It seems every family has one, that impossibly hard person to buy for that either has everything or wants for nothing. We scratch our heads and scour the internet in search of that special something but always somehow end up falling short. So, to save you the trouble this year, we’ve rounded up a delightfully unique selection of gift ideas for Christmas, birthday’s and beyond, that are guaranteed to go down a treat…
AMI Archive
Preserve the treasured photo memories of a loved one with a little help from AMI Archive. Following the journey of discovery, AMI will bring your family’s photographic archive to life through meticulous preservation, digitalisation and curation techniques that guarantee the enduring legacy of your cherished memories in a bespoke, handmade photo book.
AMI’s artisan bookbinders will gather and stitch the pages together by hand, followed by the handcrafted creation of each cover and slipcase using foil blocking techniques to produce a true labour of love.
Kind Box
Give a gift that’s good for animals, people and planet. The Kind Box is an ethical gift box filled with unique and hand-picked products that have been tried and tested in-house. For an extra special touch, you can build a custom gift box using the bespoke build a box platform, choosing from hundreds of vegan, sustainable and cruelty-free beauty products. Each beautiful box is then wrapped with eco-friendly tissue paper, zig zag offcut paper from a UK paper mill and tied with an organic cotton ribbon.
Kensington Parker
Call on Kensington Parker for a piece of bespoke, made to order diamond jewellery; a gift that even the person that has everything would be hard-pressed to resist! As a private jeweller, Kensington Parker are not refined to the constrictions of a traditional high street jeweller. From a home appointment in the evening, to a visit at your office to overlook a handpicked selection of diamonds, this is the kind of service that makes Kensington Parker a private jeweller for the client.
Rome de Bellegarde
Treat that special someone in your life to a bottle of one of the world’s most expensive and exquisite cognacs. Rome de Bellegarde has garnered a reputation for the highest standard of excellence, specialising in a limited edition collection of modern Premium Crus harmoniously blended with rare-aged Eaux de vie.
BBB recommend a bottle of the XO Limited Edition. Characterised by its full and powerful fruity notes and extravagant spices, the XO distils the essence of Rome de Bellegarde’s iconic heritage while bringing to the fore a modern freshness of flavour, imbued with lingering hints of sweet vanilla.
Genealogica
What could be more special than gifting someone with their very own genealogical family portrait? A company like no other, Genealogica is the world’s best family history research and story-telling team. With proven expertise in unearthing unique and barely traceable documents, photographs and heirlooms, Genealogica bring the people and places of each family’s extraordinary odyssey to life, telling the story of their unique journey through the generations.
Genealogica will then design and deliver the family legacy in any way clients desire, from bespoke ancestral encyclopedias to physical journeys into the past.
Belmond Gift Card
Give the gift of a Belmont gift card for something to look forward to when the time is right. The beauty of this particular gift card is that it can be redeemed for a range of experiences including a delightful afternoon tea, a relaxing massage a fascinating masterclass or towards the trip of a lifetime! From restaurants and hotels to trains, boats and safaris, nobody does luxury adventures quite like Belmond.
Make It Personal: Best Bespoke Gifts for the Festive Season
By Amira Hashish
On the hunt for a festive gift that feels extra special? Whether you are keen to splash out on a statement piece or are seeking something more low key with a unique stamp, it is all in the detail. From playful pyjamas to a diamond encrusted pendant and a bespoke wine collection, these luxury items can all be personalised for that thoughtful touch…
The Coveted Fragrance
Since its inception in New York City in 2006 Le Labo has garnered a major following of scent lovers who are obsessed with its potent fragrances. The Noir 29, fusing fig and bay leaves with the depth of cedar wood, vetiver and musk, is a signature. Splash out on a 500ml bottle for the superfan in your life who will have it on proud display on their dressing table. The label and box can be stamped with a name in Le Labo’s distinctive font.
£720 for 500ml, lelabofragrances.com.
The Travel Companion
The Walton is a colourful new weekend bag designed for effortless travel by Anya Hindmarch Bespoke. Crafted from lightweight canvas and beautifully finished with contrasting leather trims, it can be carried by hand, over the shoulder or with the detachable crossbody strap when you are running for your flight. It can be personalised on the front with initials. Alternatively, emboss a name on the top and include a handwritten message on the key cover.
