Girlfriend

City Paper's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide

by Jimmy Viola

Fingerless Gloves by Moe Munroe,
$49 at Delicious Boutique, 1040 N. American St., No. 901, 215-413-0375, deliciousboutique.com

No matter what your lady's style, she'll dig anything Madonna-inspired. It's a fact. A strange, inalienable fact.

Bag by Rootote
$24-$32 at Omoi, 1608 Pine St., 215-545-0963, omoionline.com

If she's going to insist on lugging her entire shoe collection to the movies, at least she'll look good doing it with this oversize tote. Plus, there's room for candy.

Holiday Boxes by Eye Candy Confections
$16 each at Eye Candy Confections, 8127 Germantown Ave., 215-247-8787, eyecandyconfections.com

Yes, she's much more than eye candy, but she'll definitely dig these sweets and their cutesy packaging. There's no need to wrap, and both Christmas and Hanukkah versions are available.

Underwear is a tricky gift: Too sexy, and she won't know who it's for. But Gregory and James Labold's silk-screened boy shorts are playful, classy and one-of-a-kind — she'll get the point.

Track + Field Coin Purses
$12 at trkfld.com

These durable, made-in-Philly Omae purses are crafted from the same material as beach chairs (Sunbrella!) and have a plastic compartment that can be used for coins or photos. Include a snap of the two of you for serious bonus points.

Lush parties hard, but responsibly. This party box of aromatic soaps, lotions and beauty products is 100 percent vegetarian and fair trade. Plus, sassy names and packaging — included are "Too Drunk" aromatherapy oil and "Happy Hippy" shower gel — save you from I-was-confused-so-I-bought-you-bath-stuff territory. And that's bad territory.

Think outside the heart-shaped box. Carved from recycled Spanish wood, these treasures hold candles with soy-based wax for cleaner burning. Arcadia sells refills, but these could easily transition into rustic trinket boxes.