Sterling Characters
A deluxe alternative to turning down page corners. Fancy tasseled bookmarks from Christofle, a hallowed name in silver, are incised with floral and animal prints. Give with a favorite novel.
$56 each; Christofle.com
The Effortless Shirt
Shirts that need ironing don't get out much. Wrinkle-free versions—updated with menswear prints, slimmer fit, a bit of stretch—are always ready to wear. Ideal for the business traveler.
$90 each; BrooksBrothers.com
2 Robes in 1
Everyday robes can be boring and, frankly, dowdy. Not these. Made of plushy microfleece, they're light, warm, lusciously colored—not the usual wimpy pastels—and fully reversible.
Cruz, $68; Natori.com
Always Handy
Because we're always losing one, a woman can never have too many gloves. These leather and calf hair shorties (in solids or patterns) give coats new life.
$69 to $79 each; ClubMonaco.com for stores
Pop-Top Chic
This glamorous purse looks like chain mail, but it's really made of recycled pull tabs (minus the sharp edges). Crocheted in Brazilian craft cooperatives, they help to reduce waste and create jobs.
Escama Studio, $92, Charles Nolan; 888-996-6526
Sun Salute
The Credo Mobile Solio uses solar energy to power wireless devices (eight to 10 hours in the sun for a full recharge). One percent of all sales goes to progressive nonprofit organizations.
$99.95; CredoMobile.com
The New Rose Bowl
Cutting-edge Italian design for an old-fashioned price! Everyone needs something pretty to showcase apples, pears, or vegetables; this stenciled metal rose-motif design lets the color of the produce peep through.
$69; Alessi-Shop.com
Cool Jewels
Chains entwined with pearls are the new big thing in jewelry. This gloriously chunky mixed-media bracelet also has a retro-looking monogrammed charm.
$90; MaximalArt.com
Cachet and Carry
It's tricky giving someone a handbag, but these are exceptionally snazzy; strapped and buckled patent leather in elegant colors—and what a perfect size.
$99 each with code OPRAH; LondonFog.com
Pet Watch
Humans who stress about leaving animal companions alone will love the Panasonic BL-C1 network camera, which lets them observe their pets from a computer or mobile phone via a free permanent Web address.
$99.95; Panasonic.com
No-Frills Cell
Large buttons, more legible onscreen displays, and one-touch call keys make the Pantech Breeze a brilliant choice for those who weren't born in the wireless age.
$80 with two-year AT&T contract; ATTWireless.com
Just Plain E-Mail
Some people are thrilled by bells and whistles. Others can do without fussy setups and yet another technology to master. The Peek delivers e-mail, and that's all, folks.
$99.95, plus $19.95 per month for service; GetPeek.com
As Time Goes By
This refined kitchen calendar consists of individual cards, each with a seasonal motif printed on thick, creamy paper. It's a tasteful way to keep track of the year.
$54; CharlesFradinHome.com
Salad Days
Balsamic vinegar goes from basic to beautiful with this four-bottle set from Tondo. Each slender bottle is spiked with one of four infusions: fig, citrus, lemon, or pomegranate.
$55; BaldorFood.com
An Appetite for Glamour
The most design-savvy person you know will adore this chic anodized-aluminum tray stamped with an image from the natural world.
Eduardo Garza for Formentero, $95 each; Formentero.com
Beyond Boheme
Puccini's music can break hearts and stun with its sheer drama. Mark the composer's 150th birthday with a gift of the complete operas, a 20-CD set of stellar performances (by Leontyne Price, Plácido Domingo...) from Sony BMG Masterworks.
$99; Amazon.com
Brownie Points
If you've had brownie-studded Ben and Jerry's ice cream, you've tasted Greyston Bakery's fudge treats. Now the bakery, which provides jobs to the disadvantaged, is selling its decadent Do-Goodie brownies at retail and giving 100 percent of proceeds to charity.
$71 for 24; GreystonBakery.com
Ethical Chic
Often handmade crafts have a folksy Birkenstock vibe. Not this stylish tote, a fair-trade collaboration between designer Patti Carpenter and Guatemalan artisans: In striped gray cotton, it's got a cool, urban chic.
Carpenter + Company, $85; MXYPLYZYK.com
