What Would Sylvie Like? Gifts for Your Pickiest Friends

Choose the right gift or suffer the quiet disapproval.

I aspire to not being terrified of terrifying French women. But I am still obsessed with Sylvie, the chilly Parisian boss on Emily in Paris who I already wrote about here. And I’ve been wondering: what could I give her (and by extension, my pickiest friends) for Christmas?

Red lipstick is a ‘French beauty’ staple (remember going out?) But it’s also a saviour when you want to look #thirtyflirtyandthriving on a Zoom call. The Yves Saint Laurent Mini Rouge Pur Couture mini set, ($65, Sephora) offers four tiny perfect, jewel-like mini lipsticks so you can select the perfect shade of ‘blood of my discarded lovers’ red. Or pick one of the two deep rosy shades if you are feeling more subdued.

There’s a special brand of fear when selecting gifts for notoriously choosy friends or relatives. Bastide, the beauty and home line created by former hair stylist and all-around French heartthrob Frederic Fekkai, has taste bona fides in spades. Inspired by Fekkai’s own languid Aix-en-Provence life, Bastide’s La Triple Flame candle trio, $145 at Holt Renfrew, is two cozy, wintery scents, Ambre Soir and Au Coin Du Feu, as well as the sunny Figue d’Été, for dreaming of a South of France summer. And the honeyed glass vessels throw the warmest light.

Very fancy Hungarian mud masks and cleansers from a beauty company owned by a polished aristo and his soignée wife would resonate on a bone-deep level with French women (who are genealogy snobs).

Omorovicza’s Mini Mud Set , $78, Nodrstrom.com, provides a tour through the mineral rich mud from Hungary’s Lake Heviz (which claims to be the largest, biologically active, naturally medicinal water in the world) with a black mud cleaning balm, a mud mask and an exfoliator.

My (very French) Tante Yvette insists that “leaving the house without lipstick and jewellery is like going out without your bra and panties”. (Obviously she never looks anything less than immaculate.)

This Jenny Bird Constance lariat ($110) would be Tante Yvette and Sylvie approved for the sinuous lines of its drops and subtle emphasis of one’s décolleté.

It’s not chic to whack people over the head with your perfume. Subtlety and surprise are essential building blocks of French chic, so Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Oud Satin Mood Scented Hair Mist ($110, Holt Renfrew) reveals its charms quietly. This alcohol-free hair mist softly whispers its notes of violet and rose anchored with oud and amber only when you turn your head and only for the benefit of yourself or someone close to you.

Who famously said you can never have too many cheese knives? Oh wait. That was me. But it’s still true and a Sabre Bistrot Cheese Knife from Toronto’s Hopson Grace in chic faux tortoise is just what every cheese platter needs this holiday season to feel worldly. If you want to really make a statement, package it up with a bottle of red wine and a generously cut, perfectly ripe slice of La Sauvagine or any other wonderful French cheese.

If the French did Christmas stockings, you’d definitely want to include this, as French women adore practical yet luxe pharmacie beauty products. 

Bioderma Atoderm Huile de Douche Ultra-Nourishing Anti-Irritation Shower Oil is not only a beauty editor favourite for its subtle scent and moisturizing capabilities, but this massive, 1 litre bottle costs only $20. Remember, no one loves a bargain like a discerning Frenchwoman.  

The Nice List: Gifts for the Budding Feminist

Guest columnist Lesa Hannah is a beauty writer/editor who guest edited an issue of Sassy, the seminal feminist teen magazine when she was 19 and due to the pandemic, still hasn't seen Bikini Kill live. Follow her on Instagram at @lesahannah.

By Lesa Hannah

The world will be infinitely better if we keep teaching the next generation to continue to smash the patriarchy.

BLOODLINE

To menstruate in modern times is to 1) be mindful of the environmental waste you create when using disposable pads and tampons, and 2) be in touch with your body and not be grossed out and shamed by a natural process. Menstrual cups were once only for the Earth Mother type, but they’ve been growing so much in popularity that there’s now endless options beyond the OG Diva Cup. Made in Canada, Nixit, $54, is modeled after a diaphragm and collects blood right under the cervix. It’s also made of soft, thin and flexible silicone so it’s easy to insert and once in, utterly undetectable because where it sits has less nerve endings. As a backup for when the cup runneth over or to be worn instead of a cup because of light flow (lucky you), there’s period underwear by The Period Company. Co-founded by gamine, politically aware, cool AF Hollywood stylist Karla Welch, the brand makes six styles in black cotton, from Bikini to The Sleeper. Each pair is $16 compared to the typical $40 plus from other brands. You’re damn right I ordered $100 worth for myself. 

