Christmas Shopping Online for Vegetarians and Vegans

Learn what's hot and where to shop online for vegetarians this holiday season.

Veg shoes
It may not have occurred to carnivores, but many vegetarians and all "lifestyle" vegans, that is, those who follow veganism in diet and lifestyle, do not buy or wear clothes or shoes containing leather, suede, fur or wool, or any other animal product. Almost all department stores, catalogs, and online shoe stores sell shoes suitable for vegetarian use but sometimes, it can be difficult to discern if the material is faux or real. Often, store attendants will not be knowledgeable enough to say with certainty that whether a shoe is made of non-animal material and such descriptions are not normally included in online copy. In these situations, just the fact that you put out the effort will be truly appreciated. If you honestly don't know, be sure to include the receipt in the gift box and let your friend or relative know that you will not be offended if they need to exchange the shoe for something else.

But, to avoid the entire situation, I suggest trying online vegetarian stores. Sure, you have to pay a little extra for shipping. But the synthetic shoes are usually priced lower than leather, so it should balance out. And, you'll save yourself the gas money. A few online retailers have really good selections. Tip: When searching for vegetarian or vegan shoes on Google, several U.K. sites show up in the top search results. While some of those do have a large selection, you will have to pay more in shipping (obviously) and for VAT, or Value Added Tax. VAT is higher than U.S. sales tax and is non-refundable.

So browse some of these American vegetarian shoe sites:
http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/- Women can shop at Alternative Outfitters for awesome knee-high faux leather boots, dress and sporty shoes and sandals, while men will find a plethora of business to business-casual options.

Veg candles
Candles are widely given and well-received Christmas or special occasion gist. They are yet another item that carnivores may not have considered "offensive" to vegetarians or vegans. But some candles are made with animal or insect products, such as beeswax and strict vegans will not buy such candles. But don't cross "candles" off your holiday shopping list; vegetarian candles do exist! They are made of materials such as soy beans and cotton or natural fiber wicks. Try shopping some of the following sites:

http://www.beanswax.com/- Shop for candles by color, style, or luscious scents (like apple cider, brandied pear, warm honey wheat, and toffee latte just to name a few).

http://www.caterpillarscandles.com/- Create custom candles for everyone on your list. Caterpillars Creations lets the shopper choose the color, container and scent (choose from over 75 scents, like yummy Hershey's chocolate or Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls, or therapeutic lavender and vanilla).

http://maximumscented.com/- The Country Heart Candles makers say they triple scent each candle for maximum aroma that can fill a whole room. A great holiday pick- try the 64 oz Tri-scented, 3 layer, "Christmas In A Jar" candle, featuring Candy Cane, Christmas Tree, and Victorian Christmas scents.

Veg belts and handbags
Like shoes, belts and bags are often made of leather or other non-vegetarian components. Other accessories that double as belts, scarves, sashes and the like, are also often made of vegetarian unfriendly materials like silk or wool. Obviously, a belt or purse need not contain any of these materials, but finding one that doesn't can be just as hard as finding veggie shoes. Holiday shoppers will find themselves facing problems similar to the ones above (detailed in the Veg shoes section): difficulty determining veg materials from animal materials, a general lack of knowledge on the part of store workers, or a poor selection of veg friendly items. Again, online retailers are a great place to turn for confused or frustrated holiday shoppers. Try some of these websites for veggie accessory shopping this holiday season:

http://www.vegetarianbelts.com/unisex.html- Shop in categories such as Unisex or Female belts, and Handbags. The site also has a "Wrists" section, showcasing trendy wrist cuffs in an assortment of colors and styles. The small size of the cuffs also makes for a good stocking stuffer.

http://www.veganessentials.com/catalog/jeans-belt-by-vegetarian-shoes.htm- Vegan Essentials has one of the largest selections of vegan belts, offering faux leather, canvas, and hemp in a variety of styles.

These sites offer compassionate yet fashion-forward alternatives to items the person on your list will wear daily.