Make the Look Your Own: Stylish gifts to give, receive

It's that time of the year again — the air is cool and crisp, there is frost on the ground, Starbucks holiday flavours are back, the malls are crowded, and people are stressing out. So take your Grande Peppermint Mocha to go and explore some easy gift ideas for fashion-forward friends and relatives. These ideas are so good you might start to live by my giftshopping mantra: one for you, one for me.

If anyone on your list is a cosmetics connoisseur, a trip to the closest Shoppers (or Sephora or Beauty Supply Outlet) will yield a variety of dazzling results. While makeup is generally a personal preference, there are some little items that suit anyone on your list and make great gift items. Nails have never been more prominent in the fashion and beauty realms as they are right now. Nail art, nail decorating and nail designs of every kind are extremely popular. Nail Art kits, which are already packaged for you and include everything an amateur aesthetician would need to glamourize her mani-pedi, are a great gift option. If you prefer to shy away from pre-packaged gift sets and want to personalize the gift basket that your lucky friend is going to receive, consider these fashionable ideas:

- Deep wine reds are on trend, elegant and dramatic

- Chunky gold and silver glitter polishes are both versatile enough to work with any polish colour, and are perfect for the holiday party season ahead

- In keeping with the craze for nail art, there are many affordable brands that offer really unique and funky effects — check out magnetic nail polish, nail polish strips (that stick on top of your natural nails and can stay without chipping for up to 10 days!) and colours that change depending on the lighting

- Another cosmetic option is to go for a traditional holiday favourite, perfume (or cologne) and/or fragrant body lotion sets. Treat a loved one to gifts that will pamper and soothe.

Since buying clothing and shoes for other people is sometimes difficult, accessories are a great way to give a fashionable gift that you won't have to worry about fitting or flattering your recipient. Jewellery, costume or not (depending on your budget and how many dear friends are on your list), is a wonderful gift that can really personalize an outfit and amp up their style factor. Purses, clutches, cross-body bags and wallets are also a fantastic option. Not to be forgotten, scarves, hats, and gloves (beloved gifts of grandmothers the world over) can take a stylish and modern turn when you consider the wide range of styles and price points across the market.

Another way to make accessories work for your shopping list is to consider your tech-savvy friends and relatives, from your cousin who never puts down her iPhone long enough for the screen to lock to your dad whose digital camera makes more appearances at family gatherings than you do. Consider the stylish possibilities to accessorize these techs. There is such a huge variety of stylish, functional and designer cases and accessories that no electronic device should go without chic coverage.

'Tis the season of giving, and as if I need a valid excuse to go shopping, the holiday season reminds us that sometimes shopping for others can be just as exciting and rewarding as shopping for yourself. Sometimes.