NOTORIOUS RBG

As if 2020 wasn’t shitty enough, we lost feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The liberal SCOTUS (and second woman to serve on the bench) pushed for progressive votes on issues like abortion, voting and same-sex rights and was capable of holding a plank position well into her 80s. She also had a mean scrunchie collection but I digress. Honour the woman’s legacy with I Dissent, $25, a game that involves casting your own votes on hot button issues (Are cats jerks? Is a hot dog a sandwich?) or dissenting and standing your ground for more points.

P.S. The documentary about RBG’s life was just added to Netflix so if the younger women in your life haven’t seen it, assign them this as required viewing.

READING MATERIAL

I discovered Bust in 1993--the year it launched-- in NYC and immediately subscribed because I felt it was my duty to support the small feminist mag that miraculously continues to this day! A year’s subscription, $40, will keep any beginning member of the resistance up to date on topics like celebrity, music, fashion, art, and media reported on through a feminist lens. 

PIECE OUT

With a winter looming that won’t be filled with the usual socializing indoors (I’m going to miss having friends over for cozy, gossipy dinners this year), this may be the time to finally embrace puzzles. This 1000 piece Nevertheless she persisted jigsaw, $20, will pass the time as well as educate the young ‘uns on notable bad asses like Betty Friedan, Angela Davis and Harriet Tubman.

HANDS DOWN

With Toronto in another lockdown, manicures aren’t possible for the next few weeks, so Leeanne Colley, owner of Tips Nail Bar, our favourite nail bar in the city, came up with the genius idea of Tips Press Refresh . Measure your nails, pick from nail art designs, $75, (courtesy of Colley’s killer team) or a solid shade, $35, and order away. Within three days the press-ons will arrive, along with an orange wood stick, nail file, buffer and alcohol wipe and a link with instructions on how to apply. Your gift recipient will admire their tips while you can feel good about supporting a woman-owned, local business. 

SHUT YO MOUTH

When Kamala Harris pointedly told milquetoast Mike Pence she still had the floor during the Vice Presidential debate back in October, it was as if she was talking on behalf of all women who’d ever had her own words steamrolled by a man’s. It instantly became a memeable moment that deserves to be commemorated on everything from bumper stickers to T-shirts. This I’m Speaking Mug, $27, will do just fine. 

HOME MAKER

Sewing is a skill that some might see as antiquated and domestic, but whether it’s to make your own masks, tend to minor repairs or shorten pants, the ability and satisfaction of being able to do all of the above cannot be overstated. Seriously, being able to sew makes you feel powerful and in control. After you make that reverse stitch to secure your seam, you’ll find yourself saying “F--k yeah!”  The Singer M2100 Sewing Machine, $190, is reasonably priced and ideal for newbies. 

The Nice List: Gifts for the Tippler

Still Life with a Gilt Cup, Willem Claesz (1635)

Guest columnist Nathalie Atkinson is a culture journalist with an affinity for spirits. There are presently 198 bottles in her liquor cabinet (107 of them gin). Follow her on Instagram at @jadedjournalista.

By: Nathalie Atkinson

A jigger, a shaker, and a Hawthorne strainer walk into a bar. It’s your bar, and they’re regulars because you’ve been doing this a while. You’ve got the basics but these holiday picks will make cocktail hour better in every way.

With a Twist

You can mix a stirred drink in any heavy wide-mouthed vessel or carafe (I use a vintage flower pitcher) but a twisty stainless steel mixing spoon is non-negotiable. It will save your shoulders, elbow, and wrist — and it looks slick in a boomerang. $16 at Cocktail Emporium (cocktailemporium.com)

Have you been enjoying the mixology magic of Stanley Tucci’s deadpan cocktail tutorials on InstagramTV? And his matte gold bar accessories, similar to these at Cocktail Emporium?

