Luxury For a Little Less.(The Good Life; Gift Giving)

Byline: Elisa Mala

It's definitely not the best of times, and for some, it may be veering dangerously close to the worst. The stock market has taken more turns than a Hitchcock thriller. Retailers are forecasting a dismal shopping season, charitable giving is down and no one's in the mood to celebrate. But if there is a silver lining around this overcast period, it's the gentle reminder to appreciate what's truly important in our lives: health, hearth, family and friends. And while extravagant gifts may not be in vogue, the desire to provide for loved ones remains as strong as ever. So THE GOOD LIFEahas paired luxury goods with their more reasonably priced doppelgangers. Enjoy the savings, if not the eggnog.

Those looking for an edible gift can sweeten the holiday with a miniature Christmas tree constructed entirely from snowflake-shaped chocolates ($155; www.lamaisondu chocolat.com). The budget-conscious might opt instead for a tree-shaped container that's pre-filled with sweets ($28; dylanscandybar.com).

For the man who always puts his best foot forward, patent-leather lace-up Oxfords from Prada pair well with tuxedosaand jeans alike ($650; prada.com). But for dead ringers that won't empty your wallet, try the Mister Man shoes from Kenneth Cole ($230; kenneth cole.com).

In these hardscrabble times, gems can be a tough sell. The centerpiece of British jeweler Stephen Webster's Small Love Haze pendant is a piece of eyepopping turquoise quartz. It's surrounded by pave diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold ($9,200; bergdorfgoodman.com). By comparison, the translucent aquamarine pendant of Alexis Bittar's Alice necklace is made from Lucite, and features a hand-painted cherry blossom. It's part of ...