TREND BITES

Holiday Pop-Up Shops

small_coolhunting_gap.jpgProving that the pop-up trend has finally gone mainstream, The Gap has invited trendspotters from Cool Hunting to curate a temporary shop in midtown New York offering locally sourced art, design and food treats. This shop is one of many of its kind this holiday season. Check out Apartment Therapy's guide to the Best Holiday Pop Up Shops in Portland, Los Angeles, London and San Francisco.

Macarons: The New Cupcake

small_macarons.jpgFrench macarons have taken the cupcake's top spot for the sought after bite sized confections. Patisserie's like Miette in San Francisco offer the buttercream filled meringue cookies in adventurous flavors like rose geranium and hazelnut. The design-your-own box set of 6 makes the perfect stocking stuffer!

Smartphone-friendly Gloves

small_freehands.jpgLooking for a creative gift for your favorite iPhone addict? Freehands gloves come in varied designs and fabrics to suit anyone's tastes. The genius lays in their innovative features like rubber dots on the palm to ensure a secure grip, and magnets to keep the finger caps in place when folded back. For iPad lovers, the Power Stretch 5 Finger Liner features polyamide tips with silver plating to conduct electric energy from all five finger tips.

Hands-Free Gaming

small_xbox-kinect.jpg Bound to top wish lists in 2010 and be a favorite at holiday parties and family gatherings, the much hyped Xbox 360 Kinect is a sensor that picks up players' body movements for a completely wireless gaming experience. No handset necessary - your customized avatar mimics all of your actions. From boxing to Dance Central (think Dance Dance Revolution without the big machine), the vast range of games suits every member of the family. Using the video chat feature, you can continue to interact with other Kinect users long after everyone's gone home.

CULTUREBLOG ~
Holiday Issue / Luxury

The Trendsetter's Wish List

By Claire Brooks
Season's Greetings! For our annual Holiday Issue of CultureBlog we asked our international network of City Correspondents what's topping their wish lists this year.

Despite a depressing economy and challenging job market facing these young people today, it seems that their desire for expensive, shiny things has not waned. Luxurious items, like Christian Louboutin python sneakers and an Isabel Marant gold brocade jacket, are wanted by our Hong Kong and Paris bloggers respectively. Indulgence is translated to comfort and craftsmanship in the case of our New York blogger who lusts after handmade moccasins by Mexican designer Beatrice Valenzuela. However, given bootstrap tightening, its unlikely that Santa will actually be able to deliver this year.

Our Trend Bites reveal some other holiday gift ideas that are penetrating the mainstream. Xbox 360's Kinect is bound to be a hot gift due to its futuristic hands-free sensor and unique video chat abilities. We also give insights into where to find unique, locally sourced items in pop-up shops in your town! Here's to finding that perfect gift for your special someone...

CityReport:

Dream a Chic Little Dream: Isabel Marant

By Stephanie Wells, Paris

small_isabelmarant_web.jpgAs an intern in Paris, even my daily two Euro espresso makes my wallet cringe. Needless to say, the closest I can get to owning the chicest prêt-à-porter is to loiter in branché boutiques and longingly finger the garments I can only dream of adding to my wardrobe. At the top of my (long) list is independent designer Isabel Marant.

Women and girls wait for nail-biting months until her seasonal sales, which are invitation only. I have one French friend who times her flight to Paris from San Francisco to coincide with the sale of the season. Why all the brouhaha?

Isabel Marant’s collections capture the insouciant, tousled persona of a ‘60s rock star who needs to dress for the office. Her impeccably tailored trousers are paired with Ziggy Stardust-esque gold mesh blouses or a floaty silk creation that whispers of mom’s 1970’s getups, with the icing on the cake being a cropped two-toned leather jacket that can go from lunch at the in-laws to a late-night jam session. Although, with prices ranging from 600 to 2000 Euros, you had better count on a #1 single in the music charts to afford the designer’s duds.
How does Marant pull it off? The designer recognizes that women want to look elegant, but not overly polished, and want to indulge in a little rock-star rebelliousness no matter what their age.

Santa baby, if you’re listening, a quilted gold brocade jacket with silk lining, pretty please? Or a draped metallic miniskirt? Honestly, I’ll take anything from the fall-winter 2010-2011 collection over that pony I asked for last year.

Photo by Barbra Austin