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Holiday Fundamentals

By Jeanne Winnick Brennan and Carol McCain, with additional reportting by Tara Manners 

Without a plan, you can find yourself in panic-shopping overdrive like a suit without a head. This is not a pretty sight, especially when you haul everything home and review the fruits of your shopping labor. Who gets which gift and what was I thinking?

Color Me Red
This holiday season red is the new black, and it graces runways and display windows as abundantly as plastic reindeer and jingle bells. When shopping for the ladies, try a red, empire-wasted cocktail dress with strappy gold sandals and several chunky gold bracelets stacked around one wrist. For the gentlemen, a deep red tie paired with a solid-colored shirt and black blazer transitions stylishly from office to dinner party.   
    Cashmere sweaters and scarves are hot this season and every season. From wraparound sweaters to plaid accessories, cashmere is one commodity that is as luxurious as it is comfortable. Men can pair a finely knit cashmere sweater with straight-legged jeans or slacks, while women should expect to include at least one sweater dress in their winter wardrobe.

All Bling
The good news is that bling is still the thing. Think gold. It’s everywhere for this holiday season’s jewelry, and charms are again taking center stage. Bracelets are gold with charms, wide cuffs, or a collection of bangles, which come in every imaginable price point. For men and women, acrylic watches are a new and sporty way to keep up with the demands of the season.
    While most men opt not to wear jewelry as an accessory, they seem willing to accessorize their wardrobe with a more sophisticated or edgy belt. The trademark Gucci red and green cloth belt complete with silver buckle is holiday festive, and it is extremely popular this season in Europe. If you tend to err on the conservative side, Tiffany and Co. sells a simple and timeless belt buckle that will add a classic touch to any man’s ensemble (leather belt strap sold separately). Women can expect to see belts as an accessory to their coat this season. Knee-length coats cinched at the waist will always create a flattering silhouette.
    Women prepare to see an onslaught of skinny jeans gracing the boutique storefronts this holiday season. Try wearing a pair of knee-high boots over your jeans. Complete the outfit with a fitted, hip-length sweater and a thick belt for a retro-trendy ensemble.

Shopping Fling
Last-minute plans frequently arise during the holiday season and between heavy workloads, out-of-town visitors and gift buying, one may not have time to wrestle with holiday traffic and mall crowds in order to find the perfect outfit. To avoid holiday crowds, try boutique shopping at hotspots such as Madame Butterfly, DV8, Krazy Mary’s or Bijoux. Still not sure where to go? Check out Midtowngrid online, a local website with an extensive list of Sacramento-area businesses by category. 
    Or call Nordstrom. The Personal Touch complimentary concierge service provides a personal shopper who will conveniently choose gifts for every person on your list and/or compile outfits for social functions. “Put your list together and, mercifully, give us at least two days advance notice,” says Nordstrom Personal Touch manager Mary Sullivan Trivett. “We know how to scramble for last-minute needs, and we can have it all gift-boxed.” 
    The holiday season can bring out the best and the worst in folks. Keep your sense of proportion and focus on a few simple but effective looks and gift strategies, and you can survive it in style. And remember to check out Prosper’s Online Holiday Gift Giving Guide, another great way to find unique presents.
— Additional reporting by Tara Manners

What To Bring?

With so much gift-giving, it’s not always easy to select an effective host or hostess gift for your holiday social circuit. Come up with a good gift idea, and buy in spades or at least cases. Think champagne or some excellent and nicely packaged wine. Or order a case of a lovely beverage that can be sent directly to whomever you’re gifting.
    You can always spend some time in Napa and Sonoma or at an Amador County winery, but another quick route to success is to stop into David Berkley Fine Wines & Specialty Foods for some effortless sipping, shopping and shipping.
“There has never been a greater opportunity to choose wine as a gift; this season the selection is absolutely remarkable,” says David Berkley. “I particularly like a sparkling wine at holiday time, especially a rosé like the Billecart-Salmon. From the fine bead of its bubbles to its gorgeous color — everything about it is festive.”
    Since Berkley and his staff have already stocked their shelves with quality sparkling and fine wines in a variety of prices, consider the heavy shopping already done. “Your holiday wine shopping should consist of buying some special bottles for friends,” says Berkley wine manager Dave Cancilla. “And we always recommend a case of very serviceable wine for oneself.”
    An idea for a gift to accompany a bottle of wine is a good bar tool, such as the champion of wine openers, the Screwpull PM-100, or a subscription to Wine Spectator. Visit wine.com to learn more about varieties, food and wine pairings, and then head over to David Berkley’s on Friday nights to test your knowledge at the shop’s informal tastings.
    Tote a small rosemary plant to your favorite hostess. It’s an ancient symbol of friendship and love, and it can sit on the windowsill and brighten the kitchen with its aroma. Or go online to Yard Lover or Smith and Hawken to select a bird-seed wreath that can be hung outside the front door for feathered friends.  
    Specialty items such as cheeses, cookies and cakes are always welcome. Shari’s Berries make a nice California statement when received by a client or relative back East. There’s also Caroline’s Cakes, which features old-time caramel cake just like mom used to make.
    Someone with no sweet tooth might really enjoy I Love Cheese, which features some wonderful artisanal cheeses and ships anywhere. Smithfield Foods is online, and you can send your friends country ham and biscuits just in time to warm up for Christmas morning breakfast. A specialty food gift is always a great way to be remembered for the holidays.

The Aftermath

Beyond booze, holiday hangovers can result from excessive eating, socializing, spending and the lack of peaceful rest that comes with the overall “merriment” of the season. As the holidays draw near, here are some tips to help reduce or eliminate the effects of excess:
    Sugar Rush: Besides weight gain, too much refined sugar can overload your pancreas and lead to insulin imbalance, food cravings, anxiety and other unpleasantness. To prevent a sugar hangover, cut back on the sweet stuff in your day-to-day diet. If you like your coffee sweetened, try drinking it black with that slice of cake or pie and reduce the portions by half. According to dietary experts, you can give your pancreas an assist by going on a low-sugar, soluble-fiber diet (think oatmeal) and use antioxidants to combat the free radical damage and chromium picolinate to help balance your blood-sugar levels.
    So Many Carbs: Many of us feel the need to clean our plates during festive dinners, but it’s all about portion control. You can always go back for seconds, but if you eat slowly, you may find the first serving is plenty. If you have overeaten, make sure to follow up your meal (after allowing for time to digest) with some form of exercise, such as a long walk or a game of touch football.
    It’s the Thought: A monetary hangover can last the entire year, if not a lifetime. When gift purchasing and entertaining, you can aim for thoughtful rather than expensive. For example, ask every person in your family to express one nice sentiment about each other and then have the sentiments printed and framed to create a memorably lasting gift. You can also set a budget and withdraw that amount in cash or use your debit card to avoid those endless months of interest when you overspend.
    Hair of the Dog: Drinking alcohol is very dehydrating, and hydrating our system helps counteract its effects. Drink two large glasses of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume. In addition, increased circulation can help to rid our body of excess toxins. Therefore, exercise will help your body more quickly recover from the nausea, lethargy and pounding head. If you’ve really pushed it, consider a liver cleanse or detox. There are an array of approaches from Western nutritionists, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbalists.
— Tara Manners

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