Consider the Shopping team not as Santa's little helpers, but as yours. We're here to make holiday shopping as easy breezy as possible, from unique gift ideas for your hard-to-shop-for friends to surfing the internet for the best luxury presents for moms. Speaking of luxury — since it's the holidays and you might be in the mood to spend a little bit more than $50, we've curated a list of lavish presents that won't blow your end-of-year budget. Behold: luxury gifts under $100.
You'll find a splendid mix of home items like bakeware and martini glasses to ring in the new year along with the best fashion gifts, such as shiny pink brooches, jade green belt bags, and cozy shearling wool slippers. We've also cruised through Sephora's overflowing holiday gift sets and found covetable ones valued at over $500. If it all sounds too good to be true, it's not — click through to see it all. So happy shopping, readers. May your holidays be merry and bright.
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.
Allow your busy-bee bestie to fly through their never-ending schedule with a sleek jade green belt bag. There are two zippered compartments, so they can organize it as they please.
Mikasa Party 10 oz. Stemless Martini Glasses, Set of 4
Decorate your giftee's sparse bar cart with a set of four stemless martini glasses that are sprinkled with festive gold stars and dots. The first toast is on us!
Mikasa Party 10 oz. Stemless Martini Glasses, Set of 4, $, available at Neiman Marcus
Atelier Mon Pink Stone Brooch
Fashionable brooches are the latest trend of 2023, and we're gifting mom, aunt, and grandma a sparkly pink one. The elegant oval shape with a double halo makes it a stunner from even miles away.
Atelier Mon Pink Stone Brooch, $, available at Anthropologie
Lancôme Holiday Beauty Box
Give your mother the ultimate gift set with Lancôme's Holiday Beauty Box. The lavish set consists of 10 pieces of makeup and skin care at a value of $588. Who's ready to be mom's favorite child?
Lancôme Holiday Beauty Box, $, available at Nordstrom
Jenny Bird Sylvie Anklet
If your roommate has been on the hunt for a subtle statement piece, we've found a beautiful anklet from Jenny Bird. Consider it a modern strand of pearls. There's also a built-in extender for a comfy fit and an easy lobster clasp.
Jenny Bird Sylvie Anklet, $, available at Jenny Bird
Quince Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse
Replace your sister's worn-out cotton button-up with a washable silk one from Quince. The silky blouses are available in a plethora of rainbow hues and offered in sizes extra-small to large, with select colors in sizes 1X-3X.
Quince Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse, $, available at Quince
Gisou Honey Glow Icons Gift Set
What better way to treat your bestie — or yourself — to Gisou's best products. The set includes the iconic Honey Infused Hair Oil, viral lip oil, perfume, and more.
Gisou Honey Glow Icons Gift Set, $, available at Gisou
Caraway Circle Pan (Duo Set)
Gift all the bakers in your life Caraway's Circle Pan duo set and watch their eyes light up in delight. The slick ceramic coating makes it easy to clean up and is durable for healthy, nontoxic baking.
Caraway Circle Pan (Duo Set), $, available at Caraway
Parachute Shearling Wool Clogs
Everyone dreads the icy-cold floors during the winter. Allow everyone on your list, from mom and dad to your siblings, to be toasty warm with these fluffy clouds — I mean wool clogs.
Parachute Shearling Wool Clogs, $, available at Parachute
Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Bundle
Here's to glorious, restful nights of sleep. Brooklinen has created a luxurious Mulberry Silk bundle to feel like kings and queens year round. Get a 20% discount on their cooling eye mask and ultra-soft pillowcase set for a limited time.
Personalize the set for each giftee, as you can mix and match with the various prints and colors, so everyone gets a unique set.
Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Bundle, $, available at Brooklinen
Shashi Gemini Drop Earrings
Mixed-metal jewelry is no longer a faux pas. Whether you like silver or gold, or you're always confused about which color suits you the best, these double-hooped drop earrings are a sophisticated pair to try.
Shashi Gemini Drop Earrings, $, available at Shopbop
Polène Airpods Case
Elevate your fashion-loving bestie's Airpod case with a high-fashion piece crafted from upcycled Polène leather. The quaint luxurious case has the thoughtful details of hand-stitched folds, a half-moon flap, an engraved snap, and a convenient key ring. This might just encourage them to take better care of their Airpods.
Party the night away with a little itty bitty handbag for your trio of friends. There are three styles: an all-black one with a gold chain, this rhinestone embellished kind, and a handbags in the latest silver hue.
Carhartt WIP Gabe Wool & Cashmere Logo Patch Beanie
For all the trendy gals out there, gift them a wool and cashmere beanie with a street-style touch. The dusty brown makes it a versatile piece they'll gravitate toward on the daily, while the turn-up cuff adds a laid-back appeal.
You might have a pair of trusty yoga pants or black leggings in your closet, but if you're looking to upgrade your style, it's time to add some flares to your soft pants selection. Flared leggings are a 2023 fan-favorite style and many of our favorite soft leggings have been revamped with a subtly (or not-so-subtly) flared bottom in recent months. This updated take on everyone's favorite stretchy bottoms is perfect for elongating your legs, bringing a little bit of shape and curviness to an otherwise straight-legged style, and suiting a variety of occasions, from mornings at the gym to long nights at the office.
So walk with a little kick in your step with a flared pair and don't be surprised if they become your new go-to style. You'll find they add just the right amount of flair (sorry) to every look, from hiking 'fits to casual work ensembles.
Find your new favorite bottoms ahead, with flared styles from R29 reader-favorite brands like Lululemon and Free People.
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 something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Fitted leggings can get a bit restricting during workouts. Flared leggings add some breathability to your workout 'fit and can be worked into your regular routine — whether it's pilates, yoga, or Zumba — with its airy style.
