Our favourite home décor oxymoron of the moment? Refined rustic.

It captures the aesthetic of Much & Little, a quaint new Main Street shop filled with beautiful, humble homeware. Like traditional blue-and-white Turkish bath towels ($68.00) that can be used as anything from table cloths to beach towels, Pendleton fabric eye masks ($35.00) to match our Navajo throws, and some of the coolest DIY supplies we’ve ever spotted — Merchant & Mills Oilskin Bag Kits ($110).

It’s proof that less is more. —Kelsey Dundon

Much & Little, 2541 Main St., Vancouver, 604-709-9034, www.muchandlittle.com

We may not be in Rio to bring in the New Year, but there’s no reason we can’t celebrate like the Brazilians.

Their New Years celebrations involve dressing all in white, flocking to the beach after midnight, jumping seven waves, and throwing flowers into the sea. Ok, this might be tough for our Calgary readers, the Montreal and Toronto folk won’t want to be anywhere near a beach in this weather, and Vancouverites wait until New Years day to jump into the ocean (nope, you won’t be seeing this editor at the Polar Bear swim.) But there’s no reason why you can’t wear a white dress.

We love this Ann Demeul.Blanche dress from Luisa Via Roma. It is a bit pricey, but fits in great with the spring summer 2012 white dress trends, and this lovely drapy shape will get you through spring parties and summer weddings. Our tip: tanned skin (fake or real) looks great with a white dress. And then you can imagine you got some sun in Brazil. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

$864.81 at www.luisaviaroma.com

We know, we know, this time of year we should be shopping for other people.

But espace d., Yaletown’s brand new home accessories destination, is filled with such stunningly beautiful objets, we can’t help but add to our own wish list. Colourful glass boxes from littalia ($47) are begging for a spot on our desk. Textured pewter pillows from Britain’s Mumo ($130) would be the ideal finishing touch to our living room. And the inventively wrapped soaps from Paris’s cousu de fil blanc ($16 each) would look dapper beside our sink.

Sometimes it’s better to receive than to give. —Kelsey Dundon

espace d. 1108 Richards Street, Vancouver, 604-662-3008, www.espacedonline.com

Like us, you probably like to buy local, but are always tempted by online shopping; it is so much easier to drag yourself to your laptop, than downtown.

LYNNSteven, one of our favourite Gastown boutiques, will let us do both. They’ve just launched an online store, and we could suggest buying some Christmas presents, but we think it might be time to treat ourselves. How about the McGinn Sara knit dress ($220), the Ela Lady bag ($480) or Granted’s Three Horse vest ($242,) perfect garb for hitting the shops and buying gifts.

After all, the best presents are always from me to me. You get exactly what you want. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

LYNNsteven Boutique, 225 Carrall St., Vancouver, 604-899-0808, www.lynnsteven.com

No matter how much we love our girlfriends, we hate how impossible they are to buy for. Luckily, these special little somethings work with a $45 gift exchange spending limit.

The Shopaholic
Thunder in our Hearts Tote ($20)
Because she wears her heart over her shoulder.

The Student
Vancouver Art Gallery Membership ($45) Because she’s always on the verge of an art attack.

The Entrepreneur
Lamy Fountain Pen ($41 at Avalon Stationery) Because she’ll need a lucky pen to sign those gigantic cheques.

The Holiday Enthusiast
Crystal Ornament ($30 at Tiffany) Because no one loves this time of year as much as she does.

The Explorer
Field Notes Booklets ($15 at Vancouver Special) Because she can’t keep hand-written notes on her Blackberry. —Kelsey Dundon

They are always there for you when you need them and you know they deserve the best. Here's our gift guide for the amazing women in your life:

For your Mom…
The cover shawl by JAC. This 100% wool shawl has snaps at the front and back so it can be worn in several different ways. We love that it is versatile and tres chic. $265 from Jacqueline Conoir. 164 W. Fifth Ave., Vancouver, 604 688 5222, www.jacquelineconoir.com

For your Mother-in-Law…
The cashmere throw from Restoration Hardware. It is super luxurious, 555 gram, you can’t make any sizing mistakes, and no one, not even a mother-in-law, can be disappointed by cashmere. $249 from Restoration Hardware, 2555 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-731-3918, www.restorationhardware.com

For your Grandma…
The horn magnifier. If her eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, this magnifying glass will mean reading the newspaper is an informative and stylish activity. $49.99 from The Cross. 1198 Homer St, Vancouver, 604-689-2900, www.thecrossdesign.com

For your Auntie…
Philosophy’s Peace on Earth Duo. You can’t ever go wrong with a fancy shower gel and body lotion, especially one in a pretty package. $26 from Beauty Mark. 1268 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver,  604-642-2294, www.beautymark.ca

For your Sister...
The yellow cedar pendant from Local Grain. We love that this is organic wood, eco- friendly, and local. Oh yes, and it is beautiful, too. $35 from the Local E pop up store. 235 Cambie St., Vancouver, www.localevancouver.com

For your Girlfriend...
Miro Flower cocktail napkins from Diane Von Furstenberg. These cotton napkins feature a pretty floral pattern and here’s hoping she’ll invite you for cocktails soon. Set of 4, $32.99 from The Bay. 674 Granville St., Vancouver, 604- 681-6211, www.thebay.com —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Pop-up shops are…well, popping up all over the place. So we’ve picked a few of our favourites.

One of a Few
We're going to start calling it Three of a Few because right now One of a Few  is home to a trio of pop-up shops. Pretty dresses and jewelry by Isabelle Dunlop, Moroccan home decor by 21 Tonnes and lovely finds at Gypsy Market Vintage. 354 Water St., Vancouver.

