Our Holiday Wish List

By The Inside Source
December 20, 2011

After weeks spent scouring eBay for the best gift ideas, mulling over the year's top trends in fashion and design, and soliciting experts for their product picks—all in the name of The Inside Source's extensive holiday coverage—our editorial team has had plenty of time to consider the merits of countless presents. Here, we bring you our own holiday gift wish list. Santa, listen up!

Meredith Barnett

Set of 2 Vintage Hans Wegner Wishbone Chairs

(buy it now price, $2,500)

Holiday Wish: A little apartment pick-me-up. When we moved into our place a few years ago, we got a whole bunch of new furniture. And while I'm still pleased with most of it, we made a few mistakes. Chief among them: cheap dining chairs that are now literally falling apart. I think a new set of chairs would really give our place a lift, especially since the dining table is the first thing you see when you walk into our place.

eBay Pick: Hans Wegner's Wishbone chair is my idea of furniture perfection. Too bad they retail for about $900! But since we're wishing here, I'll take this vintage set of two for an even heftier price!

Bee-Shyuan Chang

Reyn Spooner Dress

(buy it now price, $14.99)

Holiday Wish: Island-hopping in Hawaii: going off-the-grid on the Big Island, hiking in Kauai to beach bathing in Oahu... everything the state has to offer sounds just about heavenly right now.

eBay Pick: Reyn Spooner, the classic Hawaiian vacation shirt brand, is getting a hip update with its recent Opening Ceremony collaboration, but I like eBay's selection of vintage prints. This pineapple and postcard printed sundress has "aloha" written all over it.

Leah Chernikoff

Vintage Fox Fur Vest

(starting bid, $599 )

Holiday Wish: My holiday wish is for an awesome vintage fur vest.

eBay Pick: This is more of a pipe dream (since bidding starts at $600), but it is so luxe and glamorous, and it can be layered under any not-quite-warm-enough coat so you don't have to wear one of those shapeless sleeping bags. A girl can dream, right?

Cate Corcoran

The Table Comes First Adam Gopnik

(buy it now price, $15.79)

Holiday wish: To rent a house in the French countryside with my family for a week.

eBay Pick: We’ll be doing a lot of cooking, so Adam Gopnik’s new book about food and the French, The Table Comes First, would be the perfect read on the trip.

Milena Damjanov

Tufted Side Chair

(buy it now price, $495)

Holiday Wish: A small, tufted chair.

eBay Pick: This little chair is so charming! The curvy shape adds warmth and the neutral color means it goes with any of my other furniture.

Dina DePasquale

Roll over items for details

Valentino Jeweled Peep-Toe Pumps

(buy it now price, $499)

Holiday wish: Valentino bow pumps.

eBay Pick: Ever since my trip to California, where I tried these shoes on in Beverly Hills, I've been wishing that they were in my closet. They are both cute and sexy.

Christine Frey

Eames Era Teak Planter Shelf

(buy it now price, $300)

Holiday Wish: It seems that I’m prematurely becoming some sort of crazy cat lady cliché these days. But, instead of collecting helpless kittens, I’m bringing home just about any plant I find that's in need of love and shelter. I’m always pressed for interesting ways to display them.

eBay Pick: This mid-century teak plant stand is the perfect balance of elegant and practical.

Lexi Green

Large Uzbek Suzani

(starting bid, $99.99)

Holiday Wish: This holiday I want to finally fulfill my design dream of covering a tufted bench with an antique Suzani. It will go at the foot of my bed and will add such a great pop to my bedroom!

eBay Pick: There are plenty of tufted benches available for a steal on eBay. Suzanis are in abundance, too, but this is my favorite.

Emily Hsieh

Frank Stella Lithograph

(buy it now price, $2,400)

Holiday Wish: This year, I'm angling for some new artwork—something spare but graphic.

eBay Pick: A piece along the lines of this Frank Stella lithograph from the early '70s would be ideal.

Reena Jana

Microsoft XBox 360 Slim

(buy it now price, $285)

Holiday Wish: I'd love to get the latest Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console bundled with the Kinect motion-sensitive device, which doesn't require a controller. There are now Kinect games for my two toddlers to play, and my husband will enjoy driving and racing games on it, too. I'll use it for fitness programs so I can work out at home, as well as play with the whole family.

eBay Pick: I think this new, slim Xbox is well designed; it's a sleek object that I won't mind being on display near the TV!

