Emily in Paris got one thing right about the French culture: Their love of the small luxuries in life that celebrate the refined, the beautiful, and the mindfully made. We have curated our Emily in Paris gift guide with ideas that celebrate the allure of the things that are beautifully made. Care to join us?
Emily in Paris, a coming-of-age story starring Lily Collins, has had a tremendous success in its Netflix debut, and with good reason. A fun story about an American Marketing professional that moves unexpectedly to (guess where? Paris!) has conquered many a heart with a good dose of romance, a dash of the famous French vienoisseries, and the gorgeous scenery of the most romantic city in the world.
Granted, there have been some critics (especially French people) that point to some exaggerations about what it is to really live and work in Paris. Cliched? Indeed. But it’s a fantastic mental escape for those of us who have been keeping social distance for months to help save lives and need to live (and travel) vicariously through the eyes of others. A more than welcome distraction from the pandemic exhaustion, Emily in Paris will officially have a second season. And if you too have friends who are obsessed with the show, don’t miss our Emily in Paris gift guide with some ideas about how to get a bit of that French je-ne-sais-quoi just in time for the holidays.
1. Lace Unlined Red Lingerie Set by Le Mystère ($58.00 and $22.00): One of the most memorable scenes of Emily in Paris revolves around a set of fine lingerie. And the truth is that, in Europe, lingerie holds a special place in the heart of women. It is something that you buy for yourself, that you take care of, and that usually lasts for many, many years (I know! Totally revolutionary. But that is how I grew up.) This beautiful lingerie set by Le Mystere (aptly named The Mystery!) features elastic lace for a perfect fit and a stunning visual effect. A sensual and modern design, the unlined lace demi bra has a small sparkly touch and a show-stopping design with adjustable ribbon shoulder straps for ultimate comfort. On the other side, the high waist thong has a luxurious feel and a flattering cut with a vintage touch for effortless elegance. Plus, in some European countries, it is considered good luck to start the new year wearing red underwear, so why not help your friend start 2021 with a bang?
2. Body Essentials Gift Set by Blancreme at The Beauty Spy ($25.00): Made in France with natural ingredients, Blancreme captures the spirit of the French verb “se chuchoter.” The culture of taking the time to take care of yourself is the epitome of the perfect Parisian, and this glorious gift set includes a shower gel, a melting body cream and a matching body scrub for the ultimate beauty experience that will leave your Parisian-obsessed friend screaming “oh la la!”. A complete body care ritual, this charming gift set is carefully crafted with fragrant strawberry and pomegranate extracts and enriched with shea butter, sea salt, and jojoba oil to nourish skin and leave a subtle fragrance. This perfectly curated body trio is a perfect gift to help your friend to unwind after a long day, and a beautiful self-care reminder that it is very important to take care of body and soul on a daily basis. Also available in coconut & lychee, this affordable gift set will charm its way into everyone on your gift list.
3. Hydration Daily Care Set by Rahua ($70.00/each): Did you also notice that Emily had an impeccable hair in Paris, which is nothing short of a feat considering how humid it can be in the summer thanks to the Seine river? For that friend who would love to emulate her adventures (and constant perfect hair days), Rahua has carefully crafted the only natural shampoo crafted with rare Amazonian oils and natural protein-bonding sugars to deeply hydrate dry and thirsty hair. The innovative formula was also created with the needs of an imbalanced scalp in mind — by deeply hydrating the scalp, the result is a stronger, smoother and shinier mane, very a la Emily. With a rich and creamy formula and a tropical passion fruit and mango scent to die for, I can totally see Emily bringing this shampoo all the way from Chicago to Paris to put a bit of American chic in her life. The perfect luxury green gift for the discerning beauty addict, this wonder duo works well for all hair types that experience any level of dryness.
4. Rosalia Viva Glam Lipstick 29 by MAC Cosmetics ($19.00): One of the secrets of Emily’s glam looks is a red, vibrant lipstick that compliments her natural beauty. This bright orangey red looks beautiful on all skin shades, and has a touch of youthfulness with its warm cherry hue. With an elegant matte finish, it is perfect for dinner on top of the Eiffel Tower, a visit to the Louvre museum, or to amp up a work outfit for an impromptu date in the streets of Paris. Curated by the international singer from Spain, the Rosalia Viva Glam lipstick is the perfect gift to empower your closest friend to look good, but also to do good in the world, as 100% of the selling price is donated to the M∙A∙C VIVA GLAM Fund that supports healthy futures and equal rights for all. Since ’94, M∙A∙C VIVA GLAM has raised over $500,000,000 globally – and counting!
