Tastes Magazine | Stylish gift ideas » Designer

Luxury silver wine accessories from Torrini of Italy

Jackie — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 08:29:05 +0000

For the man or woman who has everything

There’s someone on everyone’s gift list, I think – ‘what on earth can we get for him / her?’ There are quite often people – friends or relatives – who seem to have everything they could ever want. What to get them for a gift? This is particularly true if you’r shopping online – the latest bestselling book just isn’t going to do the trick. I must say, we love finding gifts for these people!

Here is a small selection of wonderful silver items from Torrini of Italy – a company that was first issued with its own trademark in 1369 (yes, you read that right). Our favorite is the one you see below – a silver champagne stirrer. Does champagne need to be stirred? The Italians say yes; stirring the champagne removes some ... Read More »

Stylish and fashionable Grammercy bikes for town

Jackie — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 08:10:06 +0000

The Martone bike is the way to get around in either the city streets or the country. Available in both men’s and women’s configurations these bikes are the smart way to travel. Stay fit and healthy, help the environment and look super-stylish with these great bikes.

Imagine arriving at a business meeting, calling in at the deli or simply going out for some fresh air and exercise … all models have a front basket to hold your briefcase or iPad, your cheese or fruit and your sunglasses and purse. Notice the signature chain in bright red. These bikes are made from the sturdiest materials and are available in up-to-the-minute colors.

Favorite color combination

Gorgeous jewelry from Paula Mendoza

Jackie — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 08:43:05 +0000

Fine jewelry using gold and emeralds from Colombia

Are you looking for a very special gift for a special lady? Then take a look at the exclusive range from Paula Mendoza. Paula’s studios are in Colombia, giving her access to the finest materials. Trained as a sculptor, she now creates wearable art.

Her background in the field of sculpture is evident in her work, as is the Colombian culture and history. And yet this jewelry is completely up to date. Colombia’s gold is extremely rich and its emeralds are particularly lustrous and these materials make a perfect match.

They are perfect to choose as gifts for the truly stylish woman of today.

See the collection

A bracelet made of bubbles

Add style to your home with Marimekko

Jackie — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 08:52:26 +0000

No stylish home is complete without Marimekko

I believe this. This company has long been admired by design aficionados and I always smile when I visit a home and see a Marimekko piece on display. It might be a designer thing, but to me it shows me that the home belongs to someone who hs a definite and distinct sense of style.

The wonderful thing about this range is that, although the company is very true to its long-established design principles, there is something for everyone and to suit any decor. I particularly like their bed linens and the fabulous table ware but there’s so much more to choose from. What’s more. Marimekko products are affordable. I know that the phrase ‘antiques of the future’ is bandied around a great deal in respect to various products but items which have the design ... Read More »

Designer gloves & hats

Jackie — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:35:49 +0000

Stay warm in style

I don’t know about you but I’ve always found that cold weather clothes are often far more stylish than warm weather outfits. I love the richer fabrics and somehow designers seem to make the most of winter clothing in the most stylish ways. The winter months are a great excuse to show your fashion style.

At any time of year though, it is accessories that can make or break an outfit. These items are also an excellent way of making your older garments fresh again. We all have winter clothes that are timeless classics and new accessories are a way of making them completely up to the minute. You’ll see a selection of our favorites on this page.

To see them all, click here.

We love this adorable hat by Eugenia Kim

Stained glass accents & decor

Jackie — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:24:40 +0000

Stunning stained glass for your home or office

These lovely stained glass items look perfectly lovely in the home. Stained glass has been used in interiors for hundreds of years because of the wonderful luminous effects it creates. Every day, depending on the light source, it can look different and add such interest to a room in your home or to your work space.

The majority of the stained glass items on this site have a stylish Art Nouveau look – which is so sophisticated and elegant even today. Stylized floral themes were incredibly popular as the flowing lines temper the rigidity of the necessary framework. There are some lovely examples above.

Below, see how this stained glass work h s been translated into a selection of beautiful lamps – these are delightful when they are lit as they cast their beautiful colors ... Read More »

Ultimate backgammon boards

Jackie — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 08:55:37 +0000

Backgammon sets that become family heirlooms

For the person who has everything – these exclusive, Egyptian-inspired backgammon sets make the ultimate luxury gift. No expense is spared when these game board are being created and the finest luxury materials are used.

The sets are handmade in England but dispatched from the USA. The sets are regulation size but that’s the only commonplace thing about them. They are gorgeously decorated with an astonishing attention to detail. There are currently only five exclusive designs available

These are the antiques of the future and are bound to be passed down through the generations in years to come. Be amongst the first to experience these delightful objects for yourself.

Visit the website

The feathers design

The best leather bags in the world

Jackie — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:54:51 +0000

Italian leather bags for travel or business

That’s a rather bold statement, isn’t it? ‘The best in the world’? Well, let’s see, but I have just found these wonderful products and want to share them with you. I always believed, correctly, that Italian leather products are vastly superior to those from other countries. And as you know, experts agree.

But what I didn’t know until today, is that much of the leather used for Italian goods isn’t Italian at all. It is produced in other countries and sent to Italy to be tanned, often using chemical methods. These wonderful bags, on the other hand, use genuine Italian produced leather which is tanned using vegetable methods. This means that the material is much more harder-wearing and actually improved with age, rather than deteriorate.

