************************************
Gift Guides
- Sports Holiday Gift Guide
- Last-Minute Gifts: Where the 'D' in DIY Stands for Digital
- Geek Chic: 10 Cool Gifts for Gadget Lovers
- Stupid or Cool? Check Out These 12 Weird Gift Ideas.
- Good Luck Finding These Hot Holiday Toys
- Luxury Gifts: Blinging in the Holidays
- Hottest Digital Cameras for Your Budget
- The Green Holiday Gift Guide
**************************************************
- Marketing clichés aside, sometimes diamonds are for investing.
- The ‘Fast Money’ traders weigh in on fashion related stocks from apparel to footwear.
- This list of the 10 most active cities for speed traps was compiled by Trapster.com. See if your town is there.
- This Valentine’s Day should prove a love fest for restaurants, as many couples will be dining out.
- Here’s a look at Westminster Kennel Club’s most successful breeds—and how much they cost.
- What kind of homes do celebrity couples share? Here’s our updated list. Take a look.