There are those days when you scan your wardrobe, take one glance at your jeans, and realize hard pants are just not going to happen. Before you immediately slide into your go-to tapered black leggings, turn your gaze to a flared style instead. They still have the same comfort and ease of your favorite go-to pair, but bring more of a polished look to whatever you choose to pair them with.
SPANX Booty Boost® Flare Yoga Pant, $, available at SPANX
Madewell MWL Flex Flare Leggings
Not only are these Madewell faves available in three cute colorways, right now, you can take an extra 30% off their already discounted price with code LETSGO.
Uniqlo AIRism Soft Flare Leggings, $, available at Uniqlo
Best Fashionable Flared Leggings
Who knew leggings could be so stylish? While flare leggings already have '70s-inspired appeal, we've found a few with extra pizzazz. Discover styles with waist ties that you can cinch, front slit details, and trendy crossover waistbands.
OFFLINE by Aerie Real Me High Waisted Crossover Rib Super Flare Legging, $, available at Aerie
H&M+ Flared Slit-Hem Leggings
Made with ribbed fabric and featuring a front-slit detail, these flares are the perfect stand-in for traditional trousers when paired with a slouchy sweater or structured blazer.
The artificial intelligence boom has taken over fashion. Over the past year, brands, retailers and fans have jumped on the AI bandwagon to see how this new technology can improve the way we shop and get dressed.
And it’s all evolving fast. According to the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., generative AI could add anywhere from $150 billion to $275 billion to the apparel, fashion, and luxury sectors, over the next three to five years. Through generative text and image AI tools, fashion brands are able to hyper-personalize customer experiences that range from tailored product suggestions to live chat sessions to help people style themselves. And, of course, that has come with its own set of questions. Brands like Levi’s, for example, have announced that they’ll be using AI-powered models to diversify their e-commerce visuals, prompting concerns about the future of modeling, while a new AI-powered fashion magazine, titled Copy, has sparked concerns over the fate of creatives in fashion. Meanwhile, many consumers are skeptical about the use of their data, especially after the ChatGTP, the famous chatbot launched by the California-based company Open AI, experienced data breaches earlier this year.
Still, when it comes to styling and shopping, there’s a growing interest from consumers in using artificial intelligence to expedite their decisions. According to Klarna’s “Future of Retail” report, 65% of consumers want a more personalized shopping experience, which for the company includes launching tools like an AI-powered shopping feed that tailors suggestions to match the user’s preferences. Google, on the other hand, is focusing on fine-tuning the virtual try-on experience, based on a recent survey by the company that revealed 68% of online fashion shoppers find it difficult to know if an item will fit them.
As with any new technology, there’s still much to figure out about artificial intelligence. Yet, when it comes to fashion, it has shown so far that it can simplify our shopping and styling decisions, and even make them more personal. Ahead, take a look at the best three fashion AI tools to try during your next online shopping session.
Best For Shopping: Klarna
It may be known mostly for its “buy now, pay later” model, Klarna’s shopping platform, which gathers items from retailers like Farfetch, Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s, is one of the most practical tools to navigate online shopping. Recently, Klarna upgraded its platform (which can sometimes be very overwhelming, thanks to the wide range of products and retailers available) to an AI-powered feed that tailors suggestions to the customer’s tastes. “Klarna aims to bridge this subjectivity gap by transforming the shopping experience into an intuitive and tailored journey and will continue to explore ways to integrate new technologies, like AI, into our roster of current and upcoming shopping features to make it unique to each and every user’s personal preference,” says Josh van Sant, head of global consumer and product communications at Klarna.
The company also recently partnered with ChatGPT for a new plugin, which allows users to ask shopping questions through the chatbot and is currently on a beta mode waitlist. “In a world where the shopping experience is evolving rapidly, Klarna is at the forefront of new technologies to ensure our offering of innovative products and features continues to revolutionize the way the world shops,” says Van Sant.
Best For Styling: Cladwell
Since Clueless debuted in 1995, we’ve all wondered if we’d ever get to replicate the mesmerizing styling tool from Cher Horowitz’s closet. Cladwell is the closest we’ve ever gotten. The styling platform includes a ChatGPT-powered tool that allows users to catalog their wardrobe and use prompts to get tailored styling recommendations with their own clothes.
Prior to partnering with ChatGPT, Cladwell, which has already had over one million downloads, was powered through a proprietary algorithm since 2019, but, according to its founder and CEO Erin Flynn, the recent developments in AI led her to think of the chatbot to propel the algorithm even further. “I didn’t want to release something if it’s just the same as Chat GPT because anyone can use that,” she says. “It’s different because all the data that we are using is from the person’s closet.” Aside from the user’s closet, which people can catalog manually, Cladwell has a database of over 15,000 items that people can add to their digital wardrobe.
Currently, the Cladwell app is free with premium features available for $7.99 a month.
Best For A Fitting Room Experience: Google Virtual Try-On
If trying on clothes in person is your definition of a nightmare, Google’s AI-powered try-on feature may be the solution. Launched earlier this year, the tool allows users to see how an item would fit a similar body type. “The models and the poses are totally real,” says Lilian Rincon, senior director of Google Shopping, referring to the images used for the virtual try-on. “We’re able to use diffusion to superimpose what the clothing would look like on the model.” According to Rincon, the tool also adapts to the sizes offered by the retailer, so users can only try on items on body types that match the sizing available. Right now, the tool is only available for women’s tops, but Google plans to expand its try-on offering soon.
Although there are other virtual try-on options available, Google’s tool simplifies the process by using already available images to visualize the clothes, instead of having the users submit photos of themselves. “The learning is that people often prefer just this, just trying it on somebody that looks like them,” says Rincon.
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