Wouldn’t it be nice if we all could enjoy the luxuries of a personal shopper? Not just for ourselves, but to help us find clever gifts to give to our loved ones—especially during the holidays. Well, while we might not be able to invest in professional help, we thought of the next best thing: asking those who basically shop for a living for a bit of gift-giving advice. Here to save the day, we have the senior vice president fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue, Roopal Patel. If you’re tuned in to the street style scene, you’ll know she’s always one to watch during fashion weeks, thanks to her chic sense of style and discerning eye for need-to-know trends.
With the same attention to detail, Patel has curated a list of undeniably perfect gift ideas. Whether you’re shopping for your beauty-obsessed best friend or the special man in your life, discover Patel’s curated list of gifts to give below.
For the Fashionista
Alaïa Le Teckel Leather Shoulder Bag
Khaite Roosevelt Slingback Pumps
“For the fashionista who has everything, I love to give must-have coveted items,” says Patel. “It is a win-win and bound to delight the recipient.” Start your shopping plans with Toteme’s viral coat. She’ll be able to wear that classic find for years to come. Or bless your recipient with the handbag of the year: Alaïa’s Le Teckel. “I love the Khaite crystal slingback pumps,” Patel adds. “They add some holiday sparkle to any look.”
For the Beauty Lover
Saks Fifth Avenue 25-Day Beauty Advent Calendar
111Skin Cryo De-Puffing 8-Piece Eye Mask Set
Hermès Rouge Hermès & Rose Hermès Set
Good things come in small packages. “Beauty gifts are perfect stocking stuffers, host gifts or presents for an office gift swap,” Patel explains. Reach for solution-based products like 111Skin’s miracle-working eye patches. Or, wrap up a little luxury from Hermès Beauty. The set here proves that a fancy gift doesn’t have to break the bank. “I also love the Saks Beauty Advent Calendar, which is full of my favorite products from Dr. Barbara Sturm, Augustinus Bader, Diptyque and more,” Patel adds. “The ritual of opening up one gift at a time during the holidays feels very festive.”
For the Hostess
Ginori 1735 Oriente Italiano Platter
Petrossian Royal Ossetra Caviar
“I always love giving a host or hostess a gift that they can enjoy for themselves after their event,” Patel explains. “Ginori makes incredible gifts that hosts can use for any dinner party. Additionally, a small tin of Caviar offers a little treat that the host can enjoy at the end of the evening after their guests depart.”
For the Dapper Gentleman
The Elder Statesman Cashmere Sweater
Thom Browne Striped Leather Card Holder
Loewe Flow Runner Logo Sneakers
Don’t forget to spoil the fellas in your life. “Elevated, everyday essentials are great gifting go-to’s for the dapper man,” Patel says. “A cozy cashmere knit from The Elder Statesman, luxe Flow Runner sneakers from Loewe, and a signature card holder from Thom Browne are all refined gift options for the dapper man this holiday season.”
Alexis Bennett Parker is the Commerce Content Lead at ELLE.com. In this newly created role, she oversees all shopping-related stories online, from fashion-forward trend pieces to the most coveted beauty buys on the market right now. Alexis has worked in the publishing space for 11 years, and seven of those years have been dedicated to helping shoppers make informed purchases—no buyer’s remorse here! Before joining the team at ELLE.com, she worked in the editorial departments of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and InStyle, to name a few magazines. Not only has Alexis worked closely with several brands and tested hundreds of products over the course of her career, but she’s also won awards for her work as a shopping journalist. Namely, she was an honoree at the Pynk Magazine Gala in 2023, received the Condé Nast Commerce Content Award for Best Article by a New Hire in 2021, and was included on the Top 40 Under 40 Heir’s List in 2018.