Stanley Tucci made that scotch sour just for you, you lucky thing.

The Big Squeeze

Because only suckers buy ready-made simple syrup: a plastic squeeze bottle will keep yours fresh in the fridge for up to a month. 

$5.49 at Kitchen Stuff Plus (KitchenStuffPlus.com)

Behind Door #3

Every serving from That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s Advent Calendar gives you a daily surprise to look forward to. $199.95 at LCBO while supplies last (lcbo.com)

Blow Me

Nova Scotian Crystal

Brad Copping’s Xylen tumblers

A scotch sour served in Halifax’s own Nova Scotian Crystal just tastes better. I’m partial to the diamond-cut Titanic pattern, so-named because the design was inspired by its stateroom light sconces (and because artefacts from the doomed ocean liner are housed in the nearby Maritime Museum of the Atlantic). For a more colourful cocktail by all means covet Campbell-Rey’s striped tumblers, but remember that artist Brad Copping’s cheerful Xylen tumblers are blown right here in Canada.

From $85 at Nova Scotian Crystal (novascotiancrystal.com) and $48 through Craft Ontario (craftontarioshop.com)

Cherry Bombed

Some people swear by Luxardo; I do not. For an Aviation my go-to is Tillen Farms’ plump dark Bada Bing. In a Manhattan, it’s Paw Paw’s unctuous Amaretto variation made with organic B.C. cherries. If you’re into packaging and design then Fabbri and Toschi’s curvaceous ceramic jars are the epitome of bella figura—like it’s 1962 and you’re sipping a leisurely Negroni in Via Veneto, not a paparazzo in sight. But better no cherry at all than those round things tinted with red dye #40 that call themselves maraschinos but taste like a cartoon version that has survived Chernobyl. If you heed nothing else here, make them good cherries.

$12.99-$29 at Cocktail Emporium (cocktailemporium.com)

The Gin is In

Filmmaker Paul Feig launched Artingstall’s in the spring and his premium gin is now firmly in my top 3. It’s not just that Stanley Tucci loves it, or because Feig’s Spy and Freaks & Geeks are my comfort-food, or even to copy what Emma Thompson swigs at the London outdoor market in Last Christmas. Unlike some celebrity booze brands we could name, Feig is not a come-lately: the Freaks & Geeks creator has long been as famous for his love of a crisp Duke’s Martini as he is for his sartorial flair. He formulated the distinctively citrus-forward gin with the micro distillery division of Calgary’s Minhas at their Wisconsin facility, gave it his mother’s maiden name, and even designed the cut-glass bottle. When you’ve polished it off—which will be sooner than you think—soak the label off and it’s an elegant art deco decanter.

Artingstall’s Brilliant London Dry Gin, $54.95 at LCBO  and several other Canadian provinces, and in USA (artingstalssgin.com)

Shadow of the Thin Man

Contemporary martini glasses are too large and too tall: the centre of gravity is off and they teeter. Instead, opt for the simple tulip glass known as a Nick and Nora, after the urbane and prodigious drinkers of The Thin Man. The smaller capacity is how Nora managed to line up those five more martinis—and will help yours stay chilly to the last drop.

$14 at Cocktail Emporium (cocktailemporium.com)

Shaken and Stirred

I’ve taken many drinks classes and, with apologies to Stanley, my favourites are with Famous Last Words, the Junction’s literary-themed bar. Marlene and her team combine history and lore specific to the chosen cocktails with useful tips on ingredients, variations, and technique (because yes, you are holding that bar spoon wrong). Until indoor tippling can safely reopen, sign up for their online classes themed around imbibers Ian Fleming, Ernest Hemingway, and Charles Dickens.

$40 per screen at Famous Last Words (famouslastwordsbar.com)

Frozen, Too

Retro-classic stainless steel makes a satisfying thwack but Prohibition’s over, folks, and flexible silicone ice cube trays make much less mess. A covered silicone tray is also easier for stacking and prevents cubes from absorbing freezer odour while setting. (Bonus: the frame means it won’t slosh and sag when filled with water.) Once they’re solid, pop the cubes out and store in a sealed plastic bag. $16.99 at Cocktail Emporium (cocktailemporium.com) 

One last tip for the long winter ahead:

Trainer Vineyard’s display-worthy Haberdasher vermouths.

Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say. A great way to liven up a favourite winter cocktail like a Boulevardier or Manhattan is to use a higher-quality version of one of the ingredients. Chances are your local bar is selling bottles and I guarantee you they and local dealers have a better selection of sweet red vermouth than the provincial liquor authority (I like Cocchi, and Punt e Mes, and Haberdasher vermouth from Prince Edward County’s Traynor Vineyard). And in a Paper Plane I play with different amari to see how they alter the flavour profile.

Cheers!

Remember This Ridiculous Beauty Tip?

Tatjana Patitz in French Elle, March 1989

In the early 90s, I stuck this magazine photo of Tatjana Patitiz on my fridge door because I’d read that having pictures of skinny models in the kitchen would prevent me from snacking. It didn’t work at all. But even despite the negative associations, I still love the image.

This ‘self-loathe your way to skinniness’ advice seems dated now when anyone can idly scroll the #fitspo hashtag on Instagram if they want to feel bad about themselves. God willing that habit will disappear as younger generations of women truly believe in body diversity, not just as a marketing trend. I feel hopeful about this.

Even those purveyors of jet-set anorexia, Victoria’s Secret, are shuttering 250 stores this year (no idea how much of this is due to Covid, but I’ll take it) and they stopped producing their annual fashion shows in 2019 due to declining viewership.

And even though I never got skinny enough to wear a bandage dress, I still think Patitz looks great in this picture. My love of 90s supermodels will never die, and in that one way, I’m still the same person who tacked up that photo.

The Nice List: Gifts for your Favourite Man

Give the gift of self-care to your nearest and dearest this holiday season, because everyone needs love, attention and coziness.

Real talk: men require very few things in life. They’re pretty simple beings, but one non-negotiable is that they absolutely need to be found super-hot by their partner. (I express this in a much more vulgar way to my girlfriends, but this is a public forum, so I’m trying to be circumspect.)

***

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male Le Parfum ($98) is a clever reworking of the 1995 original, with amped up spicy and woody notes surrounded by lavender and iris and a quiet but compelling vanilla that highlight a man’s allure.

There are too many black puffer coats in the world and I say this as a black puffer owner. But here’s a secret: even if they’re not fashiony peacocks, many men love colour. This citrusy slice of joy is a sunny hug for your significant other. The Parajumpers Bold Parka, $1198, will give them a jolt of pure happy when they pull it on to head outside into the biting cold.

Why should women get all the gorgeous Taschen coffee table books? The History of EC Comics$260, The Beguiling Books & Art, is a tour through childhood (Mad Magazine), teenhood (Tales of the Crypt) and beyond. It’s available through Toronto’s own legendary The Beguiling bookstore, because if you ‘shop local’ you’ll get stellar customer service while ensuring your city stays vibrant and people are employed.

Tokyo Smoke Cannabis Infused Dark Milk Chocolate was invented for times like these. I can’t really come up with a caption other than it’s delicious chocolate that contains 2 mg of THC, because literally everyone needs help chilling out right now.

Because you can’t sit around eating THC chocolate all day long to relieve tension, there’s the Theragun Prime, ($299 on sale) which uses percussive motion for a deep muscle massage. Whether or not you work out, we all have super tight neck muscles and ‘traps’ right now from sitting hunched at our computers. And incipient carpal tunnel hand pain from too much phone and keyboard time. Buy one for your guy and then just use it yourself. I would kill for one.

Carrying little bottles of sanitizer around can be a nuisance (especially if, as a man, society has seen fit to deprive you of carrying a purse) so these flat, one ounce Nudestix antibacterial hand gel packs, $10 for five, Sephora, are perfect to stash in a pocket without feeling uncomfortably bulky or ruining the line of a garment

How to get men to use moisturizer in the winter: the Ultimate Hemp Power Big Gift Sack from The Body Shop, $65, has a faintly illicit vibe, uses hemp seed oil (rich in soothing fatty acids) to moisturize even the driest skin and the signature scent is fantastic.

And if an Overnight Nourishing Rescue Mask is one beauty product too far, then just steal it back for yourself. (Or do as a friend did when she told her husband that using moisturizer after drinking prevents hangovers the next day.)

