VIBE OLD-WORLD CHARM, NEW-WORLD FASHION

Head to Mayfair’s Mount Street for a Love Actually- style festive shopping experience. Here, the pristine Queen Anne redbrick façades evoke a well-heeled London of yesteryear, while the diamond-choker decorations signal the wealth of W1.

Then there’s the fashion. In 2007, Marc Jacobs opened a UK flagship here. Where he blazes a trail, others follow: Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Céline, Lanvin, Marni and Roksanda are all in the ’hood. On the surrounding streets there’s been a Mount Street effect, too: the Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite designer Jenny Packham is on Carlos Place, while Balmain and Erdem have opened on South Audley Street. This is such a pretty part of town it’s worth a window-shopping trip (fashionistas do great decorations), even if you can’t afford to buy.

Those who can and are feeding someone’s shoe habit can’t miss the red-carpeted Christian Louboutin, thanks to the giant metal-spiked presents in the window. Nicholas Kirkwood houses his architectural creations in a curvaceous, gallery-like space: look out for collaborations with Peter Pilotto and Erdem. At Christopher Kane, a whole wall is devoted to his new range of trainers.

For advanced fashion fans, the newly opened Simone Rocha is a must-visit. The daughter of John, and darling of London Fashion Week, her designs are fresh, fun and feminine (with the right amount of weird).

Accessories are easier to buy than clothing as gifts (no awkward size navigation), so try Linda Farrow for cool eyewear. This year, the store’s charitable festive gift is Julian, a gilded teddy bear money-box, raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Beyond fashion, Mount Street satisfies three other premium gift areas — food, stationery and cigars. The picturesque Mount Street Deli has the ultimate hamper (from £100, including Scott’s truffles, panettone and sloe gin). The 50-year-old Sautter Cigars prides itself on its walk-in humidor. The family-run Mount Street Printers is a retro joy. With printing done on site, this is the place to get your personalised stationery. Pit stop The Connaught to see the Damien Hirst-designed Christmas tree adorned with syringes and medicinal accoutrement. Well, it’s the party season Must-buy Mount Street Printers leather notebook with foil-stamped initials, from £45; Christopher Kane lace-print leather sneakers, £325; Simone Rocha faux pearlembellished mohair-blend sweater, £440 Christian Louboutin, 17, Mon-Sat 10-6.30, Sun 12-6; eu.christianlouboutin.com Christopher Kane, 6-7, Mon-Sat 10-6.30, closed Sun; christopherkane.com The Connaught, Carlos Place, W1; the-connaught.co.uk Linda Farrow, 91, Mon-Wed, Fri 10.30-7, Thurs 10.30-7.30, Sun 12-5; lindafarrow.com Marc Jacobs, 24-25, Mon-Sat 11-7, Sun 12-6pm; marcjacobs.com Mount Street Deli, 100, Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 9-5; mountstreetdeli.co.uk Mount Street Printers, 4, Mon-Fri 9-6; mountstreetprinters.com Nicholas Kirkwood, 5, Mon-Sat 11-7, Sun 1-5pm; nicholaskirkwood.com Sautter Cigars, 106, Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5; sauttercigars.com Simone Rocha, 93, Mon-Sat 10-6.30, Sun 12-6pm; simonerocha.com