We've sourced the best affordable luxury gifts for everyone on your list, whether they're a homebody who likes cozy socks, candles, and specialty teas or a world traveler in need of a new toiletry bag, sleeping mask, or travel-sized perfumes. So read on to find opulent gifts that look far more expensive than they actually are and will have your giftees wondering just how much you generously spent on them. Only we'll know you spent a week's coffee budget on it — and we're not telling.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
The cropped wool coat featuring a built-in scarf and contrasting embroidery, from the trendy Stockholm-based label, firmly took over social media feeds everywhere. But I also kept coming across the design in the wild in New York, too. Walking the streets of Soho, or at a dinner in Williamsburg, I’d catch the scarf coat out of the side of my eye.
On Tiktok, the hashtag #totemescarfjacket has over 15.5 million views, with videos ranging from styling tutorials and in-store try-ons to roundups of cheaper alternatives to the over-$1,000 coat from the brand that has gained a loyal following thanks to its classic-with-a-twist pieces like balloon jeans and slouchy striped sweaters.
Lauren Mazzarisi, a luxury digital media planner, first saw Totême’s scarf jacket on the Instagram Story of @somewherelately. “I was instantly drawn to it and saved a screenshot in my phone,” she says. “I realized [then] that coats can be equally as chic as the outfit underneath!”
While Totême’s piece may have become the most ubiquitous version of the statement outerwear trend, it’s not the only coat with a built-in scarf on the market causing a stir. “When we saw the scarf coat trend creeping in, we felt it was a trend that we wanted to jump on,” says Anthony Cuthbertson, creative director at Ted Baker. “We curated our own unique iteration, Solanna and Jilliya, which quickly became a cult item of the year.”
Cuthbertson attributes the piece’s popularity to its versatility and ease. “At this time of year, the ‘should I wear a scarf?’ debate every morning is real, so these built-in versions make the decision easy,” he explains. Indeed, wearers have the option to leave the scarf detail draped over the shoulders, like the traditional winter accessory, or wear it down the front, like extended collars.
This versatility is key. With winter jackets on the pricier end of items in one’s closet, many shoppers approach the purchase as an investment piece — something that’s meant to be worn for years instead of just a single season. It helps that the scarf jacket also has all the markings of a classic style like a peacoat or trench. Generally, the coloring is neutral (gray, olive green, black, etc.); materials range from luxe wool and cashmere to more casual down filling; and the silhouettes are clean and simple.
“In the last [few] years, there’s been a massive emphasis on buying purposefully and curating a capsule wardrobe. With that, there’s been a shift from purchasing trendy pieces to classic, more timeless pieces — and I feel that this coat fits the bill,” says Mazzarisi. “I saw the creator @oliviamarcus post a video recently in a scarf coat that her mom bought in Germany 30 years ago. If I have a daughter one day, I hope I can pass this coat on to her in 30 years!”
We’ll take one now.
This piece was first published on January 4, 2023. At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Attention Uniqlo lovers! A new designer collaboration is coming and it’s guaranteed to add some fun to your winter wardrobe. Pairing up for the first time with British accessories brand Anya Hindmarch—known for their expert craftsmanship, playful motifs (like the label’s signature googly-eyes), and whimsy bags (see: their Heinz ketchup and baked beans totes)—the Japanese retailer will be dropping a capsule collection of knitwear later this month.
Ahead of the launch, Hindmarch shares that the collection is all about fun, as well as integrating parts of her brand with Uniqlo’s iconic philosophies (like the aforementioned eyes that adorn every piece). “[Uniqlo’s] idea of a ‘practical sense of beauty’ chimes with my own philosophy of creating ‘bags that work,’” she told Refinery29 over email. “It’s basics done just right—and that make life work well.”
Consisting of nine pieces in various colors, Uniqlo x Anya Hindmarch serves up elevated versions of the brand’s LifeWear knits built for everyday quality, and HEATTECH accessories, which are engineered to keep you warm. With each piece designed with versatility and quality in mind, the result is one that Hindmarch is proud of. “Celebrating craftsmanship has always been integral to the way I work,” she said. “The stitches and the deconstruction were central to the whole collection.”
As for integrating the pieces into your existing wardrobe, Hindmarch said to “wear what you love and what makes you feel great”: “My day-to-day style is quite minimal—a great white shirt, a pair of well-cut jeans, a blazer and then I mix up my accessories to add a bit of fun.”
Whether you’ve got your *eyes* on this collection for yourself, your kid, or to fill stockings this holiday season, the Uniqlo x Anya Hindmarch Winter 2023 collection will be available to shop at Uniqlo on November 24.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by us. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, we may earn a commission.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
As a first-time viewer of the cult-favorite '90s film Practical Magic and writer of Refinery29's monthly reader bestsellers roundup, I noticed something in October: Our top-bought products and this fantastical Halloween movie (following the lives of two witches with terrible love lives) both emit dangerously potent levels of fall whimsy. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman tossed their luscious tresses beneath autumn foliage while Refinery29 readers scooped up blazers, cozy sheet sets, and moisturizing lip masks. That iconic Anthropologie-esque home put a sparkle in my eye, as R29 readers put advent calendars in their carts. So if you're delving into the fall spirit at full-throttle, October's reader bestsellers are a must-see, to say the least.
Not a member of the pumpkin spice brigade? Fret not. Beneath the piles of long-sleeve dresses and balaclavas were timeless discounted buys from two major sale events: Amazon Prime Big Deal Days and Way Day 2023 — we're talking dashing accent cabinets, top-rated tech, and editor-adored mattresses. Plus, some luxury travel finds, soul-snatching vibrators, and hair-boosting serums made their way into the mix. So, while I still don't 100% understand how (spoiler alert) Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman got away with murder in Practical Magic, I do know one thing: Refinery29 readers carted some fun, functional, and fall-ready products all October long. Scroll on to see for yourself.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.