The Lust List: Gift Guide
For the loves of your life, the littles in your life, and even — gasp — for yourself, we’ve rounded up our favorite gifts of the season including clothes, accessories, books, home goods, and more.
—Lindzi Scharf
CLEOBELLA
Katherine Schwarzenegger teamed up with Angela O’Brien’s Southern California fashion label Cleobella for a capsule collection of cute pajamas, festive party dresses (including a few to match your mini me), hostess gifts, aprons, and kitchen essentials. The Montecito Midi Dress is our top pick for this season and beyond.
Available for $278 at cleobella.com.
DÔEN
The California label’s fifties inspired Criselda Dress is a dreamy addition to one’s special occasion wardrobe thanks to its luxurious velvet and sheer tulle detail.
Available for $498 at shopdoen.com.
HUDSON
The California label’s Oversized Leather Bomber Jacket in black features a vegan shearling collar.
Available for $695 at hudsonjeans.com.
ELYSE WALKER
California retailer Elyse Walker’s Dove Cropped Cardigan in bayleaf is as soft as it is stylish thanks to being one hundred percent cashmere.
Available for $595 at elysewalker.com.
SEZANE
One hundred percent of the Coeur Demain t-shirt’s profits benefit Baby2Baby’s work with undeserved families in the United States. (Additionally, Sezane has committed a minimum donation of $150,000 to the non-profit.) We love a brand that supports organization’s close to our heart.
Available for $60 at sezane.com.
VITAMIN A
The resort label’s Luxe Link Belted One-Piece is a classic yet modern swimsuit for your next tropical vacation. It’s also a sexy bodysuit when paired with jeans or a denim skirt. (Ahem, see below.)
Available for $200 at vitaminaswim.com.
PISTOLA
Fronted by founder Grace Na, the L.A.-based womenwear brand’s Alice Mid Skirt in Illuminating adds a touch of sparkle to an everyday basic thanks to the skirt’s Austrian crystal embellishment.
Available for $198 at pistoladenim.com.
LAUREN MOSHI
The L.A. designer’s Anela Elton John Piano sweatshirt in faded graphite is made locally and features an ultra-soft French terry fabric with black crystal detail.
Available for $220 at laurenmoshi.com.
FREDA SALVADOR
The Northern California lifestyle label just launched its first handbag collection, which includes the Ruby Bucket Bag in seaweed embossed croc. The handcrafted leather purse can be carried by its top handle or worn as a crossbody bag thanks to a detachable strap.
Available for $525 at fredasalvador.com.
EF COLLECTION
The L.A. fine jewelry label has expanded its home line with new Cashmere Wrist Warmers in mauve and midnight. The one hundred percent cashmere fingerless gloves are great for layering — and for showing off your rings. (Speaking of, keep scrolling for our favorite EF Collection ring...)
Available for $85 at efcollection.com.
JANESSA LEONE
Hatmaker turned lifestyle brand Janessa Leone’s burgundy Sabina Hat features structured wool, silver eyelets, and dramatic clean lines.
Available for $310 at janessaleone.com.
THE GREAT x BIRKENSTOCK
The Great designers Meritt Elliott and Emily Current teamed up with Birkenstock for an effortlessly cool limited-edition collaboration, which includes these Arizona suede sandals in Thyme with hand-painted bright bursts of color.
Available for $285 at thisisthegreat.com.
JILL BURROWS
Inspired by a Moroccan babouche, these indigo blue and gold leather house slippers are handcrafted in Los Angeles and Mexico.
Available for $148 at shopjillburrows.com.
STUART WEITZMAN
The New York label’s leather and knit 5050 Sneaker in tobacco is crafted by artisans in Italy.
Available for $275 at stuartweitzman.com.
TOMS
Brittany Snow recently stepped out at The Retaility x September Letters dinner wearing the footwear label’s Clare Black Leather Wedge Boot. The design can be dressed up (like Snow did with a silk skirt) or down with denim jeans for a relaxed yet chic look.
Available for $109.95 at toms.com.
SEAVEES
The Santa Barbara-based footwear brand’s Bolinas Off Shore Boot in military olive is the perfect addition to your dude’s wardrobe.
Available for $115 at seavees.com.
WARBY PARKER
The Marvel fanatic in your life will love Warby Parker’s limited-edition Miles Morales frame, which pays homage to Spider-Man 2’s leading man.
Available for $95 at warbyparker.com.
METIER
This sleek Nomad All Day overnight bag (in Military Twill Khaki) is technically from their men’s collection, but it’s so good you might just want to steal it from your man.
Available for $3,250 at metier.com.
