Holiday Shopping Guide 2009 |
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Inspiration from some of our favourite local boutiques for matching the perfect gift with every person on your list. |
Shopping Vancouver
By Nicole Sjostedt |
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For the Caffeinated
At the top of our list for a great gift item this holiday season is the elegant Citiz Nespresso espresso machine ($375) from Provide, neck-in-neck with a decorative tin of 25th of December tea by chic new Paris purveyor The Ô Dor ($40) from West Vancouver’s Urban Tea Merchant.
Provide, 529 Beatty St., Vancouver, 604-985-5844, providehome.com; Urban Tea Merchant, the Village at Park Royal, West Vancouver,
604-632-0095, urbantea.com |
For the Naturalist
A family-run business for more than 25 years, Crystalworks is the only gallery and store of its kind in Canada. Housing extraordinary works of art produced 100 percent naturally, it carries sensational collectible crystals and gifts, including cool mineral, fossil and stone specimens ($2 to $200,000).
1760 W 3rd Ave., Vancouver, 604-732-3870, crystalworks.ca |
For the Host and Hostess
Fine Finds has charmed Yaletown for a decade with everything from greeting cards to locally designed jewellery, stylish clothing and accessories, bath and beauty products and chic baby items. Our favourite party gift for the season is a Lucia soy candle, beautifully packaged and offered in a wide range of scents ($24).
1014 Mainland St., Vancouver, 604-669-8325, finefindsboutique.com |
For the Beauty Queen
Kiss and Makeup has quality beauty brands and trendy trinkets-from skin care to makeup, candles and hair care, this store holds the key to every woman’s heart. A pampering pick-me-up for the holidays is the cult-favourite Sugar Luxe Set by Fresh ($119), an eau de parfum, body polish and soap in the brand’s signature sugary sweet scent.
The Village at Park Royal, West Vancouver, 604-922-6292, kissandmakeup.ca |
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For the Eco-Conscious
Nest Interiors is known for comfortable, modern designs and clever accessories that are thoughtfully selected. A consultation with one of its designers can be the ticket to selecting the right furniture for your lifestyle. A green option is the EcoLuxury furniture line by California designer Maria Yee ($200 to $6,200); her Ojai table is shown at right.
522 Beatty St., Vancouver, 604-737-4704, nesthome.ca |
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For the Europhile
Bernstein & Gold interiors mixes European designs with local treasures. Family owned for 17 years, the boutique has Italian heritage that’s evident in its exquisite products, from hand-painted silk light fixtures to fine linens to intricately hand-carved wooden puppets and more. Those on the move will want to spin around on a 1950s-style Italian imported bicycle ($960).
100–1168 Hamilton St., Vancouver, 604-687-1535, bernsteinandgoldinteriors.com
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For the Fashionista
Oliver and Lilly’s is a South Granville boutique that has mastered the art of mixing casual clothing with more distinctive pieces, from locally designed signature jewellery to one-of-a-kind dresses. The vintage-inspired Lia Molly cardigans ($88 to $228) make a warm and cozy holiday gift.
1520 W 13th Ave., Vancouver, 604-736-7774, oliverandlillys.com |
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For the Entertainer
Walrus offers decor and accessories that are edgy but still have a playful side. The store even doubles as a gallery where local artists can showcase their talents: openings and events happen at the store regularly. We like the irreverent, urban graffiti-inspired five-piece china place settings (around $165 each) by Love,
Grove and Repucci.
3408 Cambie St., Vancouver, 604-874-9770, walrushome.com |
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For the Modernist
LivingSpace has contemporary and classic European brands of furniture and design-conscious housewares. The aesthete on your gift list would be pleased to put a sleek chrome toaster by Italian design darling (and Museum of Modern Art inductee) Alessi ($275) on the counter.
188 Kingsway, Vancouver, 604-683-1116, livingspace.com |
For the Design Aficionado
A jaw-dropping display of modern furniture graces two floors of Inform interiors’s Gastown space. This holiday season we’re wrapping up a Fish Designs flexible resin vase by Gaetano Pesce ($500 to $2,500).
