Ah, fall. Crisp wind in our hair, layers of cozy threads and gearing up for the holiday cheer ahead! Such a fashion-forward season indubitably ushers in an array of covet-worthy style solutions and, lucky for you, I’ve found 10 top ones among them. From new wardrobe staples to smart accessories and a great way to amp up that soirée, these will help get you through the season in fab form.
William Henry ‘Zurich’ Design Money Clips (www.WilliamHenry.com)
First are the stunningly gorgeous and entirely gift-worthy money clips from William Henry, a luxury jewelry and accessory brand. The company’s Zurich design money clips are stellar for the style-minded. This striking ‘Raven’ design features a hand-forged ‘brain wave’ Damascus frame by Chad Nichols, inlaid with carbon fiber and a blazing red topaz. A beautiful engraving is bright cut against the matte-finished background. The Zurich ‘Panama’ design features hand-forging by Mike Sakmar using an ancient Japanese art used to decorate samurai swords. The inlay is cocobolo wood, punctuated with smoky quartz. Its engraving is also bright cut against the matte-finished background. Only 1,000 pieces of this special design are available. The Zurich ‘Talon’ money clip features a hand-carved sterling silver frame, inlaid with Kingman turquoise and a white topaz gemstone. This exquisite piece is another limited edition with just 250 available. Known for its meticulous use of classic natural materials, precious metals, gemstones, and state-of-the-art alloys, William Henry is a benchmark luxury brand that has an upper echelon following world-wide. Just visit the “Proud Owners” section of its web site to see what entertainment power players like Harrison Ford, Nick Jonas, Jared Leto, Laurence Fishburne, John Varvatos, Luke Bryan, Pierce Brosnan, and Adrien Brody own from the company’s collections. Evan A-list ladies like Cameron Diaz have bought this brand’s baubles.
NOVICA Artisan Fair-Trade Marketplace (www.Novica.com)
If you crave distinctive style, worldly sophistication and enjoy shopping for a cause, then NOVICA—the largest online, fair-trade marketplace featuring beautiful hand-crafted products from all over the world—is for you. Their curated cache of artisans has been hand-selected, with many having overcome amazing odds by selling their goods. For example, the Blue Jasmine Batik Silk Scarf, designed by Java artisan Yuni Kristina, has expanded business into a global marketplace thanks to the help of NOVICA’s team. Originating in Indonesia, batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this technique. Kristina hand-stamps the blue patterns on the ivory textile and adds red and black designs in batik. Also noteworthy NOVICA artisans are glass-blowing artists Javier Gutiérrez and Efrén Canteras, who have worked together to preserve Mexico’s blown glass artistry. They work with lead-free, un-tempered and recycled glass that is melted at very high temperatures and formed into beautiful wares like stunning and highly distinctive drinkware and serveware. NOVICA features many other authentic crafts from around the globe and the company has sent more than $89.9 million back to their artisans to date. It’s cause-conscious consumerism at its best.
Kut from the Kloth Apparel (www.KutFromTheCloth.com)
Embodying the spirit of California, Kut from the Kloth is a vibrant, contemporary lifestyle brand. With innovative fabrics, a flawless fit and sophisticated style, the Kut collection is designed with your busy life in mind so you can confidently go from day to play. They recently debuted the go-anywhere “vacation vibes” line of ultra-fashionable travel staples designed for easy packing, wearing and washing. In fact, you can vacation with on-trend pieces created to wear right out of the suitcase. An online boutique beloved for blending modern trends with coastal flavor, Kut from the Kloth makes couture-inspired fashion both accessible and affordable. Their essential escape collection is great for jet-setters who want to look like a million bucks and still have plenty of cocktail cash. Short-sleeved button-ups feature palm fronds and pastel pinstripes, perfect underneath a soft, quilted sweatshirt or white denim jacket for chilly evenings. So feel those vacation vibes of delicate florals in shades of pink, coral and yellow that’ll help you stand out in the crowd.
Dooney & Bourke ‘Caldwell’ Design Handbags (www.Dooney.com)
The Caldwell Collection from Dooney & Bourke exemplifies understated elegance. These chic, structured bags created from python-embossed leather are refined but with a touch of glam courtesy of the gold-plated hardware embellishment. The collection of products has also been treated to repel some moisture, so those spring showers are nary a worry. One option I especially adore from the line is the Caldwell Flynn Handbag, which features rich textures of that python-embossed leather that elevates this fashion-forward bag. Soft pleats and a gold logo round out the look on the exterior, while inside there’s a light twill lining—a bright pop of red juxtaposing my choice of the deep espresso brown option. Aside from its aesthetics, what I adore about this handbag is that it’s extremely roomy, with the main compartment holding an abundant amount while also keeping you organized courtesy of deep-set pockets galore. Another piece that I especially like for when I only need to carry essentials is the Caldwell Zip Clutch. The exotic texture of python is once again artfully imprinted in leather, making this eye-catching clutch an instant outfit changer. Its classic, timeless shape makes this clutch a perfect companion. It can also be used as a coordinating wallet with the Flynn Handbag. For an effortless polish, day or night, Caldwell bags are a great choice for the season and beyond.
