It’s the most wonderful time of the year… well, until you start holiday shopping, anyway. Gift-giving is a joy, but gift-shopping is a marathon. So this year, we set out to make it a little easier: in these next five pages, you’ll find gift ideas for anyone on your list, with a special focus on being able to purchase the gifts right here in Fairfield County. What we love about putting together each issue of Westport Lifestyle is honing in on what makes this town (and the surrounding ones) so great, and one of the best things about Westport is it’s a darn good place to shop. So while not every item in our gift guide is available locally, we strived to make as many as possible something you can pick up in person. (And not just because we know all too well the stress of waiting until the very last possible minute to purchase a gift, though that certainly factored in!) We've got guides to fragrances, kids' gifts, activewear (where every shop is on Main Street!), food, and men's gifts. And for any items we recommend that are not hyper-local, we looked for Fairfield County connections whenever we could, like locally-founded brands. (All roads lead back to Westport, as they say.) Many of these items are also Westport Lifestyle-tested and approved, like the fragrances, at right, which were wear-tested by our editor Sara Gaynes Levy.
Hopefully, this guide makes your holiday season a little less stressful, and holiday shopping a little more fun. And may you have no trouble finding the perfect parking spot in Parker Harding Plaza. Happy holidays and happy shopping from the Westport Lifestyle team!
FRAGRANCE
- While Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Man may be marketed as a men’s fragrance, the spicy, woody-vanilla scent is totally unisex; I've been wearing it all fall. It’s fresh and peppery with a sweet finish—perfect for holiday cheer. $120 at ellisbrooklyn.com
- BDK Parfums 312 Saint-Honoré is a feminine, sophisticated scent with notes of musk, powdery iris, and citrusy-white-florals from orange blossom. It's clean and luxe: like a favorite face lotion bottled up. $250 at Bluemercury, 62/57 Main St., bluemercury.com
- CHANEL's Chance Eau Splendide is a fruity, youthful scent that pops with an immediate hit of photorealistic raspberry, coupled with garden-like pink and purple flowers. $176 at Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutique, 58 Main St., chanel.com
- One of my favorite fragrance houses, Parfums de Marly, offers a discovery set of their marquee feminine-leaning fragrances: their signature tart rose-lychee scent Delina, the creamier, milkier Delina Exclusif, the soft, peachy floral Valaya, and the sugary, citrusy Oriana. $230 at Bluemercury, 62/57 Main St., bluemercury.com
- If a scent could be both calming and sexy at the same time, it would be Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum. The lavender-vanilla combo is comforting and alluring, with a spiciness perfect for cooler months. $181 at Ulta, 1635 Post Road E., ulta.com
- For the fraghead on your list, indie perfumer S.S.K (Labs)’s Fragrance Kit 01 includes an eau de parfum and two perfume oils: everything you need to make a layered, complex signature scent. All three scents work off an amber base, but allow you to create something that’s all your own. $300, at ssklabs.com
KIDS
- My absolute favorite toy to gift kids is a Yoto Mini Player. This screen-free audio player goes everywhere with them, so they can listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts, and more at home or on the go. Content cards are sold separately, and you can also make your own cards from audio content on your phone. $79.99 at us.yotoplay.com
- Westport-born brand Melissa & Doug’s hot toy of the season is the Spray & Shine Car Wash, which features a color-changing car and working tools. Too cute! $32.99 at melissaanddoug.com
- Every girl in town knows the must-have gifts must come from Groove. She'll live in this "Merry" sweatshirt over winter break. $65, at Groove, 420 Post Road W
- Kids love these breathable water shoes from Kane. They’re perfect for any kid heading to Florida for the holidays, but you know they might wear them as soon as they open them. Even if it’s snowing. $79.95 at Naturino, 1096 Post Road E., naturinokidswestport.com
- This Pillowfort dragon weighted plush is a great gift for all ages—even older kids—as the heavy stuffed animals offer sensory comfort (and, yes, are also pretty dang cute). $25 at Target, 680 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, target.com
- Plus Plus building toys are a fun, creative activity for kids. They're also easy to travel with and make a great waiting-for-your-food-at-a-restaurant toy. $18 at Awesome Toys & Gifts, 429 Post Road E., awesometoys.com
ACTIVEWEAR
- This holiday season's hot list leggings are the Airbrush High-Waist Heart Throb Leggings from Alo, which feature contrast piping and their signature logo waistband. Pair them with the matching Airbrush Heart Throb Bra ($88) for a can't-miss set. $134 at 44 Main St., aloyoga.com
- The jacquard-knit Classic Knit Tote Bag from Lululemon goes from yoga class to commuting, no problem. It's a sturdy, easy bag that comes with a removable pouch to take all your essentials into the studio. $168 at 69 Main St., lululemon.com
- There is nothing softer than the fabric in Beyond Yoga's Spacedye Go Pocket Joggers. It's the perfect weight, moisture-wicking, machine washable, and dryer-safe. You definitely know someone who would love these pants. $118 at 136 Main St., beyondyoga.com
- For skiers this season, the breathable cotton-wool Upscale Waffle Beanie from Athleta will serve her well on and off the slopes. $45 at 103-107 Main St., athleta.com
- With a versatile funnel-neck, a water repellent coating, and chic quilted matte stretch fabric, the Rhone Monterey Quilted Jacket is the perfect throw-on-and-go layer for a Connecticut gal. $248 at 7 Main St., rhone.com
- There's a reason the OFFLINE by Aerie Cloud Fleece Oversized Crewneck Sweater is called "cloud fleece:" it's a light-as-air sweatshirt with a super-cozy inside. Pick it up in a festive color for a guaranteed "I love this!" upon opening. $60, at 91 Main St., ae.com
Honorable Mention
Rare Beauty's Rare Eau de Parfum, the first fragrance from Selena Gomez's beauty brand, is a sweet vanilla/sandalwood scent that's cozy and familiar. But what's really special is the accessible sprayer, designed in collaboration with an occupational therapist, that works for nearly everyone. $75 at Sephora SoNo Collection, 100 N. Water St., Norwalk, sephora.com