november / december 2005:

Three questions on style
Our personal fashionista solves your stylistic conundrums. This issue: Israel vacations, the perfect gift, and how to throw a non-offensive Chrismukkah party.

Story by Chanie Cohen. Illustration by Allison Smith.


I know it’s horrible to say, but Chanukah reminds me of Xanax. All this gift-giving makes me so anxious. What if they don’t like it? No matter how hard I try, I can never seem to find the perfect gift. Any ideas?

I have three words for you: customization, customization, customization. Okay, I guess that’s really only one word, but who’s counting? (Actually I am. After all, I get paid by the word. Right? Right? Hello?) The big trend this season is personalized gifts, whether it be for that special someone (wink, wink) or for your boss (wink, wink).

There are lots of trendy ways to customize — one great Web site to check out is personalizationmall.com which features listings for more than twenty gift sites that can help out with your gift-giving dilemma. One of my favorites is lillianvernon.com. Their selection ranges from the mundane (bags, mugs, wallets) to the obscure (ice shovels, fireplace grates, and tissue box holders in the shape of a stack of books — I do not lie).

Have a lot of spoons? Why not go for the solid wood personalized spoon cabinet? All joking aside, start looking now, because any time a gift is customized, it means it’s going to take a tad more time to make.

So lay off the pills. Who knows? Maybe your boss will give you that big fat check personalized with your name on it.

I want to have a holiday party for my family. The problem is, some relatives are Jewish and some are Christian (and then there’s Uncle Larry — we’re not really sure what he is). Do you have any suggestions for decorations, games, or invitations that would be tasteful and not too patronizing?

Oh, that’s a toughie. Any time you do something which involves taking religious symbols and blowing them up as party favors, or using them to decorate cookies, you are definitely running the risk of being patronizing. The important thing is not to look like you’re trying too hard. For instance, instead of writing on the invite “Interracial Holiday Celebration: Jews and Christians come together!,” it might be better to stick with something simple like “Holiday Party.”

As far as decorations go, think outside the box. Instead of the traditional blue and white for Chanukah and green and red for Christmas, why not try a totally neutral theme — such as minty pastels or deep colors, like chocolate or maroon. And instead of putting Jewish stars or menorahs in the middle of some tables and little baby Jesuses on the others, why not a sophisticated flower arrangement? Are you getting my drift? (Do I really get paid by the word?) Just because you happen to be bringing people from two disparate faiths together doesn’t mean you have to make that the theme of the night. So save “Name that Apostle/Patriarch” for another time. The point of a party is to party, so relax and have fun with it. And as for Uncle Larry, well, I’ll leave that up to you.

I’m going to Israel for my winter vacation this year. Any ideas on what I should wear/bring with me?

Israel in the wintertime can be tricky. I remember a particular week in the winter of 1998 when I was there that went like this — snow on Monday, rain on Tuesday, a sandstorm on Wednesday, and on Thursday, it was sunny as can be. So in terms of clothes, you’re on your own, buddy.

Check the weather before you go, and even then, your best bet is casual clothes, that you can layer if it gets really cold and peel off if it gets too hot. Actually, Israel is one of the few places where you can start the day in the heat of the Negev sun and cool off in the snowy peaks of the Hermon after lunch.

Now, on to accessories – a pair of cool shades are key, because even in the dead of winter, the sun can be awfully strong in the Middle East. And be sure to slather on the SPF. There is nothing less cool than coming back from vacation looking like you’re shedding your cutaneous layer. (OK, I can actually think of some other less cool things, but that’s another issue.)

And if there are particular American products that you can’t do without — for example, TRESemme Vitamin E Moisture Rich Shampoo (complimentary samples can be sent to me care of the magazine) — bring enough with you to last the whole vacation. Certain things like shampoo, deodorant, and contact lens solution are much more expensive in Israel than in the States. My final style tip for the Israel-bound traveler — go comfortable. Break out those Yom Kippur Keds and leave your favorite pair of Jimmy Choos at home.

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