Wes and Tammy Pack, owners of Absolute Charm Real Estate Group, brokered by eXp Realty as well as Absolute Charm B&B and Vacation Rentals in Fredericksburg, Texas, are always open to suggestions for purchasing high-end gifts for their loved ones and Persian cat Princess Coco. After all, selling numerous properties, while designing ultra-upscale guesthouses like The Perfect Place, and keeping up with Princess Coco and her 50K following on Instagram (@PrincessCocoBeans), leaves little time for much else.
“I’m often too busy with work to keep up with the latest styles and must-have accessories. Gift-giving is an art, and sometimes I don’t have time to be very artistic! Especially at the holidays,” exclaims Tammy. “That’s when having access to a curated group of luxury items is most helpful! I’m always on the lookout for something extraordinary for my husband, Wes. He’s the hardest working man I know, and he rarely takes time out to treat himself.”
Upscale Living asked Bernadette Birch, owner of a boutique company called Over & Beyond Events, to share a few of her insider tips and expertise on how to find the perfect luxury gift this holiday season. Her company specializes in creating unforgettable memories and from-dream-to-reality experiences for individuals and corporations.
- Reflect on who the recipient of your gift is, what they like, character, beliefs, and values
- Discover their favorite designer brands, labels, rare specialty gifts, and guilty pleasures
- Consider their home décor type (modern, traditional, contemporary, or eclectic)
- Understand that jewelry should make a personal, special, and fantastic connection
- Read online reviews of other consumers purchasing desired luxury gift items
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. So, go on. As with Wes and Tammy, you too deserve – and reserve – the right to indulge in a beautifully extravagant Christmas. As such, enjoy and explore as we unveil our 2018 EXCLUSIVE holiday gift guide.
Anne Sisteron 14KT Rose Gold Diamond Luxe Lovelock Necklace – $8,190.00 – For the woman that you think has everything, watch her swoon when you unveil this magnificent Christmas gift for her. Born in Paris, having been a model, and now a Graduate Gemologist and GIA Diamond Grader, Anne Sisteron ensures that her designed and hand-selected gems in her timeless jewelry are of the finest quality. The special lady in your life will fall in love all over again with this piece featuring a 2” wide lock, carat weight of .71 ct, 336 diamonds, and a 15-inch chain.
Diono Quantum² Stroller – $649.99 – httpss://us.diono.com/ – For the millennial Moms and Dads with their fingers on the pulse of cutting edge, contemporary, high fashion baby products, Diono introduces you to the Quantum². This top-of-the-line, elite 3-in-1, multi-mode stroller makes for an exceptional Christmas gift. The product boasts a carry-cot mode, infant carrier compatibility, parent-facing or world-facing view for infant or toddler, “one-step” specially designed breaks, power-assisted unfolding, 6-position telescopic handle, and 5-point security harness. The airy 3-tier canopy covers the seat while offering a private and “paparazzi-proof” design.
Bruno Magli Carlo Monk-Strap Ankle Boot – $595.00 – While shopping for the sharpest, most smartly dressed gentleman you know, for sure, consider this stylish ankle boot. Having genuine hand-burnished Italian calf leather uppers and linings, you can purchase it in dark grey leather or cognac leather. Buying both colors would be twice as beautiful since this boot has hand-stained Italian leather outsoles and Blake-stitched construction. Shoe sizes range from 7 to 13 in a medium.
Dooney & Bourke Alto Lissandra Handbag – $795.00 – The Dooney & Bourke brand has been a favorite classic for more than four decades. Enter its fabulously elegant Lissandra handbag. Crafted in Italy, yet designed in the United States, this sophisticated, well-designed purse featuring stunning Italian leather with a rich matte finish, a patina that will develop a beautiful sheen over time, two zip pockets, a center divider pocket, magnetic closure, hand stitching, and gold-plated brass hardware. Having a chic top handle, the lined, oyster-colored bag makes a stunning statement anytime.
