Need a last-minute gift? Think fashion.
Need a last-minute gift? Think fashion
If you’re a last-minute shopper looking to get your child a Hatchimals, you’re pretty much out of luck. One of the season’s hottest toys has been sold out in stores and online for weeks. But if you’re looking for fashions for the lady in your life, you’re in luck. According to the National Retail Federation, more than half of consumers started holiday shopping before Thanksgiving with more than six out of 10 shoppers buying clothing and accessories. According to area retailers, trendy fashions that range from jewelry to clothing to accessories are readily available.
Comfort is always a winner when choosing which fashions will make the perfect gift, according to Cynthia Washburn-Nester, vice president of fashion and trend at Belk.
“We are all looking for the comfort and coziness associated with a plush touch,” she said in a news release. Fashions ranging from hats, scarves and vests made from velvet, sherpa, fleece and corduroy provide that warm, rich feel, she said.
“Scarves and knit hats are always fabulous gifts, easy fit and great price points,” says Suzanne West, owner of Frankie & Julian’s boutique on Frazier Avenue. “We have hats for $29, plus they keep you warm — and it’s finally cold in Chattanooga. Scarves can be used around your neck or as a wrap on a chilly night out on the town.”
But if you truly want to give a gift of luxurious fashion, cashmere is a customer favorite, West says.
“Cashmere is a special gift because it’s so soft and is considered a classic gift,” she says. “We have fine-gauge, thinner cashmere for warmer climates and thick, 100 percent cashmere sweaters for a ski trip or just to keep you warm and cozy in Chattanooga climate.”
Classic velvet, once was the go-to fabric for holiday fashions, is now perfect for the cold-weather months, Washburn-Nester says.
“Velvet is no longer relegated to only holiday wear,” she says. And “contemporary” customers might like velvet booties, a velvet camisole and other intimate fashions, she adds.
For the woman who prefers more traditional, she suggests velvet fashions in deep shades of sapphire, ruby or black. The colors are used on everything from dresses to hats, scarves and gloves. A velvet throw is also a popular gift item, Washburn-Nester says.
West says accessories, particularly jewelry, make excellent last-minute gifts, too.
“We have necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more that range in price from $39 to $99 and fun charm necklaces and earrings of all kinds with real gemstones and gold vermeil or sterling silver,” she says.
Louis Brody, co-owner of Brody Jewelers in Rossville, Ga., and downtown Chattanooga, says his selections change from day to day. Pieces range from new ones to estate jewelry that might include a vintage charm bracelet or a 40-carat diamond necklace or a previously owned Rolex.
Last-minute Christmas shoppers frequently rush into his store, he says.
“We’ve waited as late as 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve for customers to pick out gifts,” he says. “On the flip side, we have customers who shop in July and pay on things until Christmas so they don’t have to pay out of pocket all at once.”
But if it’s trendy jewelry you’re looking for, there’s a big selection available, he says.
“The hottest trends in women’s jewelry right now is Lafonn, which is an affordable sterling line that is beautiful,” he says. “I tell my customers who travel a lot with very expensive jewelry that Lafonn is the perfect alternative because people tend to lose jewelry when they travel.”
For people who have bigger budgets for holiday shopping, they can take a look at Alwand Vahan pieces, he says. “It’s so popular that we just keep reordering it so we’ll have it in stock.”
Also trending is the diamond-stud earring, which can set you back about $100 or as much as five figures.
“We carry pieces ranging from $99 to $80,000,” Brody says.
And, as has been the case for the last several years, rose gold is popular.
“Rose gold was popular in the 1920s, and it’s been circling back for the last few years,” Brody says.