50 Water St., Vancouver, 604-682-3868, informinteriors.com |
For the Bejewelled
Known for expert custom design services offered in store, Stittgen Fine Jewelry offers a one-of-a-kind gift this holiday season: a stunning cognac-coloured rough diamond necklace with pearls ($7,800).
1457 Bellevue Ave., West Vancouver, 604-925-8333, stittgen.com |
For the Oenophile
The fun new gadget this holiday season for red wine lovers-even some white wine aficionados swear by it-is the vinturi wine aerator ($60), which softens tannins in seconds and lets the big, juicy flavours breathe, creating smoother and more aromatic sips.
At wine and gourmet shops across the West, vinturi.com. |
Shopping Victoria
By Shelora Sheldan |
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For the Design Aficionado
Find furniture for every budget and taste at Scan Designs. Stressless lounge chairs from Ekornes of Norway look and feel great-they’re recognized by the American Chiropractic Association. The Jazz design comes in three height options with adjustable headrests (red or black leather, from $5,558). 661 McCallum Rd., Langford, 250-475-2233, scandesigns.com |
For the Bejewelled
Old-fashioned, attentive service provides the lustre at the family-owned de Goutière Jewellers, where Paul de Goutière creates unique and custom designs using rare stones. The store carries its own line of water-resistant and scratchproof Swiss-made watches, classic styles for both men and women (from $250).
2542 Estevan Ave., Victoria, 250-592-3224, degoutiere.com |
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For the Bathing Beauty
Wrap yourself in oversize Nandina bath towels from Flush Bathroom Essentials. Made from certified organic cotton and bamboo, they’re thick, super absorbent and available in naturally dyed colours like silver sage and almond pearl ($69). Coyuchi organic velour cotton robes have big collars and deep pockets for maximum coziness (from $139).
102–2537 Beacon Ave., Sidney, 250-655-7732, flushbath.ca |
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For the Gourmet
Gerri and Mauro Schelini capture the essence of Italy at the Tuscan Kitchen. Set the table with hand-formed Vietri dishes in an array of luxurious glazes, Deruta’s hand-painted Raffaelleso decor pieces (by Marjolica of Deruta, exclusively for the store) or Staub lidded enamel casseroles. Single estate olive oils, aged aceto balsamico, vincotto, artisanal pastas and sauces and Dean & DeLuca herbs add flavour to your holidays.
653 View St., Victoria, 250-368-8191, thetuscankitchen.com |
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For the Art Lover
With their new gallery, Polychrome, Shawn Shepherd and Mary Patterson bring a fresh eye to Victoria’s gallery scene. Established and new collectors will find contemporary paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints and art-related merchandise. We’re partial to Thomas Anfield’s sock monkey portraits ($180 to $800, above) and Russell Papp’s red and yellow cedar tables, inspired by vintage surf longboards ($1,875).
1113 Fort St., Victoria, 250-382-2787, polychromefinearts.com |
For the Green Thumb
Doyle and Bond is five acres of the gardening lifestyle. John Doyle and landscape architect and designer Rob Bond carry a wide array of oversize succulents, dwarf evergreens, indigenous ferns and exotic grasses, many of them eco-friendly for their low water needs. Deck the halls with their mercury glass adornments in glitzy red, silver and gold.
6666 W Saanich Rd., Brentwood Bay, doyleandbond.com |
For the Spiritualist
The botanically infused Victoria Gin, now available in 375-millilitre bottles ($30), is an essential addition to any budding mixologist’s starter kit. This month master distiller Peter Hunt’s new line of citrus bitters promises to be Twisted and Bitter. Victoria Gin is available at the distillery, government liquor stores and many private beer and wine stores.
6170 Old W Saanich Rd., Saanich, 250-544-8217, victoriaspirits.com |
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For the Homebody
Bernstein & Gold represents a chic look from Rebel Rebel boutique owners Erin Cooper and Claudia Knoglinger. Vivienne Westwood fashions set the tone and shoes from Pour la Victoire put your best foot forward. Get pampered at the
adjoining mini-spa with Fresh products, or do it yourself at home with New Zealand’s organic Antipodes skin care line, which is exclusive to the store.
Bernstein & Gold, 608 Yates St., Victoria, 250-384-7899, bernsteinandgold.com |
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