After mastering sourdough last April, many of use because de facto barbers, giving desperate male family members haircuts with varying degrees of success.

The Conair Barbershop Pro Series cordless clippers, $70, are easy to use and come with many attachments to help create exactly the style that your haircut guinea pigs desire. These clippers are practically idiot-proof (and I say this as a certified idiot.)

It's Eat-Boozy-Pasta-and-Hand-Wash-Your-Sweaters Season

Forever New laundry powder gently cleans all your cashmere.

I am christening the upcoming four months of cold weather and Covid isolation “the winter of rigatoni alla vodka. ” To make that happen I’ve laid in lots of vodka, Calabrian chili paste and dried rigatoni (which is superior to penne. Ask anyone.) Just as important, as the temperatures drop, is stocking up on the best gentle laundry powder ever, Forever New, because I refuse to take anything made of cashmere to the dry cleaners.

Dry-cleaned sweaters feel weirdly stiff and not particularly ‘clean’. The thought of putting one against my bare skin (especially after it has rolled around in an industrial drum full of perchloroethylene and the dirty clothes of strangers) gives me hives.

Forever New was pressed upon me in the 80s by a saleslady in Eaton’s lingerie department (underwire bras being way too tricky and pricy to just throw into the machine.) It gently gets things thoroughly clean and rinses out easily, because rinsing laundry in the sink is a pain. The scent is subtle and nicely laundryish. And, according to back of the jug, you can even use it in the laundry machine. I would never do that, because I am way too attached to my White and Warren travel wrap to ever trust it to a Whirlpool. But you might be braver.

The Best Dark Circle Corrector and Sleep Faker

Little metal roller balls on Boots’ Dark Circle Corrector make application a cooling, pleasing experience

There’s nothing like looking into the mirror, even after a solid eight hour’s sleep, and wondering if someone smudged reddish grey liner under your eyes in the middle of the night. Some of us have dark circles thanks to genetics, bone structure or luck of the draw, that for whatever reason, will not budge.

It’s tempting to admit defeat and go full-on with opaque concealer in the lightest shade, but you risk resembling a ‘reverse panda’’ or a tragic makeup victim with poor eyesight, as a thick coating of under-eye spackle is rarely kind to older skin. And while I love a good eye cream to mitigate crepey, crinkly skin, undereye circles need makeup, not just moisture.

Boots No 7 Dark Circle Corrector ($32CAN) is the happy marriage of hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin, cleverly selected pigments to neutralize those weird shadows (are they blue? Or are they red?) and light-diffusing particles to help illuminate those under-eye hollows. It also works well on the outer corners of your eyes. The effect is subtle and natural. No pandas here. Instead you’ll look serene and well-rested and like you got a film crew to follow you around, pointing high-wattage movie ‘fill’ lights at your face all day long.

Hey, Small Spender: The Best Hair De-frizzer Is Only $10

Typology Jojoba Oil is beautiful, versatile and cheap.

One ingredient found in most hair-smoothing lotions is jojoba oil. The oil that most closely resembles your scalp’s own sebum, it does an aces job of naturally smoothing down the outer layer of your hair to create shine. When we’re older, our oil production decreases just as our hair is getting thinner and drier and more in need of this life-giving, shine-enhancing oil. And if you have curly hair, all those bends and turns make it even harder for the natural oils to make their way down to your (oh look, now they’re frizzy) ends.

A few drops (two? three?) of jojoba oil warmed in your hands and raked through your hair (paying special attention to ends) creates an instant and surprising amount of natural shine, and handily subdues flyaways, for a more elegant, less crazy cat lady look. As someone with frizz-prone grey, I fear that my default setting is now crazy cat lady.

A 60 ml (two ounce) bottle of jojoba oil is roughly $10 at the health food store and lasts forever. But if you’re like me and ugly packaging upsets your fragile equilibrium, this three ounce, minimalist beauty from France’s Typology brand is worth the 9.90 euro price.

Jojoba oil is also a stellar cuticle protector during these unprecedented ‘gel sanitizer is ruinous to our hands’ times. A couple of drops onto your fingertips after hand washing and before hand lotion will keep your cuticles from cracking.

