We asked a group of very stylish people how they spend their holidays. From traditions and gift ideas to how they give back, their answers got us in the holiday spirit.
TORY BURCH
Holiday Tradition: Decorating the tree with vintage ornaments with my boys.
Signature Gift: I like giving vintage books to close friends and family depending on their personalities. One year I gave my brother Robert an antique book about fly-fishing and lures.
Favorite Charity: The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… In Bali with the boys.
New Year’s Resolution: Switch phone carriers.
AMY ASTLEY, Teen Vogue, Editor-in-chief
Holiday Tradition: Making old-fashioned Christmas tree ornaments with my daughters.
Signature Gift: A colorful canvas duck tote or duffel from William J. Mills Sailmakers.
Favorite Charity: Plan USA.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… At home in Orient, New York, with friends, family, a roaring fire, champagne and a lovely view of Long Island Sound.
New Year’s Resolution: To brush up on my college French.
ERIC RIPERT, Chef
Holiday Tradition: Being disguised as Santa Claus for my 6-year old son.
Signature Gift: Chocolates or marrons glaces from La Maison Du Chocolat.
Favorite Charity: City Harvest in New York and other food-related organizations throughout the country, like Citymeals-on-Wheels.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… On the beach in Vieques with my friends and family.
New Year’s Resolution: It’s not about joining the gym or cutting down on chocolate.
IVANKA TRUMP, Designer and Executive Vice President at Trump Hotel Collection
Favorite Charity: The Eric Trump Foundation and the New York City Police Foundation.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… In South Africa with Jared for our honeymoon!
New Year’s Resolution: To spend more time taking care of myself through fitness, diet, more sleep and occasionally prioritizing down time.
LULU DE KWIATKOWSKI,Textile designer
Holiday Tradition: Making overly ornamented Christmas cookies.
Signature Gift: An embroidered Love pillow that I designed for LULU DK Matouk.
Favorite Charity: Bringing a ton of food to our fantastic church in Los Angeles.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… In Florida with my mom. I’m the youngest of six; the head count is 28 family members.
New Year’s Resolution: To give more big hugs and less cheek kisses. Hugs make everyone feel very loved.
CARLOS SOUZA, Valentino
Holiday Tradition: Preparing “Peru a Brasileira” (Brazilian style turkey). I can cook a mean bird.
Signature Gift: Something useful. Or a novel that I’ve always liked, since it’s a gift with a bit of your soul.
Favorite Charity: Trying to make Rio de Janeiro’s charity circuit as active as New York’s.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… In Vienna where Valentino designed the costumes for the Vienna State Opera.
New Year’s Resolution: Same as last year: more gym and quit smoking.
JOE ZEE, Creative Director, Elle
Holiday Tradition: I cook a big Christmas dinner every year at my apartment in the city and invite all my friends and friends of friends that are here and not going home for Xmas, not celebrating or just have no plans. The number keeps growing every year and I’ve started to label it my “Christmas Orphan Dinner”.
Signature Gift: The Hermès Ulysse Leather Notebook. There’s nothing like opening that orange box and receiving a chic orange leather notebook. We’ve all forgotten how to write.
Favorite Charity: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS/Dancers Responding to AIDS.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… holed up in my Sag Harbor house, in front of the fireplace with friends, cooking and eating entirely too much food.
New Year’s Resolution: Human interaction! I will actually make an effort to make more phone calls and resist the urge to email, text, bbm, etc. Let’s see how long that lasts!
DURO OLOWU, Designer
Holiday Tradition: After the celebratory atmosphere of Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I relish a low-key, relaxed time with family and friends on Boxing Day either in London, New York or Lagos.
Signature Gift: Vintage editions of modern African literature by authors such as Chinuwe Achebe and Wole Soyinka.
Favorite Charity: I give to those less fortunate in my immediate community by supporting local charities that help them not only at Christmas but all year.
On New Year’s Eve I will be… My wife Thelma and I will be in NY ensconced in our apartment where we are very fortunate to have a an fantastic view stretching south over Central Park and the lights and sights of midtown beyond.
New Year’s Resolution: I try not to make resolutions, I am just excited about what everyday brings.