The Closet Choreography 2025 Gift Guide: Gifts Only a Stylist Would Find
Translation: gifts that won’t end up in the back of a drawer by January. Here are my most popular trademark capsule wardrobes of the year—closet makeovers, travel capsules, holiday outfits, and even a cozy-cool men’s edit—along with luxe fashion brands for less, Nordstrom 6 picks, the “things I’d buy again,” and the gifts I keep giving because they always deliver. Whether you’re shopping for the bougie boy, the faith-and-fashion friend, the professional shopper in training, or the girl who’s never home, this guide covers every base. And yes… everything is linked, loved, and ready to ship.
Luxe Lovers
This is the best time of year to grab the pieces on your brand bucket list for far less than usual. This is the best time of year to grab the pieces on your brand bucket list for far less than usual. Every year, I pick my own Christmas gift and almost always go straight to the luxury brands that make my high/low wardrobe work. Burberry, for example, takes real markdowns right now—I found this cropped camp shirt for 50% off, along with shirt dresses, plaid jackets, graphic tees, and accessories that will never age out. Chanel, on the other hand, is expensive and almost impossible to find on sale, which is why vintage is your friend. You can browse a strong assortment of authenticated, preloved Chanel accessories here, including a few earrings I linked that are already reduced with an additional discount. And while we’re talking classics, Ralph Lauren Polo may be trending for teens at the moment, but their pieces still make great gifts for women of any age. Score a few pieces on my own wish list on sale here.
Professional Shoppers
For years, I preached the same styling commandment: Thou shalt not buy multiples. But a recent deep dive into my own closet—the kind of inventory that only a professional shopper does for fun—revealed something hilarious. I was the worst offender. I owned at least ten pieces I loved so much, I bought them twice. Sometimes three times. And honestly? Their cost-per-wear is the loudest I-told-you-so in my wardrobe. That’s why this year, I’m leaning into what actually works. These are the 10 things I’d buy myself again without hesitation—the everyday MVPs from my favorite brands, that earn their keep, and make getting dressed so much easier I own more than one. It’s the same logic behind the Nordstrom 6 Drops. After a full year of drops, fittings, try-ons, and “this looks better on,” I distilled everything into an easy-to-shop highlight reel : What Stylists Over 45 Recommend and Actually Keep.
10 Things I’d buy Myself…Again
This beautifully structured Veronica Beard handbag, which we featured in January, is back in stock. See how I styled it. In February, we featured my favorite luxe cotton lounge sets made here in California. The ivory leather jacket we shared in March made our top 10, but I found a better version for less here. We include a cool bag in every drop. Last April, this Marc Jacobs style made our list in metallic. We all went nuts for these affordable suiting separates, exclusive to Nordstrom this May. Check out the brown version I just scored! June’s Drop was juicy. I turned all of the pieces into a capsule wardrobe. My favorite was this Farm Rio cafe print skirt. It’s on sale here now. In July, we were in the Anniversary Sale more and shared our favorites throughout the month. I think I’ve worn the suede loafers from our August Drop more than any other Drop pick all year! In September, these designer-inspired boots were a hit, so we brought them back in the tall style this December. If you wear a lot of solid colors, you got the cool coat from our October Drop. If not, it’s on sale here now. We were starting to feel festive in November, but I wear my faux-fur jacket we chose for all fall and winter.
If they are still in stock and on sale you’ll find them here.
Unique Gifts for the Unique Characters in Your Life
These gifts match the personalities you know by heart—faith-forward fashion lovers, bougie boys, stylish hosts, girls who are never home, and the professional shopper in training.
Mixed Metal Convertible Necklace
Found six luxe-looking gifts for her home that look expensive but are under $30. Good news, most of these are available on Amazon Prime or for buy online, pick up in store at Walmart or Target.
Capsule Wardrobe Catalog
After nearly 25 years as a stylist, I can say with confidence that most capsule wardrobe examples fall into one of two traps:
- Too many pieces- making it impossible to afford and mix and match with ease
- Overly minimal- resulting in outfits that feel identical day after day
That’s why I created a better solution—trademarking my own version of the capsule wardrobe. Each one is built on a streamlined 7–10-item checklist of updated closet essentials, paired with a full two weeks’ worth of outfit ideas and customization options to match your personal aesthetic.
There is one thing you don’t have to freak out about this holiday season: what you’re wearing! I did all the digging and created an 8-piece holiday capsule that makes more outfits than you have days between now and Christmas!
My Most Requested Capsule
Jared and I celebrated our 25-year wedding anniversary in France earlier this year. It was magical, and of course, I channeled my inner Emily in Paris. See what I packed to survive shoulder season and get some inspo for your next long-distance vacation HERE.
New Wardrobe
From my first blog post to my most recent viral video, this capsule package includes my best tips for understanding what looks good on your body type. Before you buy one more thing ,check your closet for these 14 essentials. Not ready for an overhaul yet? Start with a simple capsule wardrobe kickstarter: a two-piece trick that lays the foundation for dozens of looks. From workdays to weekends, these starter sets prove you don’t need more clothes—you need the right starting point.