CHARLIE’s Holiday Gift Guide

It’s holiday time and the pressure of finding the perfect gift is on once again. The best gifts are those with meaning behind them so with that in mind, in creating our Top 10 Gift List, we’ve not only told you what, but why these are the best gifts this season. For a guy or gal, at all price points, any of these items will be stellar. You can even take all the credit.

Enjoy CHARLIE’s Holiday Gift Guide…

1. Christophe Artisan Chocolatier chocolates
Why should Godiva’s little gold box get all the love? This year, give local and give different with chocolates from the newby French husband and wife duo who opened the new pâtissier shop in I’ON. Crazy fillings and inventive shapes & colors make this box of chocolates the perfect stocking stuff or hostess gift. Available at Christophe Chocolatier and Lesesne. $14

2. Alexander Wang handbag
If women have a designer crush of the moment, it’s Alexander Wang. His slouchy, decadent leather bags are all the rage and the best part is: one size fits all. All ages, all sizes, all tastes. Pictured above is the edgy but classic Jess Small Shopper bag, but they’re all equally desirable. Everybody Wang Chung this Christmas. Available at Hampden Clothing. $895

3. Trish McEvoy “Gorgeous Red” lipstick
Not only is this gift a gem in every woman’s never ending quest for the perfect red lipstick, but it also benefits Lowcountry AIDS Services. Having been personally affected by the horrific epidemic through a friend with the disease, McEvoy created “Gorgeous Red” in support of World AIDS Day on December 1. The lip color itself is as close to perfection as we’ve seen, leaving a silky, light stain that the vampires are making so appealing nowadays. Changing the world, with every re-apply. Available at Gwynn’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. $22.

4. GurglePot
This is a fun gift for the home with a story behind it to tell everyone when they hear “the sound.” A young man, who would later design the GurglePot, found himself at a dinner party in France. He didn’t know the language so the dinner soon turned to dreaded awkward silences. Nervously refilling his water glass, the water pitcher made a gurgling sound and everyone erupted in laughter. They just kept pouring and laughing and were soon fast friends. We’d love the pitcher even if it didn’t gurgle, but it does make the most curiously funny sound when in use. Give it in any color of the rainbow (pictured above in Aqua). Also find a myriad of other precious finds at our new favorite gift store. Available at Bungalow Home. $42

5. Diva Wine Purse
Just another Saturday night and I ain’t got…something to carry my wine in. A dilemma no more. We love these chic, fun, practical wine carrying cases, complete with bottle opener inside. They come in all sorts of show-stopping designs like zebra (pictured above), giraffe, tortoise shell and others. And they’re so cute that they could easily double as a clutch. Available at Crushed Fine Wine. $42

6. Obey: The Art of Shepard Fairey
Just hold this art book and you know it’s something special. Open it, and cross into a whole new stratosphere. For anyone who likes the street artist’s work or anyone who simply likes a coffee table book that inspires interesting conversation, this is a prized gift. The substantial 500-ish page book, filled with the visionary’s works and the stories behind them, does exactly what it’s meant to: keeps your eyes and mind open, and makes you question everything. Available at Blue Bicycle Books. $60

7. BookArc
I’m a Mac. You’re a Mac. Everyone’s a Mac Mac. Lucky for us there’s TwelveSouth, based right here in Charleston, that designs the best must-have accessories for your sleek Macbook. One of its products, the BookArc, is our pick. Why? It’s an easy way to turn your laptop into a desktop with no clutter. Why else? Because it just looks cool. It also made the cover of the December issue of Macworld, so you can brag that you’re so on the cutting edge of technology. Available at the Apple Store downtown. $50

8. Artisan Meat Share
All I want for Christmas is…meat. Last month, Cypress announced its Artisan Meat Share program, which enables folks to buy into a CSA type service that produces deliciously fresh prepared meats straight from the Cypress kitchen. The shares are sold out but Chef Craig Deihl is offering a one-time version of the Meat Share for Christmas. Packages will be available mid-December and make a great gift – for any meat lover or anyone hosting who can serve the charcuterie as an app. Everything is zipped up air-tight, so it will be super fresh when you hand it over Christmas day. Available through Cypress. $25

9. Billy Reid Lurleen Equestrian boot
Billy Reid is one of the greatest stores in Charleston and, while the brand is generally known for its men’s lines, the designer has made our year by introducing women’s footwear. Our favorite by a landslide is the gorgeous, classic riding boot. We love the cherry brown (pictured above), but you can also choose black or the newly arrived “worn” look. This is truly a gift that will keep giving, as it is designed to distress and age gracefully, meaning you can wrap them up again in 20 years and give her an even better looking boot! Here’s a tip: Get 25% off at the store’s holiday party on 12/10. Available at Billy Reid. $695

10. Citibōt Folding Kayak
Charleston is the perfect blend of city living and the breathtaking outdoors. So is the Citibōt. Locally designed and produced by Folbot, this 24-pound kayak is great on the water and folds up to fit in your closet, trunk or other small space. You know those Charleston men sporting suits with croakies? Just take that as a “The Citibōt was made for me” sign plastered on their foreheads. Available at Folbot’s online store. $1,197

Story by: Caroline Nuttall
Photos by: Karson Photography