Shop What We Shop

GiftingMap saves the season with a list of great gifts under $100

Everyone's favorite insulated cups get a natural makeover.

Photo courtesy of Corkcicle

Let's face it: the holidays are an expensive time. Chances are good that you also have a lot of people to shop for, so finding a deal is the icing on the fruitcake.

Luckily, GiftingMap's offerings span a wide range of prices, with something affordable for everyone on your nice list. If you've already shopped for most of the men and women in your life but are still looking to pick up something under $100, we've got a couple options at the ready.

And if you're hoping that whoever's out there shopping for you is picking the right items, help make sure by taking a GiftingMap quiz and sending them your preferences. From now through December 25, exchange gift guide quizzes with three friends and you'll be entered to win a shopping spree worth up to $500 for yourself and $100 each for your trio.

Bird Dog Bay sock sets
Put your best festive foot forward with playful pima cotton socks featuring Santa hat-wearing sock monkeys, "candy canines," and good ol' Rudolph. For something he can wear year-round, check out the Don't Mess With Texas set, which includes the Texas flag, longhorns, and the Texas star.

Corkcicle walnut wood collection
Now your favorite insulated cups have a warm woodgrain pattern with a sleek, matte finish. Crafted from stainless steel with proprietary triple insulation, the vacuum-sealed tumblers, stemless wine glasses, and canteens keeps beverages cold for more than nine hours and hot for three.

Leslie de la Mora earrings
Handmade out of Houston and brand-new to the site, these gold vermeil earrings are a find for fashionistas. The extremely lightweight jewelry — seriously, you'll forget you're wearing them — is wrapped with a single deerhide tassel and adorned with a labradorite charm.

Native Maps
Show your city pride with a hand-pulled screen print on 100-percent recycled, acid-free, 100-pound paper from French Paper Company. Gold foil prints of Austin, Dallas, and Houston are 16" x 20" and standard prints are 18"x 24", and each has the option to be framed in a reclaimed wood frame.

Niven Morgan Destination candles
From Aspen to Marrakech to Cape Town, Niven Morgan has traveled the world to capture the essence of exotic locales. If you're already a fan of his #hashtag candles, you'll know that his candles last an impressive 60 hours.

Purple Lily boho scarf
Perfect for that friend who's always cold. A blend of polyester and viscose makes this extra-long scarf supremely soft, while the tassels add a touch of whimsy.

shopping promoted luxury holidays

chronological wonders

Shop dedicated to vintage watches opens first location in Fort Worth

thewatchpreserve.com

Longines E Francillon 18K gold key wind Hunter pocket watch.

What was initially an eBay store for antique watches has transformed into a visionary shop set to open its doors in Fort Worth's Near Southside neighborhood on September 2.

The Watch Preserve will open at 1253 W. Magnolia Ave., taking over a storefront next to Grand Cru Wine Bar, where it will specialize in buying, selling, and repairing authentic vintage timepieces.

The company was founded by Nikolaus Libby, who has more than two decades of experience selling vintage items on Ebay. His journey collecting watches began at 15 years old, and Libby has been operating one of the largest online vintage watch shops on the site since 2006.

Libby's passion for his e-commerce business to inspired him to open the brick-and-mortar store in Fort Worth. They took over a space that Grand Cru previously used as offices.

"It's an ideal neighborhood, one of the few where people come to stroll and shop," Libby says.

Vintage watches are generally defined as "more than 25 years old." Not every vintage watch is rare and not every old watch is worth anything. But classic names like Rolex, Cartier, and Patek Philippe, often made of precious metals like gold and sterling silver, hold their value through the decades.

Libby says that between the internet and celebrities who've sought vintage watches out, there's been a massive surge of interest in and sales of vintage watches. Buying pieces can not only be a solid investment, but a vintage watch often comes with the dings and flaws that add personality.

His shop's mission is not just to be a haven for collectors and enthusiasts, but to develop a relationship within the local community, including pursuing collaborations with local artists to exhibit their creations in-house.

Watch collectors and appreciators can find their next treasured timepiece at The Watch Preserve at a fun opening party on September 2 from 12-8 pm, when they'll serve complimentary bites and drinks.

fort worth fashion-beauty fashion openings