For all of the shopping and thinking about shopping and general online browsing that we do here at Man Repeller, we have never done a Gift Guide. So it was decided that this was to be the year.
The team was on board. Everyone was in agreement that the products had to be the kind of stuff that you’d want to gift, be gifted and buy for yourself. That ends up casting a pretty big net. The theme would help narrow it all down.
When Emily Zirimis, our Visual Manager, came up with a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory concept, it made no sense and so much sense at once. It’s festive (but not on the nose), colorful, whimsical, nostalgic, creatively inspiring and runs on the very same energy as the holidays: chocolate. But also, magic.
There are six rooms total to explore, each stuffed with the kind of gifts that can make an outfit or a regular day more special. Without further ado, may I present: the six rooms of our first-ever Man Repeller Gift Guide. Golden tickets ready? Step inside.
Let me walk you through, one magical room at a time.
The Everlasting Gobstopper Room
Byredo candles, Miu Miu round sunglasses, Buly 1803 hand balm, Prada wedge sandal, Olympia Le-Tan dotted felt clutch, Shiffa jade facial roller
Here we have a room filled with items to treat yourself like the candy dish that you are. There are candles that make you finally understand what “mood lighting” means, a jade facial roller to make you feel like a queen, a pretty bra (see below) and luxurious hand cream.
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The All-White TV Room
Manolo Blank white pump, Value Arts Co. character ornaments, Chicago leather rink skates, Shourouk crystal-and-stone earrings, Mason Pearson detangler hair brush, NPW Unicorn pencil holder and colored pencils, Cezanne crystal-and-silver earrings
Welcome to the white room, where we might accidentally shrink you, but so what! It’ll be much easier to ride the animal ornaments that way.
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The Candy Room
Balenciaga candy-striped tights, Gift Boutique pig bank, Kurt S Adler Xmas candy garland, Alison Lou X STAUD mushroom brooches, Roxanne Assoulin Swarovski crystal hoop earrings, Herbivore therapeutic bath salts, Cult Gaia feather bunny ears
In the candy room, everything is either edible or should be. That could cause some confusion. For example, it would be bad to eat those striped Balenciaga tights, your teeth would likely crack if you were to crunch the crystalized pig, I’m not totally sure how poisonous those mushroom pins are and we all know what happens when bath salts are used for purposes other than baths. Consider this, instead, a feast for your eyes.
But you can still eat the gummy bears if you don’t mind glue.
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The Oompa Loompa Room
Lipstick Queen lipstick, Connor zodiac calendar and easel, Loquet London gold charm bracelet, Rosantica by Michela Panero quartz necklace, Jonathan Adler brass elephant ring bowl, MR by Man Repeller metallic leather boot, Shiffa gold body oil, Miu Miu rectangle sunglasses
I’ve got a perfect puzzle for you: what’s an unexpected color combination that feels festive for the holidays but not cliché. Oompa Loompa purple, gold and green. Solved it.
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The Fruit Wallpaper Room
Nannacay pompom clutch, Charlotte Olympia ladybug shoes, Shourouk red crystal earrings, Charlotte Olympia basket bag
A fruit room a day keeps the doctor away but be careful of bees, they’ll be all over you.
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The Fizzy Lifting Drinks Bubble Room
Dolce & Gabbana round sunglasses, Wild and Woolly mink hoop earrings, Of Rare Origin birdcage earrings, Judith Leiber “Fred French Bulldog” crystal clutch bag, Gucci zebra pumps, Judith Leiber Toby Zebra Rocking Horse crystal clutch bag
What’s black and white and red all over with a touch of green and a lot of sparkle AND BUBBLES? Is there anything better than a bunch of bubbles? That’s the real question.
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And here’s where our tour comes to an official end. Consider this your lifelong golden ticket membership. Happy Holidays!
On a shopping role now? Check out #MRTreats where we’re just straight up giving things away.
Photos by Krista Anna Lewis; creative direction by Emily Zirimis.
