The Luxury Gift Guide: the Best for Femme Fashionistas

What are the best luxury fashion-forward gifts for a woman this season? Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has curated our ultimate luxury gift guide with the best gifts for femme fashionistas right now.

what’s on the wish list for luxury fashion-forward gifts right now?

If you have a sartorial genius in your life– someone who manages to make every trend their own and is the best dressed in any crowd – well, finding a gift for them can be downright intimidating.

But here’s a secret. It’s really fun to try!

Channel their bold fashion attitude, relinquish the fear of looking silly and just go for it. It may seem outrageous to you, but chances are the fashionista in your life will know how to balance everything out so it looks effortlessly chic.

If your friend was the first to wear clunky Dad sneakers with her floral sundress, then you’ve got a certified trendsetter on your hands. And this gift guide is for them!

Here are some of the biggest trends this season, along with our luxury picks in each category. But don’t forget the gift receipt! Just in case . . . 

the luxury gift guide: the best for fashionistas

1. The micro-handbag

A trend that might mystify those who don’t follow fashion particularly closely but that makes perfect sense to those who do is the rise of the teeny, tiny handbag. We’re not talking about a clutch, or even a wristlet. We’re talking about a bag so small that you cannot even fit a credit card or a tube of lipstick in it. 

This is the leather handbag as necklace. Or bracelet. It has no function other than to be decorative. And like jewelry, these new-generation micro-bags don’t come cheap.

Jacquemus’ Le Chiquito was the bag that started it all in 2017. And now it’s gotten even smaller with Le Chiquiti ($224). This latest mini-tote comes with a thin leather strap that wraps around the arm.

The brand has also debuted the Le Porte Rouge à Lèvres crossbody bag($255), a slim accessory that might hold a regular-sized tube of lipstick.

Cult label By Far is a supermodel favorite and we love the brand’s Mini Tote ($468). Because when you’re the boss, someone else is carrying all your stuff, anyway, right?

2. The Belt Bag

While this trend is not brand-new, it’s picking up steam and your fashion-loving gift recipient will be happy to see that you’re in on this one. 

Consider this classic Prada Brique belt-bag ($1,106) for someone just easing into this trend. For a sporty take on the idea, MM6 Maison Margiela’s black belt bag ($500) is perfect. The Row’s black leather belt bag ($1,590), the Kate belt bag from Saint Laurent ($1,190) or the BOYY Deon leather belt bag ($595) are all really cool.

3. Cozy Dressing

Blame politics or maybe climate change but cozy dressing is giving us that much needed warm and fuzzy feeling, while having the side effect of looking ultra-luxe.

This ’20s-inspired belt from Rosantica ($865) is like jewelry for the waist. Every other stone is tipped with a pastel-pink plume of ostrich feathers for the perfect swish-swish. Plush and polished at the same time, we love this Cult Gaia bag ($328) swathed in clouds of fluffy faux shearling.

Your gift recipient will never have a bad hair day again with this stylish FENDI fur hat ($1,790). This cozy bouclé 3.1 Phillip Lim sweater ($550) with a shoulder-baring, fold-over silhouette is like being wrapped up in a blanket.

4. Statement Puffer Coats

One of the most dreary things about winter is the sea of black coats. Luckily, it’s all about statement puffers this year. Go big or go home.

Oversized puffers are all the rage and your fashionista will give you major props for finding this Dries Van Noten quilted coat ($2,475) inspired by flowers in the designer’s garden. 

If your fashionista doesn’t like prints, but is open to a color other than black , the extremely oversized fit and dropped shoulders of the Balenciaga New Swing puffer coat ($2,690) and the deep eggplant color make it a standout.

5. 70’s Bling

Even for those of us born post-Studio 54, the legend lives on. No one probably has had more fun since. Thankfully, we can still dress like it.

So we actually tried on this shimmering Galvan blazer ($1,695) at Forty Five Ten and we think any fashion plate will adore it as much as we did. Paco Rabanne’s sequinned dress literally channels the Golden Age of Disco ($3,590).

These blue leather and crystal embellished platform sandals from Prada ($1,327) are a disco queen’s dream. So are these from Miu Miu ($785) and Saint Laurent ($995).  Simone Rocha’s glistening pink crystal tiara ($745) is inspired by one that French artist Louise Bourgeois used to wear. Hand-applied crystals alternate with micro studs, giving these oversize Gucci square frames ($1,015) a glamorous vibe. Your gift recipient can grab this Jimmy Choo clutch ($995) for a tough-luxe night out on the town.

6. A Leather Skirt

Leather skirts received a design upgrade this season in silhouette and treatment. The fashionista will need at least a few different versions in her closet.

Proenza Schouler’s version is a cool, asymmetric skirt ($1,990) made from panels of glossed-leather and gathered at the waist to create a flattering drape. This black leather matellasse nappa skirt from Bottega Veneta ($3,900) is a unique piece with serious design cred.

MM6 Maison Margiela knows leather and lace is a timeless combo. This buttery soft skirt has a wrap front that reveals a lace-trimmed satin slip underneath ($1,080).

7. Hair Jewelry

Luxurious hair clips, barrettes, bobbie pins and other hair jewelry are still a Thing, and they make perfect gifts.

Gucci’s rhinestone GG hair pin ($470) is effortlessly feminine.  Dior’s J’adior hair pin ($490) has a retro vibe in antique gold. For a no-bling approach to luxury hair accessories, Maison Michel’s Betty Bow ($664) combines elegance and modernity. 

the luxury gift guide: the best for fashionistas

There you have it! Our top luxury fashion gift picks for the fashion-forward stylish woman in your life. Happy Shopping!

join our community

For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter here. And see luxury in a new light.

Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women. Also kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.

Forward This Article