Lamo Luxury Slippers (www.LamoFootwear.com)
There’s no more quintessential at-home holiday footwear than a pair of slippers, and here’s a company that’s elevated the art. Founded in 1995, Lamo Footwear launched their authentic sheepskin product range along the Southern California coastline, and have since provided countless people the perfect mix of warmth and comfort both at home and around town. Today, the casual California footwear brand offers a wide range of products that meet total footwear needs, from moccasins to sandals to house shoes and classic sheepskin styles. or at-home coziness I particularly love the Ladies Scuff design, which features a luxurious 100% Australian sheepskin lining. Or choose the ultra-affordable premium faux fur option—the western print is super cute! Two of my favorite designs for guys are the Men’s Scuff and Romeo designs, both part of Lamo’s Luxury Collection. The Men’s Scuff is made with a cow suede upper and premium Australian sheepskin lining that’ll wrap dad’s feet in pure luxury. The Men’s Scuff also features Lamo’s TPR Comfort-Flex outsole for complete comfortability. The Romeo design is also made with a cow suede upper premium Australian sheepskin lining, but also features two elastic panels for easy access into and out of these premium slippers. It also features Lamo’s dual formula outsole for a different, optimized feel.
Grayson Monáe Handmade Flats & Fashion Accessories (GraysonMonae.com)
Grayson Monáe flats are walking works of art that are handmade to perfection by skilled artisans with 100% genuine leather, exquisite hand embroidery, impeccable craftsmanship, premium fabric, fine silk thread and padded soles. These characteristics, along with the attention to detail paid to each shoe, make them one-of-a-kind classics. Everything from the embroidery to the stitching, to the pearl and bead placement, to the unique designs are crafted by talented artisans. These flats are not only stylish, unique, comfy and cute, they’re also affordable with options starting at $45. They’re also highly versatile and can be worn with absolutely anything, including jeans, tights, skirts, shorts, or even formal dresses. Designed with women of all ages in mind, these are statement shoes certain to draw attention of the best kind. Indeed, not only do they look good on women, but teenage daughters will love them, too. In addition to the fabulous flats, Grayson Monáe also sells handmade clutches to match and beautifully-embroidered handmade scarves.
Sebastien Barthelemy S&B Apparel (www.SandB-English)
Sebastian Barthelemy’s S&B, a fashion company located in Seine-et-Marne, France, offers a wide selection of t-shirts and hoodies featuring colorful pop culture designs based on various heart shape emojis. Anyone can wear these shirts to express feelings with universal love and humor. Designs for women, men and children include famous personalities, country flags and other fun and heartfelt ways to communicate through clothing. S&B believes that the symbol of the heart is extremely communicative and profoundly universal, and serves as the inspiration for their design ideas. Something else to love is the fact that all of the garments are made from 100 percent sustainable, organic cotton.
Metalicious Silver Shark Tooth Necklace (www.Metalicious.com)
Thanks to the Metalicious line of luxury jewelry made from recycled metals, ocean-lovers can tell people their wearing the tooth of a maneater! The company’s Small Silver Shark Tooth Necklace is cast in sterling silver from an original shark tooth, then oxidized to bring out the details and give it a soft finish. Available with choice of a 17″, 20″ or 22″ sterling curb chain to ensure it falls in that perfect spot on your necklace, the shark tooth pendant itself is 1″ long x 3/4″ wide. I like this piece because it can be edgy and sophisticated, but sweet and subtle also. It looks like a work of modern art! You can wear this every day, mixing and matching it with various looks. Metalicious sources recycled metals and ethically mined gemstones to create meaningful, handcrafted heirlooms that adhere to strict environmental and sustainability standards. Also charity-minded, the company donates a portion of its profits to cityharvest.org, a non-profit organization that provides meals to over 1.4 million New Yorkers a year.
Ekster 3.0 Parliament Smart Wallet (www.Ekster.com)
After reportedly raising over $1,000,000 in their previous crowd- funding campaign, Ekster, the world’s largest smart wallet brand, has launched their latest edition perfect for discerning men: the Ekster 3.0. This time they have engineered both the slimmest and the first voice-activated smart wallet to date. Owners can now call their wallet, find it on a map or even make use of the widespread Chipolo community to help locate their missing belongings easier than ever before. Battery issues are also no longer a problem due to Ekster’s patented solar-powered tracking solution, which on a full charge can last up to two whole months. These identity theft, RFID- blocking wallets also look extremely handsome. They’re held together by handcrafted premium leather for a luxury look and feel, while the design provides instant card access whenever necessary.
Dining Elevated Utensil ‘Uplifts’ (www.DiningElevated.com)
Create a more stylish table setting and eat smarter at your soirées this season and beyond with the help of Dining Elevated Uplifts. These offer a cleaner, more sophisticated dining experience by elegantly raising all flatware and cutlery above a table’s surface. Similar to a chopstick rest, Uplifts elevate western-style utensils to establish an improved aesthetic and hygienic standard. Uplifts look, feel and function better than the traditional table setups. Supported by research from the University of Arkansas and showcased by the National Environmental Health Association, Dining Elevated brings the highest level of food safety to hospitality. Featured on Top Chef and reportedly showcased in some of the finest hotels and restaurants, Uplifts are a game-changing addition to place setting design that the world never realized it always needed. Of course, there are a myriad to styled, materials and designs available to suit your desired aesthetic and complement your tableware.
As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand analyst, strategist and futurist. As prolific consumer trends, lifestyle and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. The best-of-the-best across all product, service and travel categories—as well as noteworthy marketplace change makers, movers and shakers—are spotlighted in her exclusive cross-media platform that reaches multi-millions each month through several syndication channels: print and online publications as well as broadcast TV and terrestrial radio. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com / Instagram
