Stop hunting for the perfect gift , our style-insider present edit is here…
Pairing gifts with the perfect people is an art form as well as a generous act of love. Sometimes, though, inspiration does not hit (or the person is just notoriously difficult to buy for) and the festive season can begin to feel more like an exercise in panic buying. That’s the state we hope to help you avoid with this, our annual edit of the very best buys for design fans. It’s all guaranteed to please. All killer, plus a few stocking fillers…
‘Apple’ scarf, Le Bonnet
Traditionally made in Scotland from 100% vilted lambswool, this super-soft scarf has an unapologetically modern feel thanks to its checkerboard pattern and punchy colour palette. Warm and stylish, it’s a guaranteed winner for even tricky-to-buy-for types. £145, lebonnet.com
‘Soft Shape’ vase, Milo Made Ceramics
We love the contrast between the natural, crafted feel of this vase’s stoneware body and its exuberant orange squiggle of a handle. Each one is handmade in London by Milo Li-ren Mckeand, making it a highly collectible piece of contemporary craft. £175, conranshop.co.uk
‘Essential’ skincare gift set, Typology
Vegan, organic and made in France, the serum, moisturiser and calming hydrosol in this kit are designed to allow the recipient to create a simple yet effective skincare routine – the perfect new year’s resolution in fact. £45, uk.typology.com
‘Confetti’ chopping board, Fredericks & Mae
Ideal for jazzing up mundane tasks like chopping vegetables, this cheerful, colour-flecked board made from professional-grade, food-safe plastic by Brooklyn-based studio Fredericks & Mae is perfect for the foodie in your life. £45, store.moma.org
‘Water House’ mac, Cawley Studio
If ever a garment could be described as ‘beautiful and useful’, it’s this mac by Cawley Studio, available from the William Morris Gallery shop. Designer Hannah Cawley took inspiration from a photo of the Arts and Crafts icon wearing a smock and adapted the silhouette into a pleated oilskin mac, finishing it with a tana lawn cotton from Liberty Fabrics’ ‘Art of Craft’ collection. £425, wmgallery.shop
‘Fantasmino’ portable lamp, Venini
This little LED lamp’s shape is a play on Venini’s famous ‘Fazzoletto’ (handkerchief) vase from 1948. The shade is handmade in Murano using the 15th century Opalini technique, a process that gives it its strong block colour. The rechargeable, portable design is a fantastic blend of old and new. £520, abask.com
‘Love’ print silk scarf, Amelia Graham
London-based textile designer Amelia created this luxurious square scarf featuring a graphic pattern clash print and bold lettering. Made from 100% silk crepe de chine and finished with a pin hem, it’s would add a splash of vibrant colour to a pared back outfit. £125, npgshop.org.uk
‘Bronto’ mug, Hem
Much like the giant of the dinosaur kingdom, the brontosaurus, this design by Supergroup would be easy to spot in your kitchen. Be loud and proud during your morning coffee. £78.85, finnishdesignshop.com
‘Garrett’ cocktail shaker, Ralph Lauren Home
We can imagine Jay Gatsby himself mixing a martini in this sleek cocktail shaker from Ralph Lauren Home. With plenty of vintage-tinged design details, including solid brass hardware, supple leather and moisture-wicking canvas, it will bring a touch of old school glamour to any bar cart. £195, harrods.com
‘Green and Pink Swirl’ wine glass, Henry Holland Studio
Henry Holland’s swirling, multi-hued wine glasses bring the party wherever they’re used. Handblown in England with a ‘cookie foot’ base for extra weight, each one is a little piece of handheld art that you can enjoy using every day. £195 for two, henryhollandstudio.com
‘Faces’ bat, The Art of Ping Pong
Whatever your skill level, this cute, colourful bat is sure to elevate your table tennis game. Available individually or as a pair with four balls, each bat is handmade from sustainable wood and natural rubber, then screen-printed with the ‘Faces’ design. £49, theartofpingpong.co.uk
‘Oyster Perpetual 41’ watch, Rolex
Popping with effervescent candy colours and positivity, the bubbles on the dial of the Oyster Perpetual 41 by Rolex bring a fresh energy to this classic design. The ultimate gift for someone who values unbeatable craftsmanship (and punctuality), yet doesn’t take themselves too seriously. £5,400, rolex.com