Ezra Arthur Rucksack – $1,270.00 – EzraArthur.com – Made of Horween’s Chromexcel, full-grain, leather, and solid brass hardware, this striking, finely crafted bag is genuinely built to last a lifetime. Whether you’re in search of the perfect, handsome backpack for a man or woman, this rucksack is ideal. So, if your loved one will carry it to the office or sport on their next vacay, he or she will surely delight in this refined, extraordinarily crafted, heirloom-quality, roll-top leather backpack. Its features include space for a 15-inch laptop, hidden front zipper, ironwood skates to allow for it to stand upright, leather enriched with oils and waxes, and rich patina which develops over time.
Juniper Books Leading Ladies of English Lit – $575 – JuniperBooks.com – The bibliophile in your life will be in heaven when he or she peruses this invaluable gift set. The giftee will get lost in a wonderful world with the Jane Austen, Brontë Sisters, and George Eliot masterpieces. Extraordinary novels from England during the 1800s include Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Middle March, and Adam Bede among 13 others. The sophisticated sets feature silk reading ribbons, European-style half-round spines, acid-free, natural cream-colored paper, jackets modeled after 19th-century leather bindings, and hardcover books.
Konstantino Sterling Silver Bracelet – $3,500.00 – There is something distinctly special about a woman wearing a bracelet. If she has an affinity for this type of jewelry, buy her this striking Konstantino cuff bracelet. Ingrained in the history of ancient Greece, this hand-carved piece is highlighted with black spinel all over. Whether casual or formal, the Circe Collection armlet is a show stopper when she enters a room.
Krups Barista One-Touch Cappuccino Super Automatic Espresso Machine – $2,499.00 – KrupsUSA.com – For the person who indulges in specialty coffee, espresso, cappuccino, or café latte, having a machine at home with the capability to prepare 17 different drinks at one touch would happen only in their wildest dreams. But you can make their dreams come true with the revolutionary Barista. From start to finish, this gift allows individuals to create numerous hot beverages from the comfort of home or office. The espresso machine has automatic parameter settings for coffee quantity, grinding fineness, and water temperature. The sleek, black Barista utilizes an incomparable two-step frothing technology and self-rinses the nozzle after each use.
L’Essence de Courvoisier – $3,500.00 – Courvoisier.com – For the Courvoisier connoisseur, this specially crafted blend is a splendid gift. Against the backdrop of six generations of master blenders, L’ Essence emerges as a superb intermingling of more than 100 rare Eaux-de-vie which encompass rare reserves dating back to the early 1900s and the late 20th century. Your loved one will relish the aroma of sandalwood, cigar leaves, toffee, and fresh honey as he or she savors the taste of licorice, dried plum, and apricot.
Nokona Bloodline Pro P1 Glove – $500 – Nokona.com – This 12” pitcher’s glove makes for a great gift for your friend or family member who likes to play baseball. Quite lightweight and highly structured, this pro model glove is made of Kangaroo leather – one of the strongest and most durable on the globe. The re-engineered, interior padding system allows for excellent ball control with its superior structure.
Tonal Digital Home Gym – $2,995.00 – Tonal.com – If you combine the genius of Apple, Nest, and GoPro engineers, you yield the world’s first machine learning-powered strength training system. That’s Tonal. The innovative at-home, wall-mounted fitness system, pairing on-demand workouts, and personal coaching, is a dream gift for the particular person in your life who makes exercising a priority. The Home Gym‘s digital weights assist the user in gaining strength, losing weight, boosting energy, building muscles, and improving performance. A sleek space saver, its features allow for unlimited users per household.
TravelPro Platinum Luggage Set – $749.98 – TravelPro.com – The jet-setting traveler will adore a suitcase set from Travelpro. You can’t go wrong with any purchase in their premium, platinum line. Two remarkable pieces are the Platinum® Elite 29” Expandable Spinner and the Platinum Elite Carry-On Rolling Garment Bag. The largest spinner on the line, the suitcase is durable, scuff-resistant, stain-resistant, and has premium design details. It moves quite quickly with the PrecisionGlide™ system, including the eight MagnaTrac®, self-aligning 360-degree spinner wheels. The garment bag, designed for wrinkle-free packing, features a fold-out extension panel, padded roll bar, built-in pockets, inline, ball bearing wheels with adjustable PowerScope handle. Both have a built for a lifetime, limited, worry-free warranty.
