Nathalie Martin
Solve all Christmas gift shopping woes with these fabulous and totally unique ideas for all those people you love but don’t love to buy gifts for. From your super crafty best friend to your parents who seem to own everything you can think of, this list is like your very awesome personal shopper (without the heavy fees, of course).
Trying to choose a gift for your girlfriend/sister/best friend who completely eclipses you when it comes to knowing who won model of the year is like going down the rabbit hole. A rabbit hole where you look at endless brands and magazine articles trying to hazard a guess at what to choose. But what’s beautiful, displayable and uber-stylish? Jewelry boxes for women, that’s what. Coming in a range of colours and finishes you’ll be able to find one that is the perfect dressing table accessory, and which coordinates seamlessly with their personal style.
They own all the books, all the crockery, and all the ornaments in the world! Buying a gift for one person who has everything is hard enough but for two, who are a couple, is even harder. Forget about what they own and think about that they can ‘do’ instead. Virgin offers experience days, with everything from a Faulty Towers dining experience to great seats at your choice of a West End show.
Whether you’ve arrange Secret Santa amongst friends or work colleagues, you’re probably restricted by budget. Low budget + difficult person to buy for = gift hell! Thankfully, with places like Firebox, you’ll be able to find something fun and affordable, like Gin and Tonic Gourmet Popcorn which is under £10. With gin being one of the most popular drinks of the moment, it’ll go down just as well as the real thing (but without the hangover). They also have cocktail popcorn (various flavours) and even marmite popcorn!
These people can be deceptively difficult to buy for. At first you think there is a multitude of possibilities with creative people. Then you realise how big the craftosphere (yes, I’ve made up a word) is and you’re down the rabbit hole again, but this time it’s yarn and macramé that haunt you. Head to your local craft shop where the shop assistants will be able to choose a variety of items for the recipient - perfect for the multi-crafting mate. Alternatively (and to save time), there are readymade kits available online, like the cute cactus one above.
When your loved one is a collector of the finer things in life, funny stocking filler presents just won’t do. At the same time, buying vogue items, such as a print of the latest abstract piece from The Tate Modern, isn’t an option either. High-end one-off or subscription hampers are in abundance these days and as they are put together by luxury gift experts, all you need to do is click the ‘buy now’ button. I can certainly think of someone who would love this Ultimate Shaving Kit which comes with an 18-carat gold plated mini crowbar…
We all have that one person in our lives who wants the same thing, year in, year out. Maybe it’s socks, a book or even a gift voucher. Although you can keep giving them what they ask for, which is hugely satisfying, it can leave you feeling like you’re not putting in the extra effort for them. Base your gift item on exactly what they want but take it up a notch. For example, change a pair of socks into a membership at the London Sock Company where they send you socks every month! Or give them a 6-month subscription to The Willoughby Book Club where you can receive new books through the post. After all, you don’t have to re-invent the wheel to give a great gift!
"Nathalie Martin is a young woman from Brighton who has a strong interest in education, family, shopping and childcare after growing up as a part of a large family on the South Coast. When she's no...
