New York and Paris are two of the most enchanting cities in the world, and I’m fortunate to call both of them home (depending on the time of year). Of course, each city has its own, unique energy, along with all the essentials that make living between the two a real joy. Here are a few of my favorite places.

In mid-November, I took a fascinating trip to Tel Aviv at the invitation of Iris Zohar, the founder of 9ROOMS. It was an incredible experience, and Iris was a tireless guide during my five days there. I spent most of my time with her, discovering the wonders of the city–and I was pleased, and very touched, to discover how warm and welcoming Tel Aviv’s people could be!

This year, our holiday gift guide includes some wonderful surprises: there are items both large and small, and from all over the globe (Argentina to France to Turkey and beyond). Whenever we compile these special holiday lists, we naturally consider what we would like to receive–after all, things that appeal to us are likely to appeal to our families and friends. Some of the items we’ve chosen are meant for women, some are for men–but most would bring joy to almost anyone. And while the list is short–10 perfect suggestions–everything we’ve included is special, exclusive or just plain chic. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Christmas comes but once a year, so go for the crème de la crème. Assuming you’ve been nice this year, Santa will follow suit!

For example, these gorgeous tarot cards are part of Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art Project, sponsored by the KLÜP Foundation and recently mounted as a show at The Andy Warhol Museum. Designed by 78 different “creative icons” (including fashion legends Christian Louboutin and Karl Lagerfeld, as well as contemporary artists such as John Currin and Terry Richardson), the deck of cards is packaged and billed as a “do-it-yourself performance art project.” Any fashionista in your life will want to own a set!

After much anticipation and speculation, Tom Ford has finally released his luxe cosmetics collection (a division of TOM FORD BEAUTY). I attended the launch at his flagship on Madison Avenue (where he also unveiled some recent additions to his fragrance line) and was excited beyond belief, mainly because I am mad for Tom Ford. This man is not only a talented designer, he’s also a fashion celebrity, a style icon and…well, he’s simply very cool. I’d visited the store when it first opened, but at that time, everything for sale was just for men: beautifully-designed and fun to look at, but nothing for me.