‘La Dolce Vita’ aperitivo platter, Laetitia Rouget x Malfy Gin
Perfect for serving snacks at a cocktail party or al fresco entertaining when the weather warms up, Laetitia Rouget’s colourful collaboration with Malfy Gin is a joyful celebration of the good things in life. Hand-painted in Portugal, it looks like a stylish souvenir brought home from a wonderful holiday. £91, laetitiarouget.com
‘Happy’ socks, Baggu
We were delighted to discover that the makers of our favourite reusable bags also do socks, also featuring their signature happy-making prints. The bamboo-mix material is soft and stretchy; a perfect Secret Santa or stocking filler. £15, foundbath.co.uk
‘Panama’ diary in ‘Neon Yellow’, Smythson
Do you have a stationery obsessive in your life (maybe it’s you!), then this highlighter yellow diary is the ultimate gift. Offering the possibility of a more organised and sunnier future. £55, smythson.com
‘Mushroom’ tureen, Bordallo Pinheiro
Bring a touch of whimsy to your festive tablescape with this fantastical mushroom tureen, straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Crafted in Bordallo Pinheiro’s Caldas da Rainha factory in Portugal and glazed with a semi-lustrous finish, it has a playful and timeless appeal. £50, matchesfashion.com
‘SOB Chair 2’, Sons of Beasley
Crafted from offcuts donated by Plykea, this limited edition chair is one of a series by Carl Clerkin and Alex Hellum. With a simple form reminiscent of school chairs and pastel pick ‘n’ mix shades giving each a charming naivety, design fans will be thrilled to receive one of these exuberant experiments in small batch furniture making. £395, scp.co.uk
Wick trimmer, Loewe
Replicating the luxurious materials, tactile finishes and attention to detail of a Loewe bag, but in miniature, this beautifully crafted wick trimmer is the home accessory you never knew you needed. £435, loewe.com
‘Sea Salt & Lime’ chocolate, UpUp
If you care about the origin of your coffee beans, you should be just as discerning when it comes to cacao. This tasty bar is as single origin as it gets – from El Rosari, a small farm in the Necocli region of Colombia. £3.50, upupchocolate.com
‘Lao’ paperweight, Hermès
Crafted in Vietnam from hand-lacquered wood, this characterful desk companion will encourage you (or a loved one) to ‘never forget’ their worth. £445, hermes.com
‘Crisco Disco’ scented candle, Discothèque
Inspired by the sights, sounds and – naturally – scents of a New York City nightclub during the last days of disco, this decadent candle’s fragrance is a heady blend of whipped cream, suede, blood orange and cedar. One for the party animal in your life. £54, discothequefragrances.com
Wide paper fan, Couverture & The Garbstore
It may be cold outside now, but it never hurts to prepare for the summer (or a hastily booked New Years getaway). This fan by KHJ Studio will keep you cool and stylish. £49, couvertureandthegarbstore.com
‘Just Add Friends’ negroni, Top Cuvée
Ensure you always bring the party to any social occasion by swapping your normal bottle of fizz for something with a little more punch. £23, shopcuvee.com
‘Desert Plants’ wine glass, Ichendorf Milano
The festive period should not be a time for feeling parched, but we love the dry sense of humour of designer Alessandra Baldereschi in coming up with these cactus-themed glasses. £30, fenwick.co.uk
‘Conversational Objects’ candlestick, Alessi
This brutalist piece of decorative design is the work of the late, great Virgil Abloh. It would make the perfect addition to a tablesetting for those who want to subvert festive expectations. £150, selfridges.com
‘Tetrami’ storage unit, Naoto Fukasawa
Those who have been very good this year might wish for one of these versatile freestanding cabinets by the Japanese master for B&B Italia. Effortlessly compelling in its pared back simplicity, each is crafted by expert cabinetmakers from ash wood. A modern classic worth investing in. £9,834, bebitalia.com
Cast-iron bottle opener, Tokyobike
A stylish bottle opener is a bar cart essential and, for those who favour Asahi or Kirin over a UK craft beer, this design by Kamasada, with its urushi lacquer coating, is a winner. £20, tokyobike.co.uk
