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If there was a Los Angeles support group for gift wrapping obsessives, I would probably be the co-chair. It’s one of the few things I enjoy about Christmastime aside from Pumpkin Spice Lattes. In the video above, I wrapped a Trish McEvoy Lip Pencil (Sweet Berry) in a magazine page and stuffed it with crinkled paper, purchased in bulk during an easter sale, hence the colors. In high school, my sister and I worked in a department store and loved when we got to wrap packages, so I think it’s genetic.
Below, I’m going to share a handful of great unisex gifts under $100 that you’ll want for yourself, then I’ll share where I get my wrapping supplies.
I own a stack of the very last Barneys New York Catalog / Zines ever made and have used so many of these pages to wrap small gifts and they’re always well received. I shot a ton of video as Barneys Beverly Hills was closing their doors forever and will weave that into a 2023 story.
CATBIRD Sweet Nothings Bracelet $98, made with 100% recycled 14k gold chain:
These $15ish keychains at OK on W. Third Street were almost sold out the other day, so run if you love them: I want the green KEYS or blue metallic I’M OK (I’m not).
I drip Aesop’s $29 Post Poo Drops in my bathroom sink, shower and on 2 cotton balls to stash under my trash can liner, aside from its intended purpose. However, this little gem is sold out almost everywhere online, so try locally. The scent makes me v happy.
I didn’t know I even needed hair perfume until I tested BYREDO’s Bal d’Afrique at Nordstrom and went bananas. At $80, it’s pricey, but I only do a left and right side spritz a handful of times a month and it’s lasted well over a year.
Le Labo samples run from $7 up. If you haven’t tried Santal 33, you must. It’s LA’s signature scent, but spritz only once at first. It’s strong. The numbers represent the number of ingredients.
The Santal 33 scent is hard to describe, and it sounds counterintuitive, but it smells like: camping with friends in a rainy forest, after the campfire’s burned out and only the embers remain. Perhaps Le Labo’s description is more marketable: the most prevalent notes in Santal 33 are woody and rich. Sandalwood and cedarwood combine to give this scent a heady and masculine touch. I can say that everyone wearing this in LA has a secret handshake when we pass each other.
I’ll pick one up for the first 2 paid subscribers who leave a comment. I’ll email for your address and it has to ship first class per hazard regulations. I also love Ambrette 9 and Bergamot 22. They bottle everything in front of you in the store and samples are presented in a little envelope. When you buy a real product, you have the option to print your name on the label, and I’ll show you that when we talk about their discovery sets. They also have mind blowing body product sample sizes.
Below, you’ll see a few tiny wrapping projects, using Amazon’s leopard tissue, magazine page hearts, MT brand washi tape (trust me on this one), and wax ribbons.
Do you see how it can become addicting? Aside from also wrapping with magazine pages in the video sample, I create gift bags by folding magazine pages in half, sealing the edges with double sided tape to avoid bulk. My hearts are intentionally raw and I fold the paper in half, trying not to crease it, and just cut half the heart and unfold it. I’m never quite sure what I’ll end up with, so the reveal is always a little gasp.
Next up, if you’re low on cash, I’ll show you the best options for trading designer clothing for cash in LA, and online. I’ve resold 1,000+ things, so I’m a black belt, but am shifting gears. I’ll be creating a little shop in 2023 with one-of-a-kind curated gift boxes with favorites culled from around LA, hair accessories, digital art, a dash of luxury resale and will be dropping unique, repurposed items with flair. Did you know Nick Cave has a little shop, too? Artist types are restless and we need multiple outlets or we implode.
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