It's that time of year again! When the rich aromas of gingerbread, cinnamon and evergreen arouse a nostalgia for our grandmother's kitchen, where we would bake traditional Greek Christmas honey cookies, called melomakarona, and spiced cakes for holiday gatherings with the whole family. Those memories always filled us with such delight! And now, so many years later, we still feel a sense of childlike wonderment for the season, and love seeing our little town transform into a winter wonderland with its streets all aglow in twinkle lights, and holiday music drifting out of every neighborhood shop and café, well into the hours of the evening. 

The Hostess Gift

The holidays are always filled with parties, intimate dinners with friends and family and even the occasional visit with the neighbors for cocktails and small bites - you know, just to keep things kosher. No matter the occasion, if someone is inviting you into their home - particularly during the holidays - you must bring a hostess gift for your gracious host.   Express from the LILA shop, consider these three thoughtful gift ideas for the home to surprise and delight your hostess:

• Sparoza Gift Set + Fun & Festive Bowl
• Espresso Cup Set + Gourmet Coffee
• Zed & Zee Candle Trio (Not Pictured)

The first two gift sets encourage a little DIY, and you can really get creative with choosing a fanciful bowl or favorite coffee!  We combined the spiced Shaman Tea, Mulled Wine blend and Wine Jellies from Greek herb and spice blend specialist Sparoza with a sweet red wine - all artfully packaged in a wooden craft bowl (ours is sourced from Target), and complete with ornamented red balls for a festive finishing touch. 

If you know your hostess is a certified coffee lover, consider gifting a set of Espresso Cups (these feature charming cactus motifs!) with a gourmet coffee blend you know they'll appreciate. Coconut Salted Caramel is a favorite of ours - though we'll never say no to Gingerbread or Pumpkin Spice! We've packaged this in the same bowl, just switching up the ornamentation with glittering pinecones, to give it that holiday razzle dazzle.   

The Fashionista Gift

Always a tricky one to shop for, your fashion forward friend is steps ahead of the curve, always pushing the envelope when it comes to style. She's fluent in fashion trends, sports designers you can't even pronounce, and is your lifeline on days when your closet feels more like a black hole. So, how to wow even your most fashionable of friends? Let us count the ways... 

The Donni Ribbed Turtleneck bodysuit is comfortable, functional!! - and oh-so form-fitting, hugging the body in the most complimentary of ways. It keeps any look fun, fresh and modern, and thankfully doesn't require constant tucking and re-tucking like those pesky tanks. Paired with the traditional Braveheart Warrior Mini Kilt it creates a striking combination - one that is sure to garner many a compliment. Add a hint of velvet, as with a favorite velvet smoking jacket or even an edgy leather jacket, to elevate your look to next level holiday style.

Tartan (also known as, plaid or check) is one of those classic prints that will never go out of style, particularly come wintertime. And each year, it inspires new and creative ways to pair it with your beloved closet basics. Our take? There is nothing chicer than adding a pop of tartan to your #ootd (outfit of the day). Consider gifting your fashionista a Stewart Modern Tartan Scarf and gold metallic clutch from Vice Versa. Such a festive combination, red and gold represent everything merry and bright that we so love about the holiday season! And whether styled together or separately,  these versatile pieces can be worn again and again. 

The Femme-fessional Gift

We all have that friend who always looks so polished - from her perfectly styled mane to her manicure and flawless beauty routine - she sparkles wherever she goes. And yes, puts the rest of us to shame. For gifts that will dazzle and delight her, consider:

The flowing lines and flattering silhouette of the blushing Madame Shou Shou Bryony top is perfect when paired with black leggings and patent leather pumps. Add a festive Tassel Necklace (available in-store ONLY) and this look channels all sorts of lovely! For something a little simpler, but equally as eye-catching, the sparkling tassel earrings come in four stunning colors, to suit every occasion. Our personal favorite? The candy cane red, of course!

If your beauty bestie is anything like ours, we're guessing she's always changing up her skincare routine to keep things fresh. Consider mixing and matching a thoughtful gift set from Aeolis skincare, a natural skincare brand that draws its inspiration from the archipelago of the Aegean Sea. The brand's entire line is made with organic olive oil in Greece - we kid you not! From the indulgent shower gel to the restorative hair mask, every product from the Aeolis collection is carefully crafted to revitalize and restore the skin and hair, with all-natural ingredients like argan oil, honey and vitamins. Try arranging your sweet selection from Aeolis with a sleep mask (isn't the fishing boat motif just darling?) in a craft wicker basket. It's the ultimate gift to come home to after a long day, and your bestie will most definitely thank you for it!

The Jetsetter Gift

 We've all become so very busy, with our on-the-go lifestyles that demand more and more of our personal time. More than ever before, trying to find that delicate balance between work and play feels more like a tightrope. 

That said, this set (our favorite!) could just as well be a gift you give to yourself, as to any one of your friends. Though we playfully named it the 'Jetsetter', it was made for every hardworking woman in mind who has earned some serious off-duty time, be that a weekend trip to the beach or a foreign affair (jet, very much required!) 

• The Blue White Beach Wrap + Bleecker & Love Travel Bag (Available ONLY in store)
• Vice Versa Smiley Case + Lover’s Scrub After Glow
• THIROS Weekender Bag

If white sand beaches and sunscreen are in your future, then complete your beach-bound look with one of the island-inspired beach wraps by Greek designer The Blue White. Opt for the blue wrap with charming white donkey motifs, or the white wrap with blue printed fishing boats! Tote your beach essentials in one of the brightly colored travel bags by Bleeker & Love. And while we adore the bold pineapple and flamingo prints, the waterproof lining on the interior is perfect for tossing in your bikini post-swim, so it saves the rest of your things from getting wet. 

Packing can be a hassle, no matter how many times you've done it! Whether we're flying home to Greece or heading to a buying show, its always a struggle trying to decide what to bring! For our frequent flyers, may we recommend the roomy Weekender bag by Thiros (a great alternative to a carryon if your looking for something to bring on board with you) as well as the soft leather Smiley Necessaries by Athens-based designer Vice Versa. These happy cases come in two sizes and a variety of colors (you're looking at Dusty Cedar!) and are a great travel companion for storing your makeup and brushes. And who doesn't love a smiley emoji? Pair your Smiley case with a Lovers Scrub, which is also great for traveling because it's a dry scrub. No hold ups at security with this one! Available in three aromas - After Glow with mint & vanilla bean; Sleeping Beauty with lavender and olive oil; and Coffee Break with coffee and sugar - the scrub is indulgently crafted with 100% Mediterranean sea salt (did we mention its also vegan?), cold-pressed olive oil and a mix of other essential oils. This scrub had us at hello! We've got a feeling you'll love it too. 

This holiday season, as part of our own LILA Luxe jewelry line, we've introduced a limited edition collection of charm bracelets, all handmade in Athens from semi-precious stones and sterling silver charms and accents. The charming Eiffel Tower bracelets are a sweet reminder of our recent buying trip to Paris, but also represent all the adventures still to come. Explore the entire collection in our Main Street store, and snap one up for yourself or the high flyer in your life. 

We've got plenty more gifting ideas to come in Part 2 of our holiday gift guide, which we will be revealing over the next few days on the blog! For daily doses of outfit inspiration, you can also visit us on Instagram (@lilafshioninternational) and Facebook. 

All for now!