Brave the Blizzard and Return this to Target

This Ke$ha monkey is why gift receipts were invented 

and if you got this from a relative assume they don't like you, don't know you and have no clue how short on space for useless novelty items your apartment is. 

Happy Santa Day!

Somehow It's More Cold Outside Now, Baby

Before Santa comes let's have a visit from the Spirit of Christmas Past

Picture it: 2008 and GAP ads were still fun little tidbits filled with pop cultural references and surprise celeb "gets".

The annual Holiday ads were particularly happy little jaunts that just happened to be selling striped merino wool sweaters






In "Baby, It's Cold Outside", part of a collection of GAP duets that year, Selma turns the tables on Rainn with my favorite sorta Chistmassy but mostly sexually harassing song. Rainn gets in the last quip though with a final "no" that's less "means no" and more "nuh uh girl"

And what the hell is that double double boil and trouble he's drinking? CLEARLY roofied!



Oh GAP, where has this merry spirit gone? Now it's all so cold and grey

(although go Yaya! Make dat money, boo!)

Window Dressing on the Side: Ben Sherman

Oh! Christmas tree

Mars Bar's Multi-Tasking Anarchy Santa

Looks like capitalist pigs have been naughty again this year. Will they ever learn?

You just can't beat an anarchistic Vishnu Santa with a drinking problem!

DON'T: Creepy CB2 Elves

This is the creepiest army of darkness ever and that hug stance is way too

  "The Children"

And I gotta pay $6 for these little buggers to come alive at nite and steal my breath? 

I'll pass

(creepy overly-affectionate elf candle holder, $6 at http://www.cb2.com/)

Window Dressing on the Side: Jamin Puech

Is this a subtle reference to the chaos of the holidays?

Or a wink at the Whoville holiday feast?

Or am I over thinking a window featuring a flying turkey?

Cuz not to nitpick but doesn't this all seem a little wonk-a-doo? I mean where's the F is the A in SALE? Did the Grinch steal that too?

And what would a movable feast have to do with discounted purses anyway? WHAT is going on here, Jamin Puech?

One of Them was Named Caesar, Right?

Only in Little Italy could you find a lit up reindeer munching on Caesar salad.

That can't be sanitary!

Sometimes It Can Be: Dior's Holiday Light Show

For the holidays the recently remodeled Dior flagship on 57th Street gave its exterior a little polish too. 

Nothing like a new New Look lady to inspire you to dress your best this holiday season

She's ready to purr "Santa Baby" and sip a sidecar

*Original photos courtesy of racked.com

It's a Gift: Eddie Bauer Rucksack

I recently have fallen out of love with my man bag/murse thing with the handles and my canvas totes. It's all too "another thing to lug" and I only have two hands. Add in the wind chill factor in New York lately and having hands out of pockets isn't ideal


A return to backpacks seems the way to go of late. So I have my casual toss around backpack covered but how great is this worn leather job from Eddie Bauer for more serious tasks? Now you know I'd nick that name plate thingy right off the front immediately but I like that this "rucksack" feels refined and rugged simultaneously

And it's getting major love on the E-Bauer site. So if you're looking for a practical present that will actually still be loved come February, pack it in. Your choice is clear.

(Leather rucksack, Eddie Bauer, $199 at www.eddiebauer.com)

Window Dressing on the Side: Topshop

For some reason Topshop's Holiday party display eerily reminds me of that amazing opening scene in Suspiria

Does this make me a sicko?

And child if you don't already OWN Suspiria, put it on your Santa list right now! 

It's a visual carnival!

It's A Gift: Swash's Snakes and Ladders Scarf

Santa says" a head scarf with a childhood game motif is just up this kid's alley!"

and I'm gonna have to hope Santa delivers this piece to me, cuz at $249 (on sale!) 

this ain't be cheap

But hope springs eternal, since I've been such a good boy this year! 

(Silk 52" square scarf, Swash, $249 on sale at Barney's, www.barneys.com)

GILTy Purchase: Scratch Britt Ekland off Your Christmas Shopping List

This Lulu Frost necklace on GILT right now is named after "The Man with the Golden Gun" Bond girl, 'Mary Goodnight' 

played by my favorite Swede and former Mrs Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland

And if you're looking for the perfect gift for me the above autographed photo of Ms Ekland, Maud Adams and Roger Moore would go right on my wall across from my bed to remember to always be "an assassin that's second to none"

("Mary Goodnight" brass and resin necklace, lulu Frost, $150 at www.gilt.com)

New York Mag Decks Ryan Gosling

This table of contents shot in New York Mag is ringing my bells!

Ugly Xmas Sweater Party Shoe In!

You still have 36 mins to bid on this winner on Ebay RIGHT NOW!

You wanna win the worst sweater contest, don't you?! Cuz you know that B in HR who's won the past three years in a row has a real hiddy number just waiting to see the light of day and she must be stopped!

(back)

(ashamed to show his face or styling suggestion? You decide)

Get it!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130464259888#ht_3391wt_907

Nothing Says Shalom Like a Hanukkah Cookie

I love Gourmet Garage cuz they never miss a holiday to cookie-fy!

(and yes, I'm sad to say I was a bit slow on this post)

Blue and White Hanukkah Cookie (if still available), $2 at Gourmet Garage, http://www.gourmetgarage.com/)

Window Dressing on the Side: Quiksilver's Holiday Fiesta

When I was high school I worked a job that come November 1st the Muzak was all Christmas, all the time. It was tortuous, but there was a pocket of songs that would offer minor audio oases. "Feliz Navidad" was one of them

And my love of a pun has never been hidden

So while I detest the thought of fleece, like the fat man crooned the rest of the year at my high school job, two out of three ain't bad

A Tree Glows in Brooklyn

Mr Taurus and I put up a Christmas Tree together in his Brooklyn apartment. Nontraditional, yes, but neither of us has bothered to even get a tree in the past few years

(no Ken doll tree topper is complete without being bound to a Rainbow Brite sherbet star)

When I was in college, I convinced my sister that a white tree was the Modern choice and tres, tres chic. Even though my mom isn't the biggest fan and I can't come home, my family still puts the white tree up every year

Mr Taurus surprised me with a bit of MD in NY

(before)

It 'twas such a sweet Christmasy evening together and our own way of celebrating

Mr Taurus getting in the spirit

(pink boas and dollar store flowers... still needs more)

(I'm not tall)

(oops, I forgot: the tinsel goes on the tree)

surveying the progress, Mr Taurus realizes exactly what the tree needs

More dolls!

(he's a perfectionist always looking for ways to heighten the environment)

(tinsel aftermath)

(the view from the outside)

It's a Gift: See by Chloe Sheep Scarf

Can you say Adore- baaaa- ble?

This See by Chloe scarf is tres genial with its reversible color tones and sheep print

and I want this baaaaa-d!

(Wool blend sheep print scarf, See by Chloe, $90 on sale at The Outnet, http://www.theoutnet.com/product/212884#)

Display Ride

Tonite me and Mr Taurus are putting up the Christmas tree. I'm super excited but every other year a traditional Christmas tree usually isn't my bag

I like an unexpected twist on the tradition and what I love even more about these A frame trees from Crate and Barrel is how post Holiday they'd be little metal works of art

You could hang rings or bracelets and such the rest of the year. I mean, dang if those pieces are real flashy and stuff, why not hang them as your Christmas ornament! I know Taurus has some great rings...

(Stainless steel and wood ornament display A-frame tree, $19.96 on Sale at Crate and Barrel, http://www.crateandbarrel.com)