It’s that time of year again and if you can’t make it over to Paris to do your holiday shopping, fear not, you can buy an increasing range of wonderful Paris and France themed holiday gifts online! As has become a holiday tradition, I’ve surfed around to find some interesting gift ideas, almost all of which can be delivered across the ocean or made in France and distributed abroad. In addition, look out for the discounts, one just for my readers! Happy shopping everyone!
Perfectly Parisian Photo Prints
Top Paris photographer Rebecca Plotnick has just released her latest collection of prints, right in time for the holiday season. Rebecca has a fabulous eye for capturing the spirit of Paris in her beautiful photos. A glimpse of the new collection is above, however, I am also partial to this gorgeous shot of the Colors of Fall in the Luxembourg Gardens and this one of a Left Bank Flower Shop. No matter your preference, she has something for all Paris lovers. You can order directly on her site here and photos are available in various formats (Secret tip, she’s currently offering special discounts from 15-30% on her site!).
République Porcelain Plate
With almost a hundred years in the porcelain industry, the beautiful creations of Virebent make for an excellent Made in France gift, plus they ship globally. Coming from a family of craftsmen, Henri Virebent opened his porcelain factory in the lovely town Puy-l’Évêque in the Occitanie region in 1924. The award winning manufacturer has received the designation of a “living patrimony” company and their works are within prestigious museums like Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. I’ve selected the above très francais plate, called La République, featuring an original design by French artist Vincent Collin, however, they produce a wide range of dishes, vases, candle holders and a whole “mysterious” section for something more offbeat (also featured above a dish called “La Vague”). Take a browse on their website here.
London-Meets-Paris Beautiful Bags
Esteemed Paris-based designer Kasia Dietz has a wonderful new line of chic tote bags which make an excellent present for the person on your list who loves both Paris and London. The new London line includes three stylish totes: Notting Hill (above left), Kensington (above right) and Shoreditch. The reversible totes are all made in Paris and of beautiful cotton fabrics. Kasia’s Paris-themed totes are also quite idea. See her full range of attractive totes, clutches and accessories here.
Diptyque Sapin Candle
France’s most splendid candles, Diptyque, call be purchased available online and can be shipped all around the US and other places. In business for over 50 years, the company was created right on chic Boulevard Saint Germain and their elegant style evokes this. The perfect choice for the season is this Pine Tree of Light candle, but they also have an array of fragrances, homeware and gift items. See their US site here and French site here.
French Chocolate Mania
It can be somewhat tricky to have French food products delivered to North America due to customs regulations, however, the Chocolaterie Online has a great range of French chocolates which can be shipped worldwide. Among these are the artisanal delights of Puyricard, a master chocolatier who’s been making exquisite single origin bars and other chocolates in the south of France 1967. They also have a whole collection of Christmas chocolates including this original chocolate “caviar” from the Loire and Chocolate Advent Calendar, but also beautiful boxes of ganache filled bonbons and candied chestnuts, a popular treat in France over the holiday. See all their goodies on their website.
Exquisite Christmas Tea
For a delicate taste of France for Christmas, then there’s nothing better than the wonderful teas of renowned French manufacturer Mariage Frères. In business since 1854, they have a large collection of premium teas including the Mariage Frères NOËL TEA, a refined blend of black tea with festive spices. This is available for shipment in the US, Canada and other destinations via Amazon, so you can add some to your cart easily while doing the rest of your shopping.
The Lost Vintage, Family Secrets Within the Vines
For the book and France lover on your shopping list, I highly recommend The Lost Vintage: A Novel, the latest novel by Ann Mah, which is now also available in paperback. The lovely book tells the story of a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and discovers a lost diary of an unknown relative. This unexpected find reveals a secret her family has been hiding since World War II. Pick it up at your favorite local bookshop or on Amazon at this link.
Je T’Aime Book Series!
Or for your fun warm-hearted friends, why not a copy of one of my books? Paris might seem like the City of Love, but looking for romance here isn’t always what it might seem! Following the adventures of Lily with a range of hilarious tales and unbelievable suitors through my first book Je T’Aime, Me Neither and my second Je T’Aime… Maybe? Available on Amazon at the links within the book titles or many other online distributors.
If you’re looking for other great Paris books, both fiction and non-fiction, I’ve brought together my favorites here. Alternatively, if you or a loved one is traveling to Paris over the holidays, some tickets to one of these excellent Paris shows in English and at a 15% discount for ) could fit the bill perfectly!
Have some to add to the list? Feel free to put them in the comments below!