‘Leaves’ silver bowl, Buccellati
Invest in an heirloom piece by this brand’s experienced Italian silversmiths. For this collection they took direct inspiration from nature, rendering the most delicate of organic details in sterling silver. £400, buccellati.com
‘Plexi Case’ in ‘Midnight Blue’, Poltrona Frau
Small but perfectly formed, Simona Cremascoli puts the contemporary beauty of plexiglass in the spotlight with this piece for Poltrona Frau which glows when it catches the light. £780, frankbros.com
‘Check’ fleece hot water bottle, Burberry
Whether clutched lovingly as you work from home or tucked up under the covers, this luxurious Norwegian wool treat is an investment in your comfort. £290, uk.burberry.com
‘Saddle’ card holder, Dior
Who carries cash anymore? In a world where card is king, these slimline accessories become the new must-have in place of the traditional purse or wallet. Make yours ultra-luxe with a subtle splash of designer label. £340, dior.com
‘Orlo’ bowls and vases, Bodo Sperlein
Designers Jarosinski & Vaugoin are paying very contemporary homage to the Viennese art nouveau with these decorative coffee table pieces hewn from rippling silver. From £3,700, bodosperlein.com
‘Trunk’ vase, Emma Louise Payne
Glazed on the inside with a raw porcelain finish on the outside, this sculptural vase is designed to hold large bouquets but would look just as impressive if empty. £325, emmalouisepayne.com
‘Cocktail’ cushion, Colours of Arley
There’s always room for another cushion, especially one as special as this frill-adorned stripey number from one of this year’s most exciting brands. We love this colour combo of ‘Flares’ and ‘Postbox’. £125, coloursofarley.com
‘ZigZag’ drinks table, Jermaine Gallacher
Every home needs numerous surfaces on which one might place a drink whilst lounging. This powder-coated steel option is slimline enough to fit anywhere, yet bold enough to still make a statement. £550, jermainegallacher.com
‘Longpi’ seasoning pot, Toast
For those who take seasoning seriously (their salt is Himilayan and their pepper Tellicherry) this is the ultimate gift, made by skilled inhabitants of just two villages in north-east India. £20, toa.st
‘Twisted’ salt and pepper grinder, Addison Ross
Suitable for grinding either rock salt or black peppercorns, this navy blue Twister mill will bring some sculptural style to any kitchen counter or shelf. Made from solid FSC-certified Rubber wood, it gets its high-shine finish from eight coats of glossy lacquer and plenty of hand polishing during the production process. £58, addisonross.com
‘Silver Perlina’ tea cup and saucer, Natalia Criado
Born and raised in Colombia but based in Milan, the designer behind this silver plated cup with lapis lazuli handle is one to watch. Buy now and gloat later. £240, ssense.com
‘Kärrknipprot’ bath mat, Ikea
Gift yourself or someone you love a little flower power optimism for the bathroom. Cheap enough to be a stocking filler (for a very large stocking), this is joyful home decor at it’s most affordable. £10, ikea.com
‘Scallop’ candle, Casacarta
A candle is a gift-giving staple for a reason – it’s never not lovely to receive a new one. The added bonus of this design is that when the scent burns down you are left with a colourful vessel for trinkets. £58, glassette.com
‘Silphium’ eau de parfum, Earl of East
Silphium is a medicinal herb, often regarded as a spice, that originally grew in present-day Libya. It’s a unique note for this addictive fragrance by Stora Skuggan. £120, earlofeast.com
‘Striped’ mirror, Studio Atkinson
The stripes on the wooden frame of this mirror are painstakingly painted by hand, lending this seemingly simple piece for the dressing table of vanity unit an extra note of thoughtfulness. £375, studio-atkinson.com
‘Poly Rope’ stool, Fels
There are few more multifunctional pieces of furniture than a stool and we love the woven tactility of this option by Tino Seubert, as well as its neon-bright colourway. £960, fels.world
‘Bleu’ mohair blanket, Tekla
Fans of Le Corbusier will be thrilled to receive a cosy mohair blanket in one of his signature shades. Each hand-woven piece is signed with a unique number as part of a limited edition. £665, teklafabrics.com
