Holiday gift shopping can be stressful, especially if you’re on a budget. With this last-minute guide we hope to spare you from the worst of it: because haven’t we earned some good times? Last year when facing a sombre holiday season, we told readers to resist frivolous “silly” presents. This year…well, concepts like whimsy, fun and a little impracticality seem apropos again.
Here’s things that strike the right note for a decidedly more festive, optimistic Noel.
1. A Treasure Box to Treasure:
Trove’s delightful mini trunk jewellery box in blush pink will have every woman in your life drooling. And every time she puts on her jewellery she will think of you! Trove Mini Trunk Jewellery Box in Blush Pink, $689, trove.com
2. The Ultimate Tech Gift
Let them have the big sound of mini with this home pod which provides room-filling sound, acts as an intelligent assistant and provides smart-home control. This HomePod mini has the boundary-pushing sound of a much larger speaker. White Home Pod Mini from Apple, $149, apple.com.au
3. The Gift of a Good Home
A labour of love, there’s 30 years of knowledge in one volume along with a huge mix of houses, Melissa’s own, and others, but you’ll find in it the styles that will enable you to bring out your individual style and personality.
Melissa brings a dazzling selection of interiors from our faves to never-been-seen houses that will lift your whole life.
The secret to success will be in your hands with this book showing you how to appreciate your home in a whole new way. Available at all reputable book stores, Amazon.com and Booktopia.com
Melissa’s third title, ‘Living Well by Design.’ by Vendome Press. Available at all reputable book stores and also Amazon.com and Booktopia.com
4. A Festive Candle
Exclusive to MECCA this moody candle will give you all the holiday feels filling any space with a warm, woody ambience, through notes of cedarwood chips and dried tobacco, slightly smoked with a blend of bay leaves and crushed peppercorn. Coconut and beeswax blend with braided cotton wick, hand-poured in Los Angeles. Boy Smells Cedar Stack Candle, $46, mecca.com.au
5. For the Chic Hostess
For the hostess in your life. They will be sure to love this for the kitchen stand, to present Christmas pud in, or even as a key bowl, Mona Pedestal Bowl, $99, livingbydesign.net.au
6. For the Collector
Nothing is more impressive than Baccarat at Christmas time so why not add to their collection with the 4 Elements set. Baccarat 4 Elements Set, $1,095, palmerandpenn.com.au
7. For the Home Lover
This is the gift that keeps on giving. the A reproduction of the pomegranate fruit, handcrafted in terracotta. It is soaked in Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella’s Melograno fragrance which is released slowly in the air. Place on the plate provided in the box in order to avoid direct contact with all other surfaces. Pomegranate in Scented Terracotta, $95, smnovella.com.au
8. Coffee Crush
Channeling a tropical 70s aesthetic, these glass sets are accented with 4 lush coloured hues adding a stunning textured finish to any breakfast or brunch setting. For the coffee lover in your life, Ophelia Espresso Glasses, $129, korneliapaulina.com
Add an element of sophistication to your morning espresso.
9. Peppermint Cremes for the Foodie
These iconic peppermint creams only come around once a year and for good reason. They are so addictive you may have to buy one for you and one as a gift, Williams Sonoma Peppermint Cremes, $44, williams-sonoma.com.au
10. In Lieu of Travelling
Safari Style unveils Africa’s new generation of camps and lodges in a lavish volume of spectacular photographs. The book captures the astonishing settings and design ingenuity of the 21st-century safari destination–from the classic camps of Botswana to the indulgent resorts of South Africa and the inspired eco-designed camps of Rwanda. Vendome’s latest title, ‘Safari Style’ by By Melissa Biggs Bradley, with Photography by Guido Taroni, available at all reputable book stores and Amazon.com
These new camps and lodges reinvent the safari and represent a fresh approach to wildlife conservation involving local populations.
Vendome’s latest title, ‘Safari Style’ by By Melissa Biggs Bradley, with Photography by Guido Taroni, available at all reputable book stores and Amazon.com
11. A Champagne to Ring in the New Year
A great Champagne producer rarely changes its non-vintage cuvée—the signature of the house. So when Champagne Louis Roederer stopped making its highly regarded Brut Premier, it was news. The bottling that replaced it bears the name Louis Roederer Collection 242, this being the house’s 242nd blend, produced primarily from the 2017 harvest with wines from earlier vintages. We’re told the it’s rich and creamy with notes of hazelnut and toast and a satiny finish, this Champagne is new, festive and, thankfully, a good champagne to give pals to welcome the New Year. Louis Roederer Collection 242, $79.80, danmurphys.com
12. A Ric-Rac Robe with Cool-Girl Clout
Equip that ambitiously stylish girl you know with more than a bland beach robe. Usher happiness, even hedonism, back into your life or a pal’s life instead of with the Oroton Ecru Ric Rac Robe, $449, www.oroton.com
Oroton Ecru Ric Rac Robe, $449, www.oroton.com
12. A Vintage Puzzle Like No Other
Cavallini’s vintage 1000 piece arboretum puzzle features illustrations of various trees, butterflies, funghi straight from the Cavallini archives —a delightful diversion for relaxed December afternoons by the fire or seaside. Other puzzles in the series include dogs, jellyfish, herbarium, wildflowers, victory gardens, cacti and succulents, house plants, and more. Cavallini puzzles, $43 each, Peters of Kensington, petersofkensington.com.au
13. Warm Feet All Winter
No-nonsense cashmere socks are made from cashmere cable knit that’s warm but breathable, and mold to your feet. Yum. Zara Cashmere Cable Knit Socks, $45.95, zara.com
14. A Nightshirt to Last
Cotton lovers rejoice. A 100% cotton sleep shirt that will last. This classic oversized sleep shirt in pale blue and white woven cotton features piped cuffs and pocket. Jasmine and Wills Remi Cotton Sleep Shirt, $139, jasmineandwills.com
15. A Handbag Upgrade
The perfect everyday handbag this Summer. Oroton Savin Collectable Day Bag $682 USD, oroton.com
