Who What Wear's newest series Chic People Presents aims to make gifting personal again by tapping fashion and beauty's coolest creatives on what to buy this holiday season. Read on for IYKYK present picks and insight into gift-giving strategy from the industry's top stylists, designers, and tastemakers.
The festive season has officially begun—at least by the look of my inbox. The outfits are sparkling, the cookie recipes are copious, and the gift guides are aplenty. When it comes to shopping for incredibly stylish presents this holiday season, there are few people I'd want to elicit gift ideas from more than celebrity stylist Karla Welch.
One of the fashion industry's most powerful and in-vogue luminaries, Welch has a client roster that includes Sarah Paulson, Olivia Wilde, Justin Bieber, Karlie Kloss, Kristen Wiig, Tracee Ellis Ross, and many more. Her collaborations with renowned fashion designers and brands (Tiffany & Co., Adidas, Max Mara—to name but a few), outstanding and refreshing red carpet moments, and work with major fashion magazines has brought her a slew of accolades.
She is a constant source of inspiration to us here at Who What Wear, so who better to elevate and influence our gift-giving strategy than the power stylist herself? From a dreamy Tiffany & Co. pendant necklace to a bold and beautiful linen napkin set, below she shares some of her chicest gift ideas along with her present tips and tricks, where she shops IRL in Los Angeles, and how she sets the holiday-season mood in her home. Keep scrolling to get inspired.
1. Personalized Gift
I love embroidering cloth napkins with someone’s family initials. I love Suay in L.A. for this!
2. Future Heirloom Gift
An Elsa Peretti Bean necklace from Tiffany, especially the gold version with the black net and tassel.
3. Gift They Won’t Return
A subscription to the NYT Cooking app! Best gift ever!
4. Gift That Gives Back
A donation to my favorite dog shelter, Wags and Walks!
5. Unexpected Gift
A love letter! Tell someone what they mean to you!
6. Perfectly Useful Gift
Period underwear from my company Period! I love giving the Community Bundle and caring for someone else.
7. Especially Thoughtful Gift
My mom's homemade raspberry jam—I must really like you if I’m sharing it.
8. Gift for Furry Friends
Giving to your local shelter in their honor!
9. Gift of a Great Read
Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown. It’s good for everyone who wants to feel aligned with the new world—to connect themselves to the greatness that is our entire planetary ecosystem and who wants to organize for a better world.
10. Last-Minute Gift
Champs and caviar! Ruinart and Petrossian.
11. Cheap and Cheerful Gift
A bag of California citrus!
Ed. Note: Visit your local farmers market for the freshest, most reasonable citrus, but if you don’t have access to one, we also like Marmalade Grove.
12. Gift for Nourishing Mind, Body, or Spirit
A psychic reading!
1. How do you set a holiday season mood in your home?
I try my best to decorate early: December 1. I hit the carols, and there is no other music allowed. Think the Christmas album by Low for quiet vibes, always A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio, and then good ol' Coast FM in the car.
2. Do you have any holiday traditions?
I do a glorious dinner of caviar and baked potatoes, crab legs, and an amazing salad, with a lot of champagne.
3. Do you have any go-to packaging items or ways you make wrapping stand out?
I’m real waste-free, so I buy vintage fabrics all year long, save all my ribbons, and clip eucalyptus from my magic tree as trim!
4. Where do you shop for gifts IRL?
OK is my fave fave, and so is the Heath store. Maxfield is another! I think the beauty of a favorite store is just to walk in and be inspired and let them gift come to you.
5. Any gifting etiquette tips?
Can I be honest? Don’t send me a thank-you card; it’s totally unnecessary! Give a gift with love and don’t expect anything except the happiness it brings the receiver!
6. Gift-season planning tips?
I love giving gifts! So it’s more really thinking about the person and finding something special!
7. Any strategy around when to buy?
Ugh, don’t leave it to the last minute, but also live your life! There are no mistakes with presents!
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