5. Long Cashmere Gloves by M.M.LaFleur ($65.00): Put a bit of French flair in your outfits with these beautiful long cashmere gloves reminiscent of the elegance of the 50s. Perfect to bring the elegance of the Parisian women to your winter looks, these gloves are a beautiful and timeless accessory that can be dry-cleaned to last many years. Soft and warm, the extra length makes them perfect for layering under a coat on a cold winter day in Chicago, or to rock a vintage coat in the Rive Gauche like Emily. The ultimate luxurious gift at a very affordable price, we guarantee that you’ll want to get a pair for your friend (and a spare for yourself!). The gloves come in sizes S, M, and L. {Psst… the designer of M.M.LaFleur is none other than Miyako Nakamura, former head designer of Zac Posen, so it’s a great opportunity to gift your friend a piece of high fashion at a very affordable price}
6. Hand Care Duo by Repêchage ($39.00): One of the beauty secrets of Parisian women is to look effortless chic and perfectly put together, at all times and no matter the circumstance. True masters of keeping up with the most minimal details of their appearance while letting their personality shine, they take special care of their hands, as the often accompany a lively conversation. For the ultimate Emily in Paris experience, this beautiful hand care duo blends the best of the sea with rich and moisturizing ingredients. The hand sanitizer with 80% alcohol comes in a convenient spray bottle for easy hand cleaning anytime, anywhere. The Sea Spa hand cream is perfect to smooth and moisturize hands afterwards with a rich blend of nourishing shea butter and laminaria digitata seaweed. Made with love in the USA with an undeniable French flair, this is the perfect gift to introduce you into the French way of taking care of the skin with natural ingredients from the land and from the sea.
7. Harbor Mid Century Circles Life Planner by Erin Condren ($60.00): If there was something that made me laugh out loud in Emily in Paris, it was her expression when she started feeling cultural shock at how differently things work in Europe. The epitome of a planner, she has to work in a culture that plans much more loosely and that relies on pristine social skills that seem to follow an unwritten and unexplainable code (that in itself is the definition of cultural shock, which we invite you to read because it is a very real thing that we have experienced ourselves.) However, she starts to see positive results when she ends up embracing the imperfection and thriving, while she keeps her mad planning skills to get the best results for her clients. This Life Planner from Erin Condren screams Emily in Paris with its vegan leather cover, the subtle Mid Century embossed print, and its feminine pink shade. Made with care in the USA, the minimalist and elegant design is the perfect canvas to organize a busy life. Erin Condren has invented one of the most beloved systems for planning busy lives, be it for moms, successful businesswomen and men, bloggers, or students. Customizable to fit your loved one’s schedule and style by selecting the interior weekly layout and color scheme, it is designed to maximize time management (hello, work-from-home days that never seem to be enough!) With mini months at-a-glance, monthly quotes, notes and productivity pages, space for notes and contacts, sticker sheets, a folder to keep loose papers, and a snap-in ruler, it comes packed in the cutest planner storage box for immediate gift giving.
8. Coffee Tasting Set by ESPRO ($79.95): If there is something sacred in Europe, it is good coffee. It is elevated to an art that serves a social purpose, as it is a backdrop to many dates, business conversations, or a self-care moment with yourself. As Emily learned in Paris, if you are going to take the time to brew good coffee, you should have the right vessel to taste it (yep, no styrofoam cups. Ever.) Perfect to replicate the true Parisian coffee experience in the comfort of your own home, this unique coffee tasting set by ESPRO is designed to help discern specific flavor profiles and aromas for an elevated experience. Each cup matches a flavor in the roast for an enhanced tasting moment. The Coffee Tasting Cups have been designed for four distinct flavors—fruity, spicy, cocoa, and floral and nutty. Each one is derived from the Specialty Coffee Association Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel, which is informed by the World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon. A perfect gift for that Emily in Paris fan that enjoys a true cup of Joe, it is designed to be an elevated experience that helps the recipient literally savor the moment. I, for one, cannot think of a more perfect gift to explain the mindful approach of the French culture to the world of food.
Looking for more gifts? Check here our other holiday gift guides!
