When it comes to Christmas gifts my favorite has always been my stocking. Whether it is for keeping the children upstairs a little longer Christmas morning rather than forcing you downstairs at 4 am. Or when I was a child myself, with that extra added layer of surprise that a stocking offers.
As the years have gone on the stocking has developed into something much more. You don’t just get the 30 cm shoe shaped stocking hung on the fireplace. Now you can have large sacks at the end of your bed and you can even purchase pre-made stocking with everything picked and wrapped from your chosen brand.
For me though, it is all about the luxury. I love a nice silk or velvet stocking filled with a few of my favorite brands. This usually includes a few top up of my makeup pieces from Bobbie Brown and some sparkly socks from Ted Baker. After that there is a world of items that can set a luxury stocking apart from your normal mix and match of gifts. Here are a few to get you started.
I just love this range from Oliver Bonas. Oozing luxury the embroidered items are made of silks and velvet. The classic gold of Christmas is mixed with blues and teal. Blue not being traditionally Christmas for most but being Pantone's colour of the year 2020 makes this a great choice for trendy friends who like a little indulgence. A number of face masks, hot water bottles and compact mirrors start the range but there is also wall art and mugs.
Sticking with indulgent materials we have this beautiful satin notebook from Amara. Coming in three colour-ways the one shown above is a pattern I love from the AW18 runway.
When I was younger a calendar or diary was always a must but with technology now and google calendars, calendars on our phones and custom made printed products it’s no longer a safe bet unless it’s specifically asked for. However, I don’t know about you but I am a sucker for some luxury stationery. Be it posh pens, satin notebook or even a pretty pack of paperclips.
Another safe choice in my stocking is a great candle. This year I have fallen in love with the Matthew Williamson fragrance collection. A fellow interior designer, Matthew now also has a great range of that posh stationary, some lamps and wallpapers.
Created in collaboration with the Fragrance Group London, there are a range of candles and diffuses in five scents that are all inspired by Matthews global travels. I can tell you I have Palm Springs and it is truly is a beautiful scent. I also love that these are made in the UK keeping down my footprint which is hard this time of year.
John Lewis have also picked up the blues of the colour of the year and the gold of a luxury Christmas with their lovely gift range which depicts celestial elements like the moon, stars and planets. Whether it is trinket trays or mirrors, jewelry bowls or purses, this range makes for fabulous luxury fillers.
For those that opt for the sack or larger stocking, I couldn’t resist including the lovely Audenza Gold Wall Beetle. Not something one may usually buy themselves, it’s a quirky and fun item which brings interest and intrigue to most interiors.
For the more traditional contemporary interiors they look wonderful adding another element to your picture walls. You know me, I love most things which bring the feeling of nature into our interiors and this is a fun way of doing that with an air of luxury.
The Geo Glasses are from Root 7 and are simply gorgeous. Taking inspiration from modern terrariums, the Geo glasses have a unique angular shape, accentuated by beautiful metallic styled edges. They are a real weighty and sturdy feel and each one is unique due to the hand blown process.
You don’t just have to drink out of these although named glasses, a great versatile gift, they can be used as pots of succulents or candles or we have even used one as a vase before. Sticking with our gold theme (you probably noticed) they come gift boxed ready to wrap.
Another item I have fallen in love with this year is the Aglow Bluetooth Outdoor Speaker & Led Light. You can create a relaxing environment with this lovely piece from Kreafunk. With the combination of the light and wireless speaker - it can be used in your garden or balcony, can be used when camping or entertaining outdoors.
This two in one speaker and lamp works via Bluetooth, a USB cable or line-in connection and features a dimming lantern, perfect for use in the garden. Fabulous features include press control buttons and a built in rechargeable battery with up to 10 hours of music playing when fully charged. The built in microphone enables hands free calling too, a stylish yet practical speaker and atmospheric light.. And all in your stocking.
Of course the list is endless for your luxury stocking fillers so I won’t bombarded you with everything I love. But do remember a stocking isn't complete without something sweet.. This chocolate box from Hotel Chocolat is a great festive addition to your stocking with the colour pallet and 27 chocolates with all the crunch and comforting tastes of the autumn. Brimming with caramels, pralines, tipples and more.
Oliver Bonas - Only wake for cocktails teal eye mask
Oliver Bonus - Lucky star velvet hot water bottle
Amara - Printed satin notebook
Matthew Williamson- Palm Springs Candle
John Lewis - Triangle glitter trinket pot
Audenza - Gold beetle wall decor
Cuckooland - Pair of Geo Glasses
Cuckooland - aGlow outdoor speaker and LED light
Hotel Chocolat - Autumn Sleekster Collection