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!

During Paris Fashion Week, I do much more than attend the défilés. I also visit showrooms and private presentations, where I often see collections by small-scale designers who tend to be ignored by traditional fashion press. During the most recent Prêt-à-Porter shows, for example, Patricia de Ganay opened her beautiful home to Ilaria Venturini Fendi, the designer of a line of eco-friendly accessories called Carmina Campus. Ilaria (the youngest daughter of Anna Fendi), grew up in that family’s rarefied world of superb craftsmanship and luxury fabrics, but now focuses on one of fashion’s great opportunities–reclaiming formerly-used or cast-off materials and turning them into beautiful new products (the bags shown above are made of woven straw used to cover car seats, with salvaged leather trim). In the case of Carmina Campus, the benefits are twofold: Ilaria’s business creates jobs within challenged African communities, and stems the flow of wastefulness.

Once upon a time, in mid-20th century America, a necktie was the sartorial equivalent of masculinity–along with the grey flannel suit, it was practically a fabric substitute for Man himself. Today, few guys are required to wear ties, so fashion, sensing a vacuum, moved in. There are still plenty of traditional manufacturers around (as any glance at the evening news will confirm), but younger designers often break–or bend–old rules of propriety and take full advantage of neckwear’s creative potential. We recently discovered one such createur, Jonathan Meizler, an artist and designer who’s turned his hand to producing a line called, rather cleverly, title of work.

Not everything about the Hamptons is chic—but there’s always polo. July marks the beginning of the Polo Challenge, hosted by the Bridgehampton Polo Club, and over the course of six consecutive Saturdays some of the world’s top players vie to take home the Monty Waterbury Cup.