Oprah's Favorite Things List Returns For 2012
Oprah's Favorite Things list was a popular annual collection of items that caught Oprah Winfrey's eye. After an absence of two years, the list is back just in time for the holiday season, but there are plenty of critics raining on Oprah's parade.
The full list of Oprah's Favorite Things will be released in the December issue of “O, The Oprah Magazine,” on stands Nov. 6, and it will get its own two-hour special on the Oprah Winfrey Network Nov. 18.
In advance of the list's appearance in the magazine and on television, Oprah has released the rundown of all 49 items online. Some of Oprah's Favorite Things are jewelry, soaps, handbags, clothing, home accessories, food, and vehicles.
It's an expansive list of items that features pretty much something for everyone. At the same time, most of the items fall on the expensive side of things, so while they are nice to look at, many of them may be relegated to nothing more than a wish list.
One example is the Lafco Soap Set, which Oprah describes as “this luxuriously oversize, deliciously scented soap is my new go-to gift.” You can buy the complete set of 14 soaps for $238 -- or one bar of soap for $17.
A set of 12 nail polishes, originially valued at $168, is discounted to $84; a single candle will set you back $36; and the Bose VideoWave II, an all-in-one high-definition television and entertainment system, will cost you $4,999.
Some of the items on Oprah's Favorite Things are practical. Items like $39 bangles, a wine-cooling gadget that costs $25, a Josh Groban CD full of holiday music, a coffee and tea cup set for $20, and even a coconut and peanut spread by Earth Balance all made the list. These items are not getting the attention or the criticism, which is directed at items such as “Gourmet Pigs in Blankets.”
Yes, you can get your very own gourmet pigs in blankets. The popular treat at a children's party will cost an adult-size $68. Don't worry, you'll get your money's worth: There are 56 pigs in blankets included and dips to go along with your appetizer. There's also a set of four bags of hulless popcorn that will cost you $88.
Forbes noted a few other items on Oprah's Favorite Things that will grab headlines. A set of 50 cards that feature portraits of your pet for $200, a $485 Coach Puffer jacket, a $450 bladeless pedestal fan and a Tony Burch bag that costs $395 and chances are no one will be able to get are just a few items Forbes has an issue with.
Gawker pointed out the lack of diversity to be found in Oprah's Favorite Things list. There are numerous food items that feature truffles -- five of the 49, to be exact. Blue velvet cake also gets a mention as a curious item to include on the list as it's one of Gayle King's favorite things, not Oprah's.
Vanity Fair also chimed in on some of the more questionable items on the list. An $1,800 electric Jetson bike gets mentioned, as does the two tequilas that made the cut, one of them a $275 sipping tequila.
So, is the list of Oprah's Favorite Things a hit or a miss?
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