Our edit strikes a balance between function, comfort and design intelligence. True to Wallpaper*’s sensibility, it gathers the sharpest designs in tech and lifestyle. The categories may be familiar, but each pick brings a fresh, forward twist on the pieces we reach for time and again.

For more design-driven gifting ideas and aesthetically attuned stocking fillers, explore our other seasonal gift guides.

The Wallpaper* travel gift guide 2025

Analogue in-flight entertainment

Five-star treatment

A chic name-drop

Escape artist

Pleat elite

An order keeper

Mile-high comforter

Free roaming

Lights out

A mood mixer

A reset wash

A flight-mode facial

A pocketable friend

A power move

Do not disturb

For this consummate sartorialist, ordinary won’t cut it. Style, to them, is an extension of design – they think in form and material rather than trends or logos. Our fashion gift guide curates objects that speak their language: pieces defined by structure, innovation and craftsmanship. The look is clean, the lines considered, and the luxury understated. These are gifts for those who see fashion not as dressing up, but as design made wearable.

For design-led gifts and aesthetically-inclined stocking fillers, take a look at our other gift guides.

Wallpaper's fashion gift guide: curated pieces for design-minded dressers

Fashion gifts for women

Fashion gifts for men

Here, we present Wallpaper’s gift guide for the design-minded individual: a considered edit of beautiful objects that marry form and function with effortless ease. Skip the chaos of tinsel-clad shop floors and instead scroll serenely through our curation, a selection guaranteed to charm even the most discerning (or humbug) recipient.

After a little something? Browse our perfect stocking fillers.

The Wallpaper* gift guide for design lovers

For the aesthete in your life, these small-but-significant objects will strike exactly the right note. From timeless design classics and quietly brilliant tech to light-hearted, whimsical finds, each selection embodies the art of considered gifting.

Read on to discover small but mighty treasures – and curate the chicest stocking of the season. And, if you are in the market for something more substantial, check out our design-led and fashion-lover gift guides.

If Wallpaper* did stocking fillers...

Last year, Wallpaper* went on a global gift-shopping spree for the R Finds store. Working as browsers and buyers on behalf of Renaissance Hotels’ new digital marketplace, we were on the hunt for stuff that we hadn’t seen before and couldn’t get at home: local crafts, quality mementoes, garments, accessories and edible delights, made by people for their regular, neighbourhood customers… and now the rest of the world.

Embracing the art of discovery, our selection was guided by R Finds’ desire to recognise and empower creative economies and elevate the stories of small businesses around the globe; to connect travellers with the vibrant spirit of local communities in the wider world, one gift at a time

Our travels took us to Paris and New York, Chicago, Honolulu and beyond. Clued up on advice from Renaissance Hotels’ front-of-house Navigators in each city, we maxed out our cards and filled our totes – with vintage vinyl records, wooden toys, posters, bow ties, wristwatches and head gear. Now we’re going back for more.

Come global shopping with R Finds

Poster from Chicago Vintage Posters, Chicago

Wallace feather bow tie, from Brackish, Charleston

Guava chocolate from Manoa Chocolate, Hawaii

Architecture book, from CAC Design Store, Chicago

Tote bag, from J Stark, Charleston

Vase from Moustache, Paris

Watch, from Oak & Oscar, Chicago

Wide-brim hat, from Flamekeepers Hat Club, Harlem

Continue shopping at r-finds.com

From the sculptural ‘Spot’ vibrator by Maude (a tool currently on display in the Louvre Museum as part of the exhibition ‘Private Lives: From the Bedroom to Social Media’) to Nécessaire’s hyaluronic acid-based ‘The Sex Gel’, contained in the brand’s signature minimalist packaging, this list suggests objects, products and more that look just as good as they feel.

Sexual wellness gifts designed for the bedside table

A museum-worthy toy by Maude

It’s no secret that Maude is creating museum-worthy toys (the brand sponsored the current Louvre exhibition, ‘Private Lives: From the Bedroom to Social Media’ and has its design-led tools on display there), so you’d be forgiven for mistaking the five-speed ‘Spot’ vibrator for an objet d’art. Brâncuși-inspired, and with a sleek finish and choice of two colourways, the ‘Spot’ makes the ideal gift for the design connoisseur unwilling to sacrifice aesthetic pleasure for physical pleasure.

Maude ‘Spot’ vibrator, $79 / £64, getmaude.com

A ‘breathless’ body oil by Aesop

A visit to the Aesop store is always guaranteed to bring a hit of inspiration, making it a vital stop on any festive shopping trip. The brand’s ‘Breathless’ body oil (named after the 1960 film by Jean-Luc Godard) is just the thing to massage away all the tensions from another year gone by. A heady blend of essential oil extracts including blood orange, jojoba and laurel leaf, the all-natural ingredients list offers a multi-sensory experience, whether used as part of an everyday body-care regime or for sharing with someone special.

Aesop ‘Breathless’ body oil, £30, aesop.com

A feat of engineering by Lelo

Lelo is a Cannes Lions award-winning brand at the forefront of sexual wellness tech. The Lelo ‘Dot’ vibrator is an innovative feat of engineering, with a high-precision tip and signature elliptical movement that is lightyears ahead of the run-of-the-mill bullet design. Available in a spectrum of pastel shades, complemented by metallic detailing and a satin-finish storage pouch.

Lelo ‘Dot’ vibrator, £159, lelo.com

A nightstand must-have by Nécessaire

‘The Sex Gel’ water-based lubricant is part of a curated edit of body care from climate-conscious beauty brand Nécessaire. Containing familiar skincare actives like hyaluronic acid, this product is pH-optimised and completely fragrance-free for intimate skin-friendly results and guaranteed good clean fun. Plus, its luxuriously minimal packaging makes it a nightstand must-have.

Nécessaire ‘The Sex Gel’ lubricant, $28, necessaire.com

A latex-inspired lubricant by Atsuko Kudo

The visionary Japanese-born, London-based designer Atsuko Kudo has been creating latex clothing and accessories since 2001. Her eponymous brand’s latest launch, ‘Dressing for Pleasure’, is a double-duty product, designed as a slick lacquer for rubber-wear and an intimate lubricant. The silicone-based formula is presented in a discreet gloss-black bottle, complemented by a precision ‘Tongari’ (meaning ‘sharp-pointed’ in Japanese) tip, so you never waste a drop.

Atsuko Kudo ‘Dressing for Pleasure’ latex lubricant, £12, atsukokudo.com

A scented mood setter by Oskia

Oskia’s ‘Rose de Mai’ massage luxury candle emits a warm light and the fragrance of may rose. After it melts, the lightweight oil can be used on both the face and body, moisturising the skin with coconut beeswax and soya. Replete with a spout for easy pouring, the candle’s low melting point means