The Best Holiday Gifts, Per Influencers and Editors in Los Angeles

Trying to pin down a gift that will actually wow the cool girl in your life is never easy. After all, they’re typically who I turn to for product recommendations. So rather than trying to guess what they want, I went directly to the source, and asked 15 Los Angeles cool-girls—including editors, influencers, the chicest sample sale shoppers, and my pickiest friends—what’s on their holiday wishlist.

Below, shop the fashion and beauty staples that made their list.

Yoga Sets and Elevated Loungewear

Angelinos living in casual-cool loungewear wear might seem like a cliché, but it’s not that much of an exaggeration. So it didn’t shock me that yoga sets and elevated sweats made the list. Beyond Yoga’s buttery-soft workout sets were of course mentioned (you can’t go into an L.A. yoga studio without seeing the brand). This long-sleeve crop top and their matching leggings are my favorite. As for sweats, Madhappy’s sweatshirts continue to be an L.A. staple, and I love how this wool one dresses up the classic silhouette. And for pants that feel like pajamas but don’t look like it, there’s this wide-leg, drawstring style from Aritzia and Simon Miller’s button-front sweater pants.

Loafers and Sneakers

That love of comfort carried over to footwear, where people are requesting sleek-but-practical loafers and cool sneakers. Dolce Vita’s Nygel burgundy loafers made an L.A. editor’s wishlist, and I will always recommend G.H. Bass’s classic-looking, easy-to-break in loafers. And as far as sneakers go, L.A. girls desire something not-so-basic. We’re talking bold colors and prints—like Adidas’s cherry red Gazelles and Gola’s leopard sneakers—and Salomon’s gorpcore styles. 

Chic Winter Jackets

Almost every L.A. girl I spoke to said the same thing: They want leather and (faux) fur jackets for winter. The style is cool but still totally practical (even for a Cali winter). Coach Outlet—where the brand’s high-quality lineup is always on major markdown—is a great place to grab this oversized leather jacket that’s perfect for layering. Gap’s sherpa-lined, vegan leather style is a must-have for cooler weather while Abercrombie’s faux-fur coat, which is available in black, white, and a trending leopard print, brings major drama.

Slouchy Bags

A woman in line at a sample sale told me that the only thing on her list this year is a slouchy crescent bag. Her friends—one of whom was carrying the viral Coach bag that’s on my personal wishlist—agreed that a relaxed purse is this holiday season’s ‘It’ item. Madewell’s Essential Curve bag and AllSaints’s Madea style give you that half-moon shape and some slouchiness. But you can always simplify by picking one or the other. Given shapeless bags have been trending this year, I’d prioritize finding a bag with that lived-in look, like this $62 style from Banana Republic’s factory store. 

Red Light Face Masks

In terms of beauty, a red light face mask was the one thing that appeared on multiple wishlists. One person told me that, sure, they could ask for a gift card for Botox (and that they know many people who are doing that), but that they’d prefer to take a non-invasive, at-home approach. Dr. Dennis Gross’s DRx SpectraLite mask was specifically called out, but InStyle’s beauty team also recommends Solawave’s red light wand and HigherDose’s face mask.