JIMMY KIMMEL x CLARE V
The comedian teamed up with his designer friend Clare Vivier on a practical accessory your husband will love. The Airport Dad Passport Case includes compartments for passports, boarding passes, cash, and coins. We especially appreciate that it’s a gift that gives back with thirty percent of its proceeds benefitting the St. Joseph Center and Children’s Hospital of L.A.
Available for $319 at clarev.com.
EVAN’S SUNNIES RING
As seen on our summer Lust List, we’re resharing the EF Collection Evan’s Sunnies Ring, which holds personal meaning for The Retaility’s founder Lindzi Scharf. It was created in honor of her late daughter Evan Frances, whose sunny disposition and trendy sunglasses inspired the rose-gold and ruby ring. The design mirrors a pair of sparkling pink sunglasses “Miss Evan” often wore and twenty-five percent of its proceeds go to Evan’s tireless warriors at Rady's Children Institute for Genomic Medicine through EF Collection’s nonprofit Angels 4 Austin.
Available for $625 at efcollection.com.
MAYA BRENNER
The L.A. jewelry designer partnered with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation for a capsule collection that incorporates the architect’s gorgeous designs into wearable works of art. Our favorite piece is the Skylight Necklace, a design from the Racine Collection, which is inspired by diffused glass skylights seen in Wright’s design for the SC Johnson Administration Building in Racine, Wisconsin.
Available for $248 at mayabrenner.com.
KENDRA SCOTT
The designer’s Elisa 14k Yellow Gold Interlocking Pendant Necklace features hand-placed , conflict free white diamonds. The stunning design can be worn solo or as a gorgeous layering piece.
Available for $1250 at kendrascott.com.
BAUBLEBAR
The brand’s beaded Initial Paris Bracelet adds a personalized touch to any look. It’s the perfect stacking bracelet — and stocking stuffer.
Available for $15 at baublebar.com.
DORSEY
The L.A. jewelry company’s designs — like its Valletta, Emerald Cut Nano Crystal Emerald Drop Earrings — feature precious gems that you don’t have to be too precious about thanks to the fact that they’re lab-grown. These art deco-inspired emerald sparklers, which feature lab-grown white sapphire and nano crystal emerald, are the perfect accessory for your next party.
Available for $220 at dorsey.com.
REVIVE SKINCARE
The New ReNewal Collection features the brand’s bestselling anti-aging products including their Moisturizing Renewal Day Cream SPF 30 and Moisturizing Renewal Cream Nightly Retexturizer.
Available for $195 at reviveskincare.com.
NOLE
The haircare company’s shampoo and conditioning bars are free of parabens and suflates while being packed with antioxidants and amino acids, which nourish and strengthen your scalp thanks to Nole’s signature ingredient — batana oil. Added bonus: each scent is intoxicating.
Available for $32.50 at nolecare.com.
HENRY ROSE
Michelle Pfeiffer’s fragrance line offers The Slumber Party featuring all twelve of the brand’s fragrances as travel size minis. Scents include Char, Dark is Night, Flora Carnivora, Fog, Jake's House, Last Light, Menace, Queens & Monsters, Sheep's Clothing, Smyth, Torn, and Windows Down.
Available for $350 at henryrose.com.
TORY BURCH
The New York designer’s Essence of Dreams Layering Oil in Essence of Rose is a Nordstrom-exclusive oil that includes a blend of Bulgarian rose with notes of rose water, and bergamot. It’s a beautiful standalone fragrance, which also pairs nicely with other complimentary scents like Tory Burch’s Sublime Rose Eau de Parfum and Mystic Geranium Eau de Parfum.
Available for $60 at nordstrom.com.
CHANEL
Inspired by the shimmering 1920s, the French luxury label’s limited-edition Holiday 2023 Make-Up Collection features geometric patterns and Art Deco aesthetics within its DUO LUMIÈRE Illuminating Powder Duo, a highlight duo that offers a pink champagne glow and hint of sparkle ($70); the LES 5 OMBRES LUMIÈRE GRAPHIQUE Eyeshadow Palette featuring five satiny eyeshadow shades including platinum beige, brilliant bronze, shimmering black, pink beige and diamond white ($88); the ROUGE ALLURE L’EXTRAIT High-Intensity Lip Colour Concentrated Radiance and Care in four new hydrating hues ($58); the ROUGE ALLURE LAQUE Ultrawear Shine Liquid Lip Colour in a deep aubergine and a golden beige ($45); LE VERNIS Longwear Nail Colour in three new shades including a golden bronze, a glittering black and a milky ivory — the long-lasting nail lacquer ($32.00).
All available at chanel.com.
THERABODY
Therabody’s Theragun PRO Plus made the Goop gift guide, so you know it’s good. This professional-grade massage device includes near-infrared light, heat, and vibration.
