How Do Celebs Do Their Xmas Shopping?

Secrets of a celebrity shopper

By Leslie Gornstein Dec 04, 2008 7:55 PMTags
Reese WitherspoonFlynetonline.com

How about a shopping question for the season? Do stars have assistants do it for them, and are they above ordering anything that the great unwashed can also have?
—Beth in Ohio

Don't you watch those Macy's commercials? Jessica Simpson has nothing else to do but hang out in department stores, shop, flip that Barbie hair and shop some more, y'all!

In truth, celebrities do get involved in their Christmas shopping. Some even leave the house (hi, Reese!) And when it comes to hiring a good person to actually do most of that shopping, stars get way, way involved. Just ask Distinctive Assets owner Lash Fary, a professional gifter whose clients include Sharon Stone, Leah Remini, Ugly Betty's Judith Light and one cutie-pie TV star who prefers to be contacted through her mother...

...Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Typically, Fary says, a celebrity client like Remini will "be hands-on in terms of what she needs to get and at what budget," Fary will come up with the gifting ideas, and an assistant may take over delivery and shipping duties.

As for what they choose, well, consider the length of their lists.

"TV actors can get a bum rap," Fary dishes. "When you're on a TV show, there are hundreds of people to shop for. There are lighting people, camera people, the crew—and they all expect a gift from you."

So maybe the star orders 200 "sweatshirts with something on it," or iTunes gift certificates to cover all those folks, and then saves the big-budget spending for agents, managers, spouses and close family, Fary says.

Or they simply do as Hewitt does, and donate to charities.

"I usually go through her mom when working with Jennifer," Fary says, "but in the past few years she's chosen to donate to children's charities and send out cards indicating that, in lieu of just another gift."

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Find gifts galore in E! Online's Hollywood for the Holidays