And as someone who hits the self-tanner bottle pretty hard in the winter, I put jojoba oil on my fingers before ‘tanning’ (that makes me sound so Jersey Shore) to prevent the tint grabbing onto any dry skin and turning my fingertips yellowish-brown, making me look like a two-pack-a day smoker. (And that alone is totally worth 10 euros.)

Pretend You Travelled to France With These Skincare Launches

On Emily in Paris, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu gives a master class in resting Parisienne face .

When I arrive in France, I take my jet-lagged self to the pharmacy even before unpacking, because there’s nothing like waking up the next morning to an abundantly stocked bathroom. I would be thrilled to discover any of these new products (below) on those legendarily jammed pharmacie shelves, so I’m pretty chuffed that they have landed in Canada. Especially now, given that we don’t know when we’ll be safely travelling there again.

French women are as careful with money (that’s a polite expression for cheap) as they are discerning about everything from strawberries at the market to their wardrobes (fewer, more expensive items) and of course, skincare. They are fanatical about finding reasonably priced pharmacy offerings that work and are elegantly fragranced.

Put your purchases in a straw market basket and make believe that you bought them in a charming French town.

I can easily imagine Emily’s boss Sylvie, (the one semi-realistic character on Netflix’s Emily in Paris) buying any of these items, while saving the majority of her hard-earned euros for Sabbia Rosa lingerie and plunging-neckline silk blouses.

Klorane’s new cornflower anti-fatigue hydrating range seems tailor-made for harried Parisiennes like Sylvie (and those of us on the less-cool side of the Atlantic) who need skin calming with intense hydration. The Wake up Call Serum with hyaluronic acid provides a sizeable hit of soothing moisture, which is perfect if you’ve been smoking in your office. (I am kidding. Do not smoke in your office like Sylvie or anywhere else! But do try the serum.) And the Nighttime Hydrating Mask is softly scented for expensive-smelling aromatherapy along with overnight skin plumping. Available at Jean Coutu Quebec.

Klorane Cornflower Skincare smells beautifully high end.

Nuxe, whose Huile Prodigieuse is a staple of ‘French Pharmacy Top Ten Beauty Products’ lists, have reimagined their organic Nuxe Bio range with new products and new natural origin ingredients, all in upgraded packaging of heavy, dark green glass. I picture Sylvie using the powdered fruit kernel and salicylic acid Micro-Exfoliating Cleansing Mask after a hard day of Gallic outrage over some faux pas that Emily cluelessly committed. She could then finish with the Ultimate Night Recover Oil with antioxidant and omega 3 fatty acid-rich rice bran oil to both soften her skin (please stop smoking, Sylvie) and protect her skin’s barrier function.

Nuxe Bio is luxe and efficacious.

And finally, L’Occitane’s new Incredible Recipe Deodorant in verveine (lemon verbena) in a sleek recyclable tin has ‘French pharmacy’ cred to burn. The natural baking soda and cornstarch formula with a grassy, lemon scent is the polar opposite of that very North American ‘shower clean’-smelling deodorant in your bathroom. If you were thinking of switching to a natural deo, do it now instead of during the boiling hot summer, right?

L’Occitane’s new.lemon verbena creamy natural deodorant is a citrusy stink repeller and mood booster.

Knock on Wood by Tory Burch Eases You into Autumn on an Orange and Vetiver Cloud

Tory Burch Knock on Wood is a vetiver and blood orange fever dream.

Tory Burch Knock on Wood (50 ml extrait de parfum $135 CAN, Sephora) is semi-deranged but in the best possible way.

It’s as if the brand had a safe, rose-and-magnolia ‘elegant lady’ scent, but after hours, when everyone had gone home, someone snuck in and topped up the tanks with gallons of blood orange oil and resinous, jungle-humid vetiver. (That’s how perfumery works, right? Giant vats at the office?)

The blood orange cleanly slices through vetiver’s darkness, although it doesn’t stick around long. What you are left with is a sunlit earthiness with a spicy aspect and a hidden floral undertow.

It’s the perfect scent for a walk on a rainy November day. With social distancing a fact of life into the foreseeable future, one should go full-on with fragrance, because no one around you will smell it otherwise. I like to give myself a good blast and then stroll through the neighbourhood, leaving a brilliant sillage.