Marni Katz

Vintage Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

(buy it now price, $3,000)

Holiday Wish: I just got back from Copenhagen, where I spent two days visiting over a dozen historic design destinations, museums, and classic and contemporary showrooms. I fell in love with Finn Juhl's Pelican chair and gained a new respect for the Louis Poulsen Artichoke lamp. However, I'm going to be a touch more practical (and patriotic) with my holiday wish and go with Charles and Ray Eames' Lounge Chair and Ottoman.

eBay Pick: We just renovated our apartment, and while the Danish items would work perfectly, I'd get more use out of the lounge, and this one is in great condition. It's supremely comfortable and ideal for working on my laptap, which is basically how I spend my days. There's a new pale wood version available, but a vintage one like this eBay find would be just as divine.

Dana Linett-Silber

Tahitian Pearl Stud Earrings

(buy it now price, $165.99)

Holiday wish: I've been thinking about diamond studs for a while, but they're so expensive and also so ubiquitous—everyone and their mother wears them, so they don't look special to me anymore. So now I'm pining for the perfect pair of gray/black pearl stud earrings.

eBay Pick: These are so many things at once: Classic, retro, rare, unexpected, earthy and just a little bit edgy because of their dark hue.

Chadner Navarro

Handmade Goat Leather Backpack

(buy it now price, $55)

Holiday wish: I love to travel, but I'm a terrible packer (I do indeed need five pairs of shoes for a two-day work trip!) so using the right luggage is really important. I'm a big believer in backpacks because they're practical, comfortable and leave my hands free for other stuff like eating my pre-boarding snacks. I'd love a new one this holiday.

eBay Pick: I'm partial to backpacks that are as stylish as they are sturdy and roomy. Leather ones are the best because they'll age wonderfully, and they don't make me look like a schoolboy. This handmade version definitely fits the bill.

Jen Smith

Antique Brass Domed Birdcage

(buy it now price, $161.49)

Holiday Wish: To be awakened by birdsong each morning is my idea of heaven.

eBay Pick: I'd love to add a canary or two or some finches to my family and house my new friends in a Victorian age brass birdcage.

Suzanne Singer

Diane von Furstenberg Animal Garden Duvet Cover

(buy it now price, $169.99)

Holiday Wish: Designer bedding—it's so luxe and can add so much style to your bedroom.

eBay Pick: I love the animal print pattern in these fun unexpected colors from Diane von Furstenberg's bedding line.

Addie Strong

Black Square Gold Chain Quilting Shoulder Bag

(buy it now price, $25)

Holiday Wish: Quilted Chain Bag.

eBay Pick: Ever since I can remember, I've watched my mom head out to holiday parties carrying her small, black, quilted purse swinging from its gold chain link straps. All I want for Christmas? A lookalike handbag that reminds me of my sweet, stylish mama.

Heather Summerville

Vintage Wicker Hanging Chair

(buy it now price, $349.99)

Holiday Wish: Dear eBay Santa: I really, really, really want a vintage wicker hanging chairs. When I was five, you gave me a mini-version for my dollhouse, but now I'm ready for the real thing.

eBay Pick: There's already a corner in my living room cleared out and waiting, and this one's the perfect fit.

Jane Sung

Dorothy Thorpe Style Roly Poly Glasses

(buy it now price, $85)

Holiday Wish: Vintage roly poly glasses.

eBay Pick: I finally jumped on the "Mad Men" bandwagon and am obsessed, especially with the style of that era. I'd love a set of glasses like these to entertain with and channel my inner Draper.

Stephen Watson

Hudson's Bay Scarlet Wool Blanket

(buy it now price, $401)

Holiday Wish: Hudson Bay blanket.

eBay Pick: I really love this version of a Hudson Bay blanket in scarlet. I like the traditional aspects, but the red with the single black stripe makes it look incredibly graphic and modern. I own an original, similar style that belonged to my grandfather, which must be at least 50 years old. My apartment is also always freezing.

Beth Whiffen

Vitric Modern Freestanding Fireplace

(buy it now price, $595)

Holiday Wish: A portable ventless fireplace for chilly L.A. nights.

eBay Pick: I love sleek modern design and I'm always cold, so I'd love to find a portable indoor/outdoor fireplace under the tree this year. This minimalist chrome design would definitely do the trick.

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