the 2013 Holiday Gift Guide and other Happenings!

In the midst of my aversion to all things related to "Black Friday" and the circus that is holiday shopping, I've truly enjoyed taking a lot of time to dream up my holiday gift guide. This year has been quite a journey for me as far as discovering new products and making new friends in the small business world is concerned, so in the spirit of mixing old with new, this year's guide features 'old faithful' brands that we all love and trust like Dubarry and Woolrich, alongside some smaller, younger brands like Barnwood Leather and Houndworthy. Let it also be emphasized that I'm of the QUALITY over QUANTITY philosophy. One gift, that's a bit more expensive but unique, stylish, and functional, is infinitely more meaningful than a pile of Black Friday doorbuster specials. 

Also, click through after the Guide for a peek at what I've been up to...

I should probably title this section: "Stuff Anne Loves and/or Wants," because that's basically what it is. (No, I'm not sorry.) 1. Dubarry of Ireland "Behan" jacket, $479. Full disclosure: I own it, and it's been my favorite piece all season (see mine at the bottom of the post). It's a Gore-tex lined (waterproof and breathable), classic quilted style with a bit of a motorcycle jacket vibe. The collar is amazing and the cut is really tailored, plus it's got handwarmer pockets, a hidden inside pocket, and 3 more outside pockets. 2. Dolce Vita "Assam Tea Booties," $129 at Anthropologie. For a leather Chelsea boot, the price on these is really reasonable, and I've had good luck with Dolce Vita footwear before, so I trust the quality without seeing them in person. The pop of orange on the gusset really transforms these into a distinctive piece that I'd base an outfit around. They come in all black smooth leather as well, but ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (see what I did there?) 3. Swiss Army for Hudson Bay pocket knife, $40 at Trove General Store. What girl (or guy) couldn't use a little pocket knife? Hey, if you get the Behan jacket you can stick it in your hidden pocket! Though it's a pretty basic gadget, the iconic Hudson Bay stripes ensure quite a bit of stylistic longevity in this little conversation piece. 4. Sanctuary "Patch Me Thru" vegan leather sweater, $88 at Wildfang. This is the Joan Jett, Wednesday Addams, Lisbeth Salander answer to all of your technicolor holiday garb. Simple and understated with a dash of badass, and yes, I said vegan. I can't tell you how I lust for this sweater! Wildfang is a Portland based shop created for reckless tomboys like myself - watch out! They're starting a movement. 

City boys are catching on to the benefits of hard working country style gear... and the country boys are getting more dapper. I decided they should meet halfway. So whether your dude tromps around the concrete jungle or sneaks off to hunting cabins, these picks should have universal appeal. 1. Colorblock Antler Keyring from North at  Houndworthy, $32 (£22). Each one of these Canadian antler keyrings is unique, (as no two deer are alike), and the color sequence varies as well, so there will be no confusion about which keys belong to you! P.S. The antlers are naturally shed, so no deer are hurt. 2. Dubarry of Ireland "Kerry" boot, $399. Ladies and gentleman, the world's first and only Gore-tex lined, waterproof Chelsea boot. They have a proper hand-cut leather sole with a stacked leather heel and rubber on the bottom for grip. The ultimate winter dress boot for the guy who works in the city and needs to look sharp. 3. Woolrich x Topo Designs "Klettersack" backpack, $249. Made in Colorado by Topo using Woolrich's heavy duty wool on the outside with a coated pack cloth liner on the inside. The entire Topo x Woolrich collaboration line is worth checking out, as they're made in very limited numbers! 4. Manastash Panel Parka, $450 at Trove General Store. Aside from the fact that they use extremely high quality fabrics, Manastash excels at creating pieces with an almost retro vibe that are somewhat insane looking, but indescribably appealing. The Panel Parka is completely waterproof with cozy handwarmer pockets.

As far as gift giving goes, fine leather goods are a no-brainer. If it's handmade, then that's even better. 1. Ball and Buck x Danner Light, $376. Ball and Buck has made a name for themselves by epitomizing the dignity inherent in American hunting and sporting culture. Their collaboration with the bootmaking icons at Danner features tough Vibram Gumlite soles supporting Gore-tex lined leather and camouflage uppers. Handsome enough for the street, hardcore enough for the field. 2. River City Leather "Smallet," $70. I've been following RCL for quite a while on Instagram and always admired this piece, and since they've just opened their online shop I figured it was a good time to pay the Smallet its due. Quite a simple little wallet, but I'm a sucker for the asymmetrical snap design. 3. Teranishi Brand iPhone 5 case, $85. I had my Trove x Teranishi iPhone 4 case for a long time and it served me well. This updated model does what most leather cases cannot, in that it maintains the streamlined silhouette of the phone while still giving it ample coverage and protection. Also, just wait and see what an amazing patina the natural leather will pick up after some use! 4. Barnwood Leather "Original Outdoor Office," $135 before Dec 13, $190 after. With room for notebook, tablet, cards, pens, etc., this sweet little carryall hearkens back to days of yore when people toted around day planners, yet it manages to capture a modern minimalist aesthetic. The dudes behind Barnwood are producing these high quality goods and sharing the profits with two nonprofit organizations that provide kids with horse-related therapy, and give food to children who are going hungry! A "feel good" purchase if there ever was one. 

Now for the "Happenings" part of the post...

My friends at the brilliant UK lifestyle brand Houndworthy sent a pretty nifty hemp rope lead over to this side of the pond for Otto. For something as straightforward as a rope lead, he's gotten more than a few compliments on it. If you have a dog that isn't on the "naughty" list this year... the HW site is where I'd go gift hunting.

My friends at Trove General Store hosted a charity shopping party last Thursday to support the Devon Horse Show's non-profit organization. Amazing shop, great food, and a contagiously positive vibe.

 I fell in love with this Armor Lux sweater. It didn't come home with me, but it will. Trust.

The aforementioned Dubarry "Behan" jacket in action, with my awesome Trove General x Ebbets Field hat.

CHEERS to the holidays, here's to another year of refusing to get stressed out, and using our heads and hearts as we gift shop for the people we love!