They are actually guaranteed for life! And they can take a ... Read More »

Unusual clocks for your home or office

Jackie — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 16:00:28 +0000

Today, clocks are wall art

We don’t really need clocks in our homes or offices these days do we? But that doesn’t mean that they are no longer made, no longer popular or in demand. In fact, one of the super hot interior design trends today is what we will call the art clock. Yes, these are functional pieces but more and more people are using them as decorative object.No, more than mere decor – true art.

Today, if I want to know the time, I cast a glance at my iPhone, the iPad, the laptop …. or if I’m in the kitchen, my cooker, microwave and coffee maker all can tell me the time. Even when I’m in the car, I only have to glance at the dashboard.

These days, watches are classed as jewelry and clocks have been elevated to the ... Read More »

The ultimate food preparation station.

Jackie — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 18:37:08 +0000

This is a wonderful item that will enhance any kitchen. It’s stylish, eco-friendly and so very practical – all at the same time.

It was designed by an experienced top chef, so you can be assured that this is the best way to prepare food in your kitchen.

Ingeniously, this combines a work surface, chopping board, ingredient storage and waste disposal all in one deliciously compact unit.The main body of this work station is made from sustainable bamboo which has a natural ability to repel bacteria and resist cracks and stains. It’s also covered by a lifetime guarantee.

The food storage sections are plastic, which is vastly superior for food storage, and is BPA-free. Don’t you think this would inspire anyone to create wonderful meals? What a wonderful gift for the gourmet. See more at the link below.

See this food preparation station and ... Read More »

Style & Chic from Boutique to You

Jackie — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:12:31 +0000

We are loving browsing through our latest fashion discovery’s website. This site has wonderful fashions plus a selection of fabulous footwear, jewelry and other accessories. It features fashions that are fun,yet stylish too.

The creative team at this website have discovered the best from the most up-and-coming designers combined with well-known names that you’ll recognize immediately. Not only this but you’ll find that the prices are much less than you’d imagine, especially when you consider the stylishness and range that they have on offer.

These are eminently wearable but many items have a wonderful touch of fun too. Checkout the site using the link below – we’re sure you’ll agree that this is a fabulous fashion find.

Visit the site to find out more

This is a terrific look

Trunk Club – personal online shopping for men

Jackie — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:45:34 +0000

Online personal shopping?

I know, it sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But this is a wonderful service I’ve just discovered and I must share it with you. It is absolutely the best way for guys to shop for clothes – quite brilliant. It’s always said that we girls love to shop for clothes but guys hate it. I’m sure that’s too much of a generalization (I hate the mall) but I do think that buying clothes isn’t necessarily a thing men love. Now, we have the answer.

And ladies, you can give the men in your life a gift certificate to get them started. So what is it and how does it work? It’s brilliant.

Let me say from the start that this is a membership site but there are no membership fees or anything like that, making this an even greater ... Read More »

A Victorinox Swiss Army Knife

Jackie — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 22:29:29 +0000

A Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is a quality gift that is guaranteed to bring a satisfied smile to any man. All those nifty tools and gadgets neatly packaged into a pocket knife are absolutely essential. It’s a man thing!

There are many different models and sizes to choose from, but they are all equally well made and will last forever. They will never rust or fall apart.

The rivets are made from brass and they hold all the various blades and knives together. The tools themselves are as hard as steel, and a very special spring mechanism holds everything together.It’s an ingenious design! Nothing beats the quality of the original brand. Victorinox have been making these amazing Swiss Army knives since 1891.

Click here for more details

Converse sneakers: Custom design

Jackie — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 17:56:00 +0000

Here at Tastes Magazine, we’ve always loved products that can be customised. A gift in particular is so much more special when it has been custom-designed for the recipient. One of the latest companies to offer this is Converse and their fabulous sneakers.

Why wear ordinary sneakers when you can wear those which are perfectly custom designed to match your outfits?

We’ve always loved the brand and this gives Converse an added edge – you can design your sneakers online, order, and then they’ll be tailor-made for you. When you visit the site below, be sure to watch the video to give you just a few ideas of the ways in which your sneakers can be created.

This is a wonderful gifts idea and, despite what the video might seem to suggest, suitable for all ages.

Design your own here

What are Livingstones?

Jackie — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 17:37:23 +0000

If you haven’t come across Livingstones before, let me introduce you to one of the most stylish, flexible and certainly most comfortable items I’ve seen for ages.

In some ways, these are a sophisticated development of ubiquitous bean bag – those rather awful and uncomfortables staples of students everywhere.

The idea of flexible seating / lounging furniture has now received the designer touch. These ‘stones’ can be described as large floor cushions which are available in a variety of sizes and colours, allowing you to create your own interior landscape of what the distributor refers to as ‘oversized pebbles’.

They look remarkably stylish and can be arranged in your home in limitless ways.

They are tough too, so kids love them. Look at the photograph on the left – doesn’t that look wonderful for a slumber party?

They are made in France and the covers ... Read More »

Creative crochet kits

Jackie — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:32:10 +0000

When was the last time you received a handmade gift? The fact is that handmade items are so much more thoughtful, therefore so delightful to give or receive. Now, we can make it easy and stylish.

On this page, we are showing just a few of the items you can make using a range of fabulous crochet kits. The site also offers sewing and knitting kits and they all contain everything you need to create your own unique items. (Tip – when you’re on the site, take a look at the quilting section. You can create your own family heirloom),

The site also offers online classes in knitting, sewing and crochet plus patterns, yarn and other supplies. The kits make a great gift for the creatives on your list.

See all the kits here