Give in Style: The Right Gift for Everyone

"The Right Gift for Everyone" might be a little ambitious. But in the interest of keeping my own gift-giving thoughts collected, I started a Pinterest board "For You..." to collect all of the things I see and say "oooh! That would be perfect for...The Beans, my girlfriends, a hostess, a boss...

You get the picture.

So while I slave away at trying to respond to government requests (no offense - really, I promise - to anyone who works in the government procurement business, but really? Do you have to release all of your requests exactly such that I have to slave away as everyone else does their holiday shopping and goes to holiday happy hours?), check out my picks for now. I'll keep adding more as we go through the season (and I take a break from the proposals to eat and pin a few pieces here and there).

Happy Shopping!

Oh, and for those of you with an H, a boyfriend, a fiance, a male friend, a father, brother, or even a male boss in your life, check out my For H board, which, while specific to my - ahem - H's taste, might have a few ideas for you, too!

Style Inspiration: The Bond Girl

I don't know about you, but I've been counting down the days 'til I get to a theater to see Skyfall.

A huge Bond fan, I love the films for all of their stylish, campy, and slick glory. I love the suave and the smooth. I love the tongue-not-really-in-cheek raunchiness. I love the overt yet demure sexiness.

And I love the style.

So while I wait (not very) patiently for the break in our family's schedule to get my rear and to a movie theater seat to ogle - ahem - see Daniel Craig in his next major motion picture, I thought I'd put together a little bit on the style the Bond Girls bring.

Oh, and boyfriends, husbands, and hopefuls? This might just serve as (I swear I'm not typing this) a bit of a gift guide.

For the man who wants it to be for his eyes only.

(Lordy. I typed that. I couldn't help myself.)

Inspired by Maud Adams in the arms of Roger Moore: the perfectly ladylike Botkier bag Maud would carry to conceal her demure pistol. Botkier is a stretch on the wallet, true, but there are lots of more reasonable frame bags out there big enough for a lady spy to carry what she needs.

Inspired by Ursula and Sean on a break in filming: a Sea Folloy retro striped bikini that just might bring out the Bond Girl in you. Or, you know, you could take her on an actual Mediterranean vacation so she'd need the bikini

Inspired by Pierce and Famke in a carefully crafted conversation: red suede Chanel gloves in which a Bond Girl would concel the finest stilletto. Another stretch, true, but major department stores (and even big box stores) have affordable long-gloved options (these opera-length ones at Nordstrom still have the button detail plus even more drama, or these knit yellow ones at Target add a saucy note to a demure ensemble)

Inspired by Eva and Daniel facing off: a pair of glittering Miguel Ases earrings that could certainly double as listening devices + my personal Bond Girl cocktail, which isn't a cocktail at all, a single malt, neat. You see, any Bond Girl in my book would adore the strong, smooth, yet sharp punch of a perfectly aged scotch. Neat, of course. Kinda like Bond himself.

Bond pictures via imdb.com