Comparison shopping and number-crunching have their place in holiday shopping — at the top of many lists this year, in fact.
But somewhere outside that cool analysis some of us are longing for warmth, whimsy and wonder.
From $10 to $110, we’ve scouted little luxuries — some with a pragmatic side, some for pure pleasure — all in the hopes of bringing a smile even to the family accountant’s face.
Bright ideas
$10
Happy Socks color-block socks, $10 at Bloomingdale’s, 900 N. Michigan Ave., 312-440-4460, bloomingdales.com
$48
Juicy Couture goldtone key fob with rhinestones, $48 at Bloomingdale’s and juicycouture.com
$65
Brass holder with colored pencils, $65 at Jayson Home & Garden, 1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-755-8358; jaysonhomeandgarden.com
$110
Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses in blue, orange, yellow or pink, with gradient lenses, $109 at Neiman Marcus, 737N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900, neimanmarcus.com
$95
Kate Spade striped mittens hand-knit by war survivors in Bosnia, $95 at Kate Spade, 56E. Oak St., 312-654-8853, katespade.com
$58
Jonathan Adler shoe butter dish, $58 at Jonathan Adler, 676 N. Wabash Ave., 312-274-9920, and jonathanadler.com
$85
Ralph Lauren cotton tartan ties, $85 at Ralph Lauren, 750 N. Michigan Ave., 312-280-1655, ralphlauren.com
$40
J.Crew Twilight check men’s flannel pajama pants with side pockets, $39.50 at jcrew.com and via the J.Crew catalog
$10
Feather ornaments, $10 at jaysonhomeandgarden.com
$75
John Derrian platter, $75, at Jayson Home & Garden, jaysonhomeandgarden.com
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MORE GIFTS SEE PAGE 6