£995, anyahindmarch.com.
The Smoky Spirit
The Lost Explorer has been making waves since its UK launch in October 2020. On a mission to become one of the most sustainable Mezcal brands in the world with various environmental initiatives in place to help combat climate change, it is also delicious. Personalisation of the full range of Mezcal bottles is on offer and it makes for a fun gift. The last date for ordering is December 18.
From £62.50 for 70cl + £7 for personalisation, thelostexplorermezcal.com.
The Wine Journey
The Bespoke Wine Collection will tailor 12 fine wines uniquely to you and your partner for its A Year of Romance Collection. As part of the package, you will be invited to meet founder Ksenia Karpenko to discuss preferences and share your story. You will then be sent 12 wines across 12 months with a bespoke bound book featuring the history of the estate, tasting notes, gastronomic pairing, serving suggestions and love letters, photos and clues about your future adventures together. The wooden cases can be personalised too.
£1,950, bespokewinecollection.com. Contact the BBB team for a referral.
The Special Scented Candle
Engrave a classic Diptyque candle with a personalised message, initials, a name or a date. The service is only available in the Spitalfields store but boy will it be worth the trek. The Amber, a heady fragrance of balms and spices, is a perfect winter scent.
£49, diptyqueparis.com.
The Bling Bag
With embossing and engraving services as an option for most of Aspinal London’s leather accessories and sterling silver gifts, you are spoilt for choice. Our pick would be the Mayfair bag, hand-crafted from full-grain leather, with a shield lock that opens to unveil a luxurious grosgrain lining.
£520, aspinaloflondon.com.
The Wow Factor Wallet
If you are in search of something iconic, practical and pretty look no further than the Louis Vuitton Zippy wallet. Select a stripe or style, along with two exterior colours, interior colour and initials for a unique twist on a classic.
£720, louisvuitton.com.
The Colourful Clutch
Will Bees Bespoke makes its beautiful bags and accessories with love in Salcombe, Devon. Each item is able to be embossed, embroidered or vinyl printed with a name or initials. Make a beeline for the Diana 2 in 1 clutch from The Bee Garden collection; a new collaboration with former Head of Design at Liberty Art Fabrics Emma Mawston.
£99.95, willbeesbespoke.com.
The Playful PJs
Desmond & Dempsey is the go to brand for playful and stylish pyjamas. The Sansindo Tiger Print in black and orange is a fun lounge look. Initials can be embroidered onto pockets or onto hems for the kids’ range. Click ‘add monogram’ for a little preview.
£175, desmondanddempsey.com.
The Winter Warmer
Burberry’s Classic Cashmere Scarf in check is made at a 200-year-old mill in the Scottish countryside. It is super soft and instantly recognisable but you can make it all the more special by choosing an array of colours with up to three initials.
£370, burberry.com.
The Dreamy Diary
There are few more chic stationery options than Smythson’s Mara Diary with a glossy, crocodile print finish. Artisans print and dye the leather to create the signature look. Put your stamp on it with a choice of font, text, colour and motif.
£225, smythson.com.
The Bespoke Guestbook
Sloane Stationery Guest Books are handmade in England by classically trained craftsmen. The cream paper with gilt edges and lizard embossed card feels sumptuous. You can add a name or initials or get creative with a quote, saying or line from a song. Email info@sloanestationery.com if you would like more ideas.
£59 + £3 per character for embossing, sloanestationery.com. Contact the BBB team for an exclusive referral.
The Perfect Pendant
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and there are few more treasured than Tiffany. The diamond and turquoise circle pendant in 18k white gold has been sparkling for more than a century. Some things never go out of fashion and engraving can be added for that extra special touch.
£1,840, tiffany.com.
The Timeless Watch
Cartier’s Santos watch has a smart navy blue face and steel bracelet for a classic style. Opening the famous red box to reveal this number will be quite the moment. Opt for engraving for the man in your life who deserves a truly luxurious festive treat.
£6,250, cartier.com.