Available for $599 at goop.com.
AVA GRACE
Ava Grace Candles will forever make our gift guides. Created in honor of a young Angeleno named Ava Grace who passed away of brain cancer in 2020, one hundred percent of the candle's proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles's Neuro-Oncology Program.
Available for $110 at avagracecandles.com.
RACHEL PALLY
Beloved L.A. designer Rachel Pally recently launched a limited-edition line of ceramics, which includes this Wavy Ceramic Kitchen Crock / Vase 37. The handmade, one-of-a-kind design can be used for flowers or as a kitchen crock — making it a multi-use gift to oneself or a loved one.
Available for $96 at rachelpally.com.
OH NORMAN!
Actress Kaley Cuoco launched a pet line in honor of her late rescue dog Norman — which includes these eco-friendly, ethically-sourced red dog bowls ($15-$20) and quirky placemat ($20-$25). A portion of each sale goes towards animal rescue.
Available at ohnorman.com.
PROUDLY
Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade’s baby care company offers a beautiful line of skincare products for melanin-rich skin. We recommend the company’s Calming Collection Bundle, which includes a Gentle Baby Wash, Hydrating Baby Lotion, and Calming Spray. The products add a boost of hydration and sense of calm thanks to their lavender chamomile scent and sensitive ingredients.
Available for $23.97 at proudly.com.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
L.A.’s favorite optimist, Dr. Deepika Chopra, released a 52 card kids deck, which is inspired by her original adult deck. The cards feature science-based prompts intended to inspire joy. The cutest part? The deck features abstract artwork by her two young sons.
Available for $40 at thingsarelookingup.co.
SANDY BEACH DOLL
This little cutie is the first doll made with water activities in mind. The practical, waterproof, durable doll can handle bubble baths or trips to the beach. She comes complete with a water-resistant tote, a shovel, sunglasses, and sticker set.
Available for $60 at sandybeachdoll.com.
NORDSTROM
This cozy Butterscotch Blankees Polka Dot Blanket in pale pink and mulberry can be personalized with a single initial and cursive name — making it the cutest custom gift for the little ones in your life.
Available for $69 at nordstrom.com.
MAKE IT CUTE
Founded by childhood besties and fellow moms, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hoehn, and Maureen North, Make It Cute is a sustainable children’s toy brand dedicated to the use of responsible materials. The company’s first offering is this adorable indoor playhouse, which will enhance your home decor while giving your little one a new favorite place to play. We also love that for each playhouse purchased, the organization will plant one tree through Earthday.org’s The Canopy Project.
Available for $220 at makeitcutekids.com.
PIPER JOY BOOK
Inspired by The Retaility founder Lindzi Scharf’s late daughter, Evan Frances, “Piper Joy and the Grand Old Tree” was written by Kim Scharf about the many beautiful things she imagined her granddaughter thinking and experiencing. Featuring beautiful illustrations, this children’s book will inspire readers to live in the moment and embrace life’s simple joys.
Available for $17.99 at piperjoybook.com.
CLARE V
Everyone’s favorite Parisian chic, Los Angeles-based fashion designer Clare Vivier released a gorgeous tome celebrating the brand’s 15-year anniversary. La Vie de Clare V. is an homage to fashion, design, travel, and Vivier’s unique journey.
Available for $75 at clarev.com.
GRANTLOVE x FRED SEGAL
L.A. artist Alexandra Grant’s grantLOVE collection is popping up at Fred Segal this season in the form of Faribault Mill throw blankets ($295) and the project’s corresponding tome: GRANTLOVE LOVE: A Visual History Of The Grantlove Project ($85).
Both available at fredsegal.com.
TILDEN
The female-founded craft cocktail company just released flask-sized glass bottles of two flavors: Tandem and Lacewing. It’s a great stocking stuffer for the mocktail or cocktail enthusiast in your life.
Available for $29 at drinktilden.com.
SOPHIE JAMES WINE
This is a gift you’ll want to give yourself — this season and year ‘round. The California label’s 4-bottle Mixed Club membership provides a curated, four-bottle assortment of all Sophie James wines, shipped three times a year in the spring, summer & fall.
Starting at $217 at sophiejameswine.com.
BHN WINE
As served at The Retaility’s recent September Letters dinner, BHN Wine’s n.23 Barolo 2018 is the perfect treat for any wine lover in your world. Derived from late-harvest fifty-year-old Nebbiolo vines at the highest elevations in the Barolo appellation, only 3,000 bottles exist. Fun fact: BHN Wine co-founder Marco Prete hand drew all of the label illustrations, which were inspired by his two daughters walking a path outside of Rome as children.
Available for $198.89 at bhn.wine.