What the fashionista in your life really wants
OoF! Just when you thought things couldn’t get any tighter along comes Christmas and the need to buy . . . presents. Well, panic not partners of fashionconscious women ( FCW); it’s the thought that counts and we’re thinking fabulous ideas for under £50.
Everything on this list has been chosen for its very good chance of working: you won’t find any highrisk purchase — liable to not fit, not suit, disappoint or otherwise offend the fussy-ish woman in your life; and, furthermore, some are cheap enough to work as extra gifts.
(Bear in mind that even if your FCW says she wants some Hestra CZone frost mittens to make her cycling commute more bearable, or an air fryer, you’ll need a supplementary something. It’ll go down better on the day).
A PAIR OF HYGGE SHOES
AS In the Danish concept of cosy, comfy conviviality in shoe form and currently top of the fashion charts. So long as your FCW doesn’t already own some furry sliders, this is a present that scores on the upto-the-minute scale and on the feelgood-treat scale. (The Birkenstock- style sandal is not for everyone . . . until they try them on). The ones to get are cork bed, faux-fur, twostrap sliders with buckles from the White Company (£45, the whitecompany.com).
THE LITTLE BOUJIE BAG
no onE needs another bag unless it’s one that works like a pair of bejewelled sandals and saves you having to do much more on the gettingready-to-go-out effort front.
H&M has a chic little quilted chain bag that’s a steal (£29.99, hm.com) or a beige teddybear-fur bag with a chunky gilt chain (£24.99). otherwise, for classic glamour, you can’t beat Mango’s baby bag slathered in rhinestones (£35.99) or Zara’s slick armpit tucker in polished black (£25.99, zara.com).
THE EARRINGS
You don’t have to shell out a lot for brilliant earrings this Christmas. Sparkly rhinestone chandelier earrings (£ 35, stories.com) are perfect for the woman who wants to dress in sharp tailoring. Diamante clusters with swinging strands have a more contemporary edge (£17.99, zara.com). And for the woman who prefers less flash, more year-round dependable glamour, there are always can’t-go-wrong gold hoops (£35, arket.com).
SILKY PJs
onCE a bit of silky underwear might have been welcome, but these days we’re far more interested in clothes to lounge about or sleep in.
Cotton is comfy but only silky fits the bill for Christmas and lipsy’s pyjamas in cream with black piping are just the ticket (£42, next.co.uk).
M&S has pair in red satin (£35, marksandspencer.com) also with piping. plain and elegant is what we’re after, not a jolly print. please take note.
THE CHAINS
CAn you go wrong with a gold chain? Yes if the woman you are buying for never wears anything around her neck or generally wears silver. otherwise, even if she already owns a neckful of chains, they can always be enhanced by the addition of a sliver or a gold snake chain. Arket does a good gold-plated one (£35) or go for a double strand (£36, hush-uk.com). It’ll set the others off.
THE SPECIAL SCARF
IS IT a boring present? I don’t think so providing it’s either big, chic and a bit different — we’ve got enough plain wool scarves — or delightfully decadent. Admittedly, you will have to know your audience for this one.
For the woman who likes a navy polo-neck and a shearling gilet you might try two-tone pink or blue fringed (£25.99, zara.com). For the glamorous tuxedo-wearing sort, make a beeline for a dark velvet print scarf a bit like those gorgeous 1980s Georgina von Etzdorf scarves, also from Zara (£17.99).
THE CAN’T-GO-WRONG CLOTHING
WEll you can but a striped Breton sweater with gold buttons on the shoulder is the chic staple most FCWs would not turn their noses up at (£32.99, zara.com).
THE SUNGLASSES
lE SpECS is an affordable brand that will quicken the pulse of an FCW. Its liar liar cat- eye style (£36, fenwick. co.uk) is a bang-up-to-theminute shape that happens to suit a lot of people. The sun could be blazing on Christmas Day, so why not?