Mirror, Mirror: Gifts that give back
It's a given that holiday gifts will bring cheer to loved ones. But isn't it nice when you can spread the giving vibes beyond your own circle of friends and family?
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It's a given that holiday gifts will bring cheer to loved ones. But isn't it nice when you can spread the giving vibes beyond your own circle of friends and family?
This year, the Philadelphia area's chicest retailers have stockpiled some trendy gift options that promise smiles for your chums and much-needed help for local and national charities.
Here are my top 10. Happy shopping!
Charlie's wax-coated jeans. Leave it to Charlie's Jeans owner and denim designer Sebastian McCall to create a must-have pair to wear well into 2016. These black, mid-rise jeans retail for $209, and 10 percent of sales from each pair sold will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Philadelphia.
Where to buy: Charlie's Jeans, 233 Market St., 215-923-9681, www.charliesjeans.net.
Alicia DiMichele faux fur accessories. Is there someone in your life who finds winter white very North Pole cute? Then Alicia DiMichele's faux fur accessories spell soft, furry perfection. Fifteen percent of sales from each purchase of a $24 faux fur key chain or this $48 snood will be earmarked for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Where to buy: Alicia DiMichele, 500 Route 73 South, D3, Marlton, 856-489-4494, www.aliciadimichele.com.
Kat Designs bracelets. Kat Mittman Kobak's beaded bracelets are stacked on many a celebrity's wrist. Why not yours? The arm candy, designed in Bryn Mawr, is priced between $40 and $175 per bracelet, depending on the stones, and 10 percent of sales of each bracelet will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Philadelphia.
Where to buy: Knit Wit, 1729 Chestnut St., 215-564-4760, www.knitwitonline.com.
Hippy Spirit cashmere slouchy beanie. Give the gift of toasty ears thanks to the Maple Glen designer of the comfy cashmere line Hippy Spirit. This 95 percent cashmere, 5 percent wool blend floppy chapeau features a detachable pom-pom fashioned from faux fur. It's $170, and 20 percent of total sales are to donated to Peace for Puppies in Wynnewood. Where to buy: www.hippyspirit.net.
Philly Phaithful T-shirts. Daniel Hershberg's T-shirt designs are quintessential Philadelphia, perfect for the locals on your list. The T screen-printed with Schuylkill rowers across the Philly skyline is my personal favorite. And only in Philly are pretzels and mustard best friends. At $24.99, 10 percent of sales of each shirt are donated to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society.
Where to buy: www.phillyphaithful.com.
The Dena Coat. She loves laid-back, but she's in need of warm outerwear. Here is the gift for that girl. This made-in-America French terry cotton coat even comes with an infinity scarf collar in sweater knit. Available in sizes XS to XL, it'll run you $235. Ten percent of sales from each coat will be donated to Philabundance.
Where to buy: Steel Pony, 758 S. Fourth St. www.steelpony.com.
Scarves by Debbie Martin. These pretty, printed scarves from the Hazel & Friends collection by New Hope designer Debbie Martin are sure to jazz up little black dresses and basic black sweaters. Each scarf features the handprints of children with disabilities and is $76. Twenty percent of sales from each scarf will go to Hazel's Hope Foundation, a Philadelphia charity that supports genetic research for children with disabilities.
Where to buy: www.debbiemartindesigns.com; Shop 65, 1921 Walnut St., 267-239-5488; Lotus Apparel & Home, 8 E. State St., Doylestown, 215-345-6380.
Bluecoat gin bottle candle. Ahhhh, the slow burn of a scented candle on a cold, winter night, handsomely housed in a former bottle of gin. Pick up this 100 percent soy wax candle in a sweet citrus scent. Fifty percent of sales will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, a Jacksonville, Fla., project that helps veterans get back to their lives.
Where to buy: Philadelphia Distilling, 12285 McNulty Rd., Suite 105, www.philadelphiadistilling.com, 215-671-0346.
Malcolm Jenkins bow ties. Bow ties are cool, classic and stocking-stuffer-ready. So a tie courtesy of Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins - whether camouflage or floral print - is sure to please any special dude. Jenkins' Rock Avenue ties range from $45 to $65, and $10 from each tie sale will go to the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to college-bound high school seniors.
Where to buy: www.wearerockavenue.com/giving-back.
Liberty United jewelry. New York entrepreneur Peter Thum and actress Cara Buono are taking illegal guns off the streets in four U.S. counties and cities, including Philadelphia, and turning them into cuffs, dainty necklaces, and saucy studs for everyday wear and special occasions. Prices range from $95 to $150, and 20 percent of profits will be donated to programs that help at-risk children, including the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network.
Where to buy: www.libertyunited.com/collections/all-liberty-united.
215-854-2704