It’s the most wonderful time of the yeaaaaaar! Welcome to the start of our Heddels Holiday Gift Guides. We’re beginning, as per usual, with our Extravagant Holiday Wish List, which you may remember is a compilation of the most indulgent, exorbitant, and ridiculous items from our favorite brands and retailers.
No one is probably going to buy you or me anything on this list, but it would be kind of fun if they did, right?
Chamula Granny Square Turtleneck Pullover Ivory
An aunt of mine crocheted a giant throw blanket in a similar pattern to this when I was a kid and I did not appreciate how much effort she put into it until this moment. This oversized drop-shoulder sweater is probably made by someone else’s tia, but the process goes far beyond it. All the production is done by hand, from the spinning of the merino wool, dyeing of each yarn, to yes, the knitting. When you think of all the hours put into it, the high price tag seems a little more reasonable.
Available for $745 at Clutch Cafe.
RRL Pecos Blanket Duffel Bag
Paging Dr. Quinn! This duffel bag is another one with just a ridiculous amount of hours logged. All that leatherwork was done by hand, which makes for an interesting sight, a durable bag, and probably a 5lb. weight when empty.
Available for $1,900 (20% off thru November 27) at Stag Provisions.
The Flat Head Quilted Deerskin Zip Short Wallet
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Is one of your buttocks getting cold? Consider adding just the tiniest quilted leather jacket to your back pocket. The Flat Head is already known for wallet-busting wallets, but this one takes the cake, combining deerskin, horsehide, and shell cordovan into a zip-up package inspired by 1950s leather jackets.
Available for $728 at Corlection.
Studio D’Artisan D1866 15oz. Tokushima Awa Shoai Regular Straight Jeans
In the early days of the iOS app store, there was a joke app called “I Am Rich”, which cost $999.99 (the maximum price one could set) and all it did was display a unique shade of purple along with a soothing mantra. Shoai natural indigo is somewhat similar in that it’s extremely expensive to get one particular shade of indigo but it also requires the labor of an expert in indigo growing, fermentation, and dyeing. It will also probably make you feel much more at peace than the app.
Available for $567 at Redcast Heritage.
S552AIW-25TH 25th Anniversary 17oz “Ai-Shogun” Denim Jacket
If you want to double down on that one particular shade, have a look at Samurai’s 25th anniversary jacket, which has that natural indigo, hank-dyed goodness in not only the warp but also the weft. And they don’t even charge you double the price for double the indigo!
Available for $840 at Blue in Green.
Good Art Mini Bic Noodle Rosette
Ok, I know you’re ready to hate on this one. It’s a sterling silver holster for a miniature Bic lighter, not even the full size one. But how many pieces of jewelry actually *do something* and how many are just dead weight hanging off of you? This incorporates something nice and special into your everyday use, where you actually get to touch and feel it everyday (or every hour). I got a Good Art silver Chapstick cap as a Christmas present a few years ago and, call me crazy, I’ve gotten more enjoyment and use out of that thing than clothes twice the price.
Available for $725 (lighter not included) at Iron Shop Provisions.
Freewheelers “Lot. 560 1922” 8 Pocket Engineer’s Overalls (Indigo)
I don’t know the context or the person for an 800 pair of overalls. I don’t doubt that the work went into them, I don’t doubt that they’re perhaps the best overalls one can buy, I just have no idea how to style them or who does. If you do, please buy them and send me a picture so I can sleep better.
Available for $861 at Corlection.
Paraboot Avignon in Shell Cordovan
Tying over a thousand dollars onto your feet in the morning is a daunting prospect, but honestly this could be the only pair of shoes you never need to own. Paraboot hit this jack of all trades sweet spot of durability, practicality, style, and comfort that I’ve never seen a shoe execute so perfectly before.
They’re Horween Shell Cordovan, which is arguably the toughest and hardest wearing leather money can buy. They have a Norwegian storm welt on top of a thick lugged sole that can be resoled and is extremely water resistant so you can wear them in nearly any weather or terrain. They have that formal but not too formal look that can be worn to everything from tromping a rural road to standing as a groomsman in a wedding. Plus they’re extremely comfortable and Paraboots have practically no break in period. I need to stop typing before I go into debt on these things…
Available for $1,050 at Clutch Cafe.
Vortic Comparing Watch Set with Ship’s Chronometer
A late model used Honda Civic or a piece of American history? Those are your options when it comes to, I believe, the most expensive consumer good we’ve ever featured on Heddels before. That may seem like a lot, but if you stroll over to Hodinkee, you’ll see that low five-figures is still sitting at the kid’s table when it comes to watches. Vortic has done something much more interesting than many of their high-dollar peers in that this watch has the movement of an original “comparing watch” manufactured by Hamilton for the US Navy in WWII.
In the days before digital communication and timekeeping, staying on the same schedule in wartime was an extremely laborious and important process. There was one central chronometer clock on board (which Vortic also includes!) and then this watch, made to match it so all the other clocks on the ship could reference it. This is a super limited run of just eight pieces, get it before there’s nothing to compare to it.
Available for $14,000 at Vortic Watches.
Visvim Silk Hacking Shirt
Two-thousand dollar bowling shirt. Peerless? Certainly. Good quality? Let’s hope.
Available for $1,870 at Hatchet Supply.
12.5oz Denim 5P RAT Flare Pants (ZEPHYROS INSANE Remake)
These are actually an incredible deal. If you count up everything on the entire garment, there are 117 custom made in Japan patches. Five years ago, we wrote up Japanese patch brand No Name Patches, which retailed for $75 each. If you buy these jeans, you’re only paying $36.16 per patch, that’s over 50% savings. If you factor in inflation, it’s 60%. Plus you get the jeans as well, which is a ~$500 value from Kapital.
Buy this pair and you could start your own patch business, double your money, and still walk away in a sweet pair of jeans—truly a gift to yourself. It also comes in shorts if you need a midseason restock.
Available for $4,231 at Blue in Green.