The Power Pen
After purchasing the Extra Bespoke fountain pen at Montegrappa, why not make it your own with the brand’s complimentary engraving service at Harrods? A limited edition design, it is fitted with a stainless steel clip for easy carrying inside or outside a suit jacket.
£1,345, harrods.com.
Amira Hashish is the founder and director of content, creative and events agency Rapport. Previously, executive editor of the Evening Standard, she writes columns for leading newspapers and magazines about design, travel and lifestyle. Follow @thedesigneditor and visit www.clubrapport.com for more.
BBB’s Guide to Gifting Etiquette
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
‘Tis the season to gift and be gifted, and with that comes a cinnamon-scented cocktail of gifter-panic, giftee-grimacing and of course, however rarely, some good old wholesome, festive gratitude. It’s true that the best gifts are thoughtful, often personal and increasingly locally sourced from independent makers, but there is an unspoken language that underscores the entire cultural choreography of gift-giving. It’s formed not of nouns and verbs, commas and colons, but of gift wrap and pricetags, timing and manners. While we may have the basics down (never arriving at a soiree empty-handed, opening the card before the gift, and so on), it certainly won’t hurt to brush up on some of the more complicated subject matter at hand. And while I won’t be able to teach you how to wrap your presents like a pro, I can give you a few hints when it comes to tackling some of those harder-to-buy-for occasions.
Festive Party Gifts
If your diary looks anything like mine each (COVID-dependent) December, your evenings will be largely dedicated to spending time with friends and family in a series of festive gatherings that, by New Year’s Eve, will have blended into a candle-lit continuum of teacups of mulled wine and mainly sourdough-centric lockdown reminiscences. When it comes to a gift for your hosts, keep it classic. Considering the sheer volume of these events over the Christmas period, opting for bespoke, personalised or particularly expensive gifts isn’t sustainable for the many. Bring a good bottle of wine, a seasonal bouquet or a tin of biscuits to hit the mark perfectly, but don’t be alarmed if you don’t see any of your edible or imbibe-able gifts again that evening. It’s important to remember that your gift is just that, a gift, and not a contribution to the evening’s revelries.
Buying for Your Boss
Finding the perfect gift for your manager or your employer is a tricky business. It is a matter of choosing a gift that shows your appreciation and respect in a friendly, informal manner, artfully combining the professional and the personal. It makes sense to ground your gift ideas in a hobby or interest of which your boss has made you aware, such as cookery, entertaining or gardening. Artisan salts for their kitchen island, a stack of design-led coasters or a stylish set of pruners could be great places to start, resulting in a gift exchange that feels thoughtful and considered but very low risk.
Wrapping
Even the simplest and most generic of gifts (think candles, house plants, bottles of wine) can be elevated with some creative gift wrapping. A bottle of wine in a patterned bottle bag topped with tissue paper will give the exchange more of a sense of occasion, while some lengths of colourful ribbon tied in a generous bow around the lip of a vase of flowers will add a thoughtful flourish. You don’t need to be a dab hand with wrapping paper, matching pattern repeats along the creases and binding corners with velvet ribbon. Simply marking out an item as a present with a gift bag, a tag and some simple paper will bring a bigger smile to the receiver’s face.
Thank You Notes
From giving gifts to gratefully receiving them, the power of a thank you note is immeasurable. A handwritten note in the post is a rare and beautiful thing, especially when its contents is rich in gratitude and personality. You can buy beautiful packs of thank you cards from various online stationers or in local independent book shops, or you can set aside some time to craft your own with a vintage printing block to create unique letterhead paper. This is a wonderful time of year for little projects like this, and coincides with the perfect excuse to begin them. Keeping a list of all of the gifts you receive (from threshold offerings to Christmas Day show-stoppers) over the festive season is invaluable, allowing you to you easily reference the exact bottle of Champagne, candle fragrance or box of chocolate truffles the gifter chose for you in your note.
So, go forth and gift, traversing the treacherous terrain of the etiquette surrounding the ancient practice. Over and above the gifts you choose, be sure to note the swell of emotion between friends under the same roof, or families reunited. Gifting is really only a vehicle for the most fundamental, sensible touchstone of the festive season: meaningful connections to the most important people in your life.