A (Very) Last Minute Gift Guide

A (Very) Last Minute Gift Guide

Ok seriously, who else is freaking out that Christmas is only six days away? We’ve been so busy in the office chatting away about how much we love popping out on our lunch breaks to grab another sticky toffee latte and seeing London’s lights in all their glory before racing back to our desks to cram in as much work as possible before 2015 arrives that we’d almost forgotten about actual Christmas day. So much time has been spent poring over sparkling gift sets in mesmerising window displays and pouring another glass of mulled wine (go on, it’s Christmas!) that we forgot that at some point we’d actually have to buy the aforementioned gift sets to put under the tree. (That might be the mulled wine’s doing).

Luckily, we’ve got our act together just in time to make sure that come Thursday a calm Christmas scene will play out; all our loved ones will open perfect gifts, joyful smiles appearing as the dulcet tones of carollers float in from outside. All will be oblivious to the last minute panic that had so recently taken place.

For the women in your life

As has already been made abundantly clear, we ambitious, busy women often end up with very little time to ourselves and very little time to plan ahead for events like Christmas and New Year. So, with that in mind why not help a sister out by preparing the most important women in your life for their New Years party. Arm your best friend / cousin / mum with Moroccan Oil hair products, a Luxe make up gift set, Carven perfume and a sparkling bag (like this festive one from HEMA) to put it all in just before she makes her grand entrance in glittering earrings by Maha Lozi. Trust us, they’ll be so grateful that their accessories, hair and make up have already been taken care of by such a kind-hearted person when they’re slaving over canapés and wrestling with stubborn champagne corks.

1. Carven perfume bottle, £72, 2. Liquid anti-ageing food supplement from Gold Collagen, PURE GOLD COLLAGEN, £35.99, 3. Emu Slippers in pink, £60, 4. Eden handbag from Champman Bags, £149, 5. Earrings by Maha Lozi, 6. Sunglasses from Kirk Originals, £255,  7. Pyjama set ‘Catnap’ YAWN Pyjamas, £95, 8. Skincare set by MIMI, £22, 9. Tank and flannel shorts in navy from Jockey, 10. 3 step kit from Margaret Dabbs, £67, 11. Moroccanoil Hydrating Mini Kit, available at www.feelunique.com, £21, 12. Luxe Make Up Kit from www.glo-minerals.com 13. Faux fur rectangular cushion by Helen Moore, £55, 14. Hebbe boots by Chie Mihara, £242 pounds, 15. HEMA make up bag in silver, £4.50.

For the men in your life

The men in your life need not ever know how far to the back of your mind they had slipped recently. (What? We had important things like perfecting festive nail art to do, alright?) Unwrapping any of our handpicked presents they’ll think they’re so perfect that you’d been thinking about it for months. For example, back in September when your younger brother ripped his PJ bottoms thinking sliding down the bannister was a good idea? You made a mental note and knew he’d be in the market for a new pair from Jockey. Dad’s spent all year fretting that the iPad he got last Christmas might get scratched, which is exactly why this year you’ve bought him an iPad case from HEMA to keep it safe. Despite how much you absolutely love it when boyfriend plays his music loud downstairs while you’re trying to sleep, a gentle reminder to keep the noise down in the form of a fancy pair of headphones won’t hurt. And for the uncle the family barely ever sees because he’s always escaping to the cinema, you’ve thoughtfully bought him a cinema ticket doormat for when he does return home. You see, no one’s the wiser.

1. Flannel long pant in black red check & short trunk from Jockey, 2. The STORM Black Trigma, £169.99, 3. Rolling Stones: XL Edition coffee table book, £97, 4. Cinema Ticket Doormat, £22.99, 5. Mens Cashmere Classic Glove, Johnstons of Elgin, £29.95, 6. Luxe knit sweater in navy blue from Penguin, £80, 7. Nutcracker By Carl Aubock, available at 1stdibs.com, £291, 8. Dickies Two Tone Parka Jacket (www.dickiesstore.co.uk), £62.50, 9. HEMA iPad case, available at www.hemashop.com, 10. Falling Bookend from www.thegiftoasis.com, £15.49, 11. HEMA Headphones, £17, 12. Dickies Crawford Safety Boots, £65, 13. Ribbed Knot Cufflinks in rose gold by Tateossian London, £105, 14. Marc Newson. Works, available at 1stdibs.com, £647, 15. Weekend Offender Coin Holder (available in Dark Brown, Tan and Light Tan), £16.  

Anouszka Tate

Anouszka is a print journalist and radio & TV presenter with a penchant for sarcasm and tongue in cheek wit. Most importantly she’s YCB’s Features Editor. When she's not busy being all career driven she'll be baking, working out or making lists. Sometimes she wishes she had been born a decade earlier, and male, so that she could have been in a 90s boy band. Follow her on twitter and instagram @anouszkatate for vital updates on the above things summarised in 140 characters / in photo form.

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