Cheryl Shops

The Black Friday sales have already begun, which is both a blessing and a curse. Thankfully, I find shopping for holiday gifts for women—friends, sisters, moms, and so on—to be the next best thing to shopping for myself. So go forth, be generous, and take advantage of all those promos flooding your inbox!

I just spent an entire weekend with my mom, and it's not like I didn't know this before, but the woman is truly amazing. It's hard to give someone so important a gift that shows how much he or she means to you, but hopefully a well-thought-out present at least shows how much you care. And since Mother's Day is May 13th, I wanted to give you ample time to get your mom something she deserves.

1. Cuyana makes the most quietly beautiful leather goods, and even better, they're incredibly well priced. This is pretty much the perfect bag, and it comes in three colors, as well as a larger size.
Cuyana smal hobo $195

2. Gap makes this sweater every year, and sales from it are probably propping up the company year-round, but, hey, if it works, it works.
Gap crazy stripe sweater $34.95 (on sale!)

3. Think of this as the new stress ball—moving your hand back and forth to change the pattern of the sequins is incredibly mesmerizing and calming. Also, it's just a darn glamorous pillow.
Levtex sequin pillow $39.99

4. Bite Beauty's lipsticks are made of food-grade ingredients, which is a good thing, considering you actually swallow most of the lipstick you put on. I am a huge fan of the deeply pigmented hues, too.
Bite Beauty perfect bite set $25

5. Pretty much every cool girl I've seen recently has been wearing a pair of sculptural metal statement earrings like these. Bonus: they look great on women of all ages.
Madewell sculpture earrings $25.50 (on sale!)

6. Who doesn't love athleisure? These leggings will make her the best-dressed woman at barre class (and even afterward at brunch).
EXP Core watercolor leggings $34.95 (on sale!)

7. The older I get, the more I'm learning the power of good lighting. This iPhone case ensures every selfie (or conventional photo) will be shot in flattering light.
Lumee iPhone case $69.95
8. Do you have a friend with a pricey kombucha habit? (I'm talking $7 a bottle, or more, people. The struggle is real.) This will let her brew her own, minus the random yeast globs.
Kombucha brewing kit $48.95

9. These boots were probably not made for walking, but they are made for dancing—and they're a tenth of the price of those YSL runway beauties.
Shellys London sequin boots $228

Have a happy Thanksgiving, and an even happier Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! I'll be back next week with more gift guides!

The older I get, the more like my mom I become. If you ask me, this is definitely not a bad thing, but if you ask my husband, that means we're equally hard to shop for. However, I know exactly what she wants.


1. Okay, I know what you're thinking: There's no way I'm getting my mom hangers for Christmas. But hear me out. Joy Mangano's huggable hangers are covered in velvet, which means nothing ever slips off of them. But as an added bonus, they're much thinner than regular hangers, meaning Mom can squeeze even more into her closet! And isn't that really the gift that keeps on giving?

2. If your mom waxes nostalgic for the glory days of air travel, this Lulu Guinness lips suitcase is the most glamorous carry-on around. It's not a first-class upgrade or more legroom, but it's a start.

3. Sheila Johnson's super-luxe scarves feature designs based on her photographs and benefit the Lady Salamanders, the first all-women's street soccer team. With a generous size and lightweight modal fabric, they can be worn year-round and, in a pinch, double as travel blankets.

4. I wasn't expecting to inherit my mom's love of fresh flowers, but now that I have a weekly habit, I totally get it: Fresh flowers instantly transform your living space, in a subtle but powerful way. H.Bloom has gift subscriptions ranging from $29-$85 a month; of all the "of-the-month" clubs out there, this one might be my (and Mom's) favorite.

5. Your grandmother might have told you never to give knives as a gift, but your mom would be all over these Shun Kai Pure Komachi knives, color-coded for various tasks and made of high-carbon stainless steel.

6. Moms: Frozen to the bone one minute, sweating from a hot flash the next. This supersoft J.Jill cable-knit poncho will keep her cozy when needed, and it's easy to whip out her arms when she needs to cool down.

If your mom is like mine, I find the best approach is just to ask her what she wants for Christmas. But if that's not your style (totally understandable), here are gifts that any stylish mom should love.


Top row:
One thing my mom has instilled in me is a love of slippers; I feel almost naked without them when at home. Considering her cookie habit as well, I think she'd approve of these. Late Night Cookies Slippers, $59

My mom likes a colorful bag; this one is cool enough for you to borrow.  Botkier leather satchel handbag, $495

Moms are some of the only people who I feel can get away with wearing a cape. This one is cozy but fashionable too.  Toga Pulla Cape, $462

Middle row:
Some people consider candles to be an impersonal gift (and they can be), but these feature the delicious scents of Ladurée, and the box is adorable. A Christmas Enchantment Set, $100

This fur cossack hat is so chic, your mom won't care about ruining her hairdo. GLAMOURPUSS fur hat, $229

L-Atitude is an awesome curated site that has a lot of great jewelry from around the world—meaning the big, dramatic stuff that moms like.  Blue Tassel beaded necklace, $41

Bottom row: 
These stackable mixing bowls make cooking fun and save space too (not that your mom's gargantuan suburban kitchen doesn't have room to spare).  Nest 8 bowls, $50

If your mom was bummed about missing Missoni for Target, get her the real deal—these hand towels are a lot more affordable than you think! Missoni Home - Homer Hand Towel, $23

Your mom taught you everything you know about fashion—or at least that there's no competing with French women, right?  Parisiennes: A Celebration Of French Women, $50