Illustration by Gemma Correll
I spent a ridiculous amount of time last week, on a big digital foraging adventure, curating these gift guides for you to browse and inspire your gift giving this season. I also wanted to put these guides up sooner rather than later because November now holds the sale shopping crown, and it’s always good to get in early and be organised in the lead up to all the festivities.
I’ve covered off all bases and then some: women, men, luxe, fitness, kiddos, the person who has everything; and catered to all budgets! Whether it’s a Secret Santa that has you stumped, or you’ve no clue where to start for that special someone, I’ve got you covered. Equally, you can also send this guide to a loved one and I’m sure they’ll get the hint!
Happy shopping! Be sure to follow me over on LTK where I will continue sharing gift ideas!
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I wanted to kick things off with some miscellaneous knick knacks, as I usually find it challenging buying presents for people in a Secret Santa context or people who seemingly have everything. Here’s a selection of useful and cutesy things that I think would just be lovely to receive. For some boujee and budget friendly options, this Oroton pocket mirror is gorgeous as are these Country Road tea towels. If the gift recipient is a traveler, and you’re perhaps pooling funds together for a pressie, you can upgrade their existing suitcase with this smart case from July. If you don’t have as much of a budget to play with, this beauty case from Oroton is a great option, as is this kitsch Polaroid camera to capture memories while they’re away. My top picks though? This Bellroy cooler caddy that conveniently fits a 6-pack, very handy for all those summer BBQs, and this small but mighty BOSE wireless speaker which we’ve been using solidly for the past 3 years – top notch tunes deserve quality sound, it’s a sign of respect people.
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The festive season is also a great time to give a loved one a little piece of luxury for their own self-care – whether it’s your overworked colleague or a friend who’s recently become a new parent. You don’t need to spent much to get them something thoughtful that they’ll use every day, like this Moleskine notebook or this luxurious body wash from L’Occitane. For something a bit special, I’d recommend a Diptyque candle or this playful Anya Hindmarsh water bottle cover. My pick of the lot? This adorable Anya Hindmarsh water bottle or this portable Nutribullet – I always feel like I’ve taken care of myself when I’ve made myself a healthy smoothie.
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I feel like if you want to go down the shoes and accessories path, you can’t go wrong with picking something that was designed for both comfort and style. 2023 has been just that for me – I’ve found some absolute gems that have offered magic levels of comfort and elevated my outfits. Whether it’s a pair of classic block heels designed by a podiatrist, or a pair of podiatrist-designed sandals that are actually stylish (they’re currently my favourite pair), all of the shoes included in this guide have been tried and tested by me and I would recommend them any day of the week. I’ve also thrown in two very practical bags – this tote bag that’s cleverly compartmentalised and made from a water-resistant fabric, and its little sister in the form of a crossbody bag, also with the same smart compartments and a durable water-resistant fabric.
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If you’re after something special, the Dyson Airwrap is a big ticket item that I just adore. It comes in a limited edition colour way for the festive season which would be a delight to unwrap! Luxury beauty and makeup items that I use every day include this Charlotte Tilbury lipstick, this Kiehl’s Eye Cream, this Dr Dennis Gross moisturiser and this Westman Atelier cream blush. For a practical buy, you can’t go wrong with this sunscreen that wears amazingly well under makeup. And if hair has been your gift receiver’s priority recently (but you don’t want to go down the Dyson route), I’ve used solidly this curler to create the bounciest curls, which I then comb out using this texture comb, and set using this texturising spray. Huzzah!
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This category has been one that I’ve properly invested in myself this past year and if your giftee is regularly found rocking a pair of leggings, oversized jumper and a cap, then I’ve got you covered. My numero uno recommendation is a pair of lululemon tights – these Align shorts are so buttery soft and have handy pockets and this full-length pair is my go-to during cooler times. The next must-have is a cosy fleece jumper, but not a heavy poor-quality one that fades after a couple of washes. What you should be hunting for is a technical fleece jumper that’s equally cosy and designed for being active! Patagonia fleece is some of the best fleece out there, and it’s offered in so many fun colours. My husband and I wear our fleece jackets when hiking in the winter months and they’re in excellent condition. If you’re after something a little more budget friendly, this hip pack is so practical and lightweight, this baseball cap gives off Dad vibes of the moment, and these socks are my OG workout socks. I have 6 pairs on rotation.
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It always feels really special to receive a luxury item as a gift. And while it happens less often, if you’re in the season to gift (or receive! hint hint) a luxury piece, my selection of classic items is guaranteed to blow them away (some of these pieces you’ll recognise from my own collection!). This Celine tote is my most reached-for luxury bag for work, and this Gucci handbag was a gift from my husband earlier this year to mark several milestones. Then there’s the Celine belt, an overpriced and boujee accessory but one of the more popular logo belts going round. There’s also this Loewe Puzzle Bag that has been at the top of my wish list since I tried it a couple of months ago, as well as a classic Burberry scarf and this Saint Laurent bag (a 2021 release that looks like it could be vintage).
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If your giftee is after clothing, then it’s probably safe to stick with comfy classics. All of the items featured here are much-loved pieces in my wardrobe that have elevated my everyday looks. My everyday base layer is either an Arket t-shirt in the spring/summer months (I wear a size S), or their merino knit top in the cooler months (again, a size S). My Nobody Denim jeans were especially designed for petites (and are politely listed as ‘cropped’ in the link – in fact, if you browse the site, all of the ‘cropped’ jeans from Nobody Denim are designed for petites – you’re welcome). This Anine Bing skirt is an investment but it’s one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe (and many of you have DM’d me to say that you think it’s worth the hefty price tag) and you know how much I love my Arket trench coat and these jewellery bits that I’ve been wearing on rotation.
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If my husband were to see this right now, he’d probably laugh because he’s pretty much received everything I’ve featured in this curation! A pair of New Balance 574s wouldn’t go array under the Christmas tree, nor would a pair of R.M. Williams boots if your man is looking for something a bit dressier. Then there’s the tech and gadgety things, like an Apple Watch (that’s if he’s been really good this year) or this keyring that houses a charging cable – how nifty! Other must-haves in my husband’s rotation include this moisturiser and this backpack for commuting.
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With four boys at home between the ages of 4 and 14, I feel like I’ve got some pretty good ideas for the young people in your life. Let’s start with a favourite in our family – Catan – an excellent board game. Think Risk, but more efficient and less fighting! Our younger boys enjoy games too and Sushi Go has been getting a good run at home. Then there’s the Switch – a very lavish gift to receive that will be utilised for years! We ended up buying ours in the middle of lockdown – it preserved our sanity, that’s for sure! Some other fun toys include walkie talkies (the boys run amok around the house with these and my husband enables them with the phonetic alphabet) and who can resist a cute keytar! I love giving loud musical instrument toys to my friends’ kids only to be met with eye rolls from their parents for the “tuneful” sounds that will soon fill their homes! It happened to us, so we’re only repaying the favour.
And that’s a wrap! You can check out my gift guide from last year but I feel like I’ve taken it up several notches with this year’s.
As always, thanks for stopping by. Happy shopping!!
The perfect guide just before Christmas
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It’s crept up so quickly this year!