The Found and the Freed
Found it! A carefully curated homeware treasure trove filled with rare finds from yesteryear. 110 Water St., Vancouver.

Local-E
Think globally, shop Local-E. Open only until the end of the week (December 18th) this little Gastown gem is filled with designer wares from Vancouver’s Daub + Design, Mortar & Pestle, Standing Armed and more. 235B Cambie St., Vancouver.

Red Flag Design Shop
Founded by two Vancouver designers, this pop-up features hand-crafted pieces from some of our local favourites: Banquet Atelier & Workshop, Mono Clothing and Hunt & Gather, as well as Red Flag Design's Sail cloth bags and more. 318 Industrial Ave., Vancouver.

Blenz at Fourth and Alma
‘Tis the season for cupcakes and chai nog lattes. The Blenz pop-up shop at 4th and Alma is rotating through specialties from local bakeries. Indulge! This time of year is a dessert free-for-all. W. Fourth and Alma, Vancouver. —Kelsey Dundon

Some say gift shopping for the men in our lives is a difficult task. Behold, we have five smart gift suggestions for five dapper guys. We kept it under $100, so you can get one or two… or more.

The Gadget Guy
The truth is that guys can never get enough of Swiss Army knives. This rare version by Wenger is carved out of sustainably harvested walnut from Switzerland, making it a more precious model than the ubiquitous red one. Who knows, it might even become a family heirloom some day. $80 at Old Faithful Shop, 320 W., Cordova St. Vancouver, 778-327-9376, www.oldfaithfulshop.com

The Outdoorsy Guy
Canvas and leather make for a beautiful backpack by Vancouver-based Herschel Supply Co. Inspired by classic mountaineering rucksacks, Herschel’s Little America will become his go-to bag, from camping to fishing trips. $84.99 at www.herschelsupply.com and Mr. Lee’s General Store & Haberdashery, 109 E. Broadway, Vancouver, 604-568-7103, www.mrleesgeneralstore.com

The Food Guy
If he loves spending time in the kitchen and has a knack for entertaining, then he’ll love Union Wood Company’s serving trays, made from the reclaimed wood rafters of an old police horse stable. How’s that for a party conversation starter? $80 at Union Wood Company, 503 Railway St., Vancouver, 604-675-9033, www.unionwoodco.com

The Stylish Guy
He’ll appreciate the fact that this soft 100% lambswool scarf comes from Johnstons, the original weaver of Scottish clan tartans. Warm and cozy, this quintessential piece of tartan will keep him stylish whether he’s dressing for his 9-5 or going weekend casual. $58 at LARK, 2315 Main St., Vancouver, 604-879-5275, www.lark.me

The Family Guy
He enjoys spending quality time at home with his family and friends, engaging in an exciting board game or two. This old-timey, work-of-art bingo set is sure to inspire a healthy dose of family competition. It might be for him, but the kids are sure to fall in love with it too. $129 at Restoration Hardware, 2555 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-731-3918, www.restorationhardware.com —Anya Georgijevic

If Breakfast at Tiffany’s were shot today, it might go a little something like this…

INTERIOR OAKRIDGE CENTRE. MORNING

[Moon River plays]

Holly Golightly, mid-twenties, is dressed as if she’s returning from a ball —she wears a black floor-length gown, her hair is perfectly coiffed, pearls are draped around her neck. She’s drinking fresh-squeezed juice as she walks up to the window of a brand new 3,100-square-foot Tiffany & Co store, which just opened in Oakridge Centre.

Credits roll. —Kelsey Dundon

Tiffany & Co., Oakridge Centre, 650 W. 41st Ave., Vancouver, www.tiffany.ca

Ever wonder what items our editors can't live without? Today Sarah Bancroft, our editor-in-chief and fearless leader, share hers:

Tea Time
Maybe it’s my childhood years in England, but Earl Grey, with its bergamot notes, always takes me home. This keepsake tin ($54.95) from the world’s most exclusive tea line, TWG Tea, is available only at The Urban Tea Merchant, as is this whimsical silver plated teapot to serve it from (shown: $3,200). www.urbantea.com

Blanket Statement
We take blankets to the beach, to the park, to the backyard. The throws from historic Pendleton at Make are right on trend with Navajo prints and would look great on the bed. (from $80-$240) at Make, www.makevancouver.com

Pillow Talk
Ok, I admit, we already have 18 decorative pillows at home (yes, I counted) but who doesn’t need to refresh their living room once a season? These cheerful new cushions from the house line at Provide (from $180) are a fast and fashionable way to do so. www.providehome.com

Dowtown Staycation
We love to get away in a downtown Vancouver hotel even though we live in the city. Our most recent overnighter was at the Metropolitan Hotel, in a newly remodeled junior suite that had a very Mad Men vibe. Plus the hotel breakfast was a work of art. Just think: one night with no laundry or dishes! From $249, www.metropolitan.com

Pinot Envy
My favourite varietal is Pinot Noir, known as the Holy Grail of grapes for its quixotic, temperamental, and shape-shifting characteristics. Sometimes redolent of violets, sometimes of hung pheasant, like a 20-something girl, it plays hard to get. This bottle, discovered at this year’s Cornucopia Food and Wine Festival, lives up to Pinot’s reputation as the most complex of wines.  Sound like anyone you know? Quail’s Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2008 ($45) at BC Liquor Stores, www.bcliquorstores.com —Sarah Bancroft