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Gone are the tired hotel gift shops of Christmases past; those of Christmas present are here to delight. From pop-up shops to exclusive designer collaborations, hotels are well on their way to becoming It shops. After all, what is a hotel if not a concept shop you can sleep in?
Whether you’re checking in or simply passing through the lobby, here are a few of the season's best places to find gifts.
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Lingua Franca founder Rachelle Hruska MacPherson knows that the only thing better than a great cashmere sweater is one with a bit of personality. The brand’s knits feature loop-de-loop stitches that spell out hashtag-able phrases like “The Future Is Female” and “Resist.” Since launching last year, Lingua Franca has collaborated with the Whitney Museum and this holiday season, the New York–centric brand (all its pieces are hand-embroidered in the city) has teamed up with another Manhattan institution: The Mark. “The Mark hotel will always hold a special place in my heart,” Hruska MacPherson explains. “It was our home for many weeks following Hurricane Sandy (our house’s first floor in the West Village was flooded) so I was thrilled to be able to do a collaboration together.” For the occasion, she’s emblazoned her signature cozy sweaters with the on-theme “Wish You Were Here.” The Mark will be launching an e-commerce site in the new year, displaying the sweaters alongside other luxury brand collabs. For now, Lingua Franca goods can be purchased via the concierge.
As evidenced by Instagram, interior design doyenne Rebecca Gardner and her Sugarplum pop-up at the St. Regis hotel is an instant hit. Gardner’s knowing eye picked out and put together an exquisite assortment of antique tabletop wares and contemporary hosting gifts, displaying her goodies in a powdery-hued space that resembles an Old World confectionary come Christmas time. Shop highlights include pastel crystal goblets, marble-paper Christmas crackers, and swoon-worthy, one-of-a-kind velvet stockings that emit Gucci vibes with bullion appliqués and vintage French trim. “There is a stocking for everyone on your list,” Gardner says.“Both naughty and nice.” The pop-up is generously open in-store and online until Christmas Eve.
The Beverly Hills Hotel x Esquivel Shoes
Think of an iconic Los Angeles hotel and you’ll likely conjure The Beverly Hills Hotel and its famous banana leaf wallpaper. Think of an L.A.–based shoe designer and George Esquivel instantly comes to mind. So it made perfect sense when Esquivel created an exclusive pair of shoes for the hotel. The ultra-cool leather slides are printed with the hotel’s signature leafy greens and practically beg to be worn at the property's poolside cabanas. “The Beverly Hills Hotel has always been a symbol of style and old Hollywood charm for me,” explained the shoe designer. “It’s a dream to be able to create something to celebrate that lasting joie de vivre.”
Williamsburg’s original hotel destination the Wythe Hotel has partnered up with Form Vintage for a home goods holiday pop-up, on through December 20. Form advocates for a nostalgia-free approach to vintage, sourcing surprisingly modern pieces that date back to the 17th century. While the holiday shop is ceramic-centric, there is also an assortment of jewelry with eclectic heritages including Georgian, Victorian, Art Deco, Navajo, and Mexican Modernist pieces, and ancient Chinese trade beads. One-of-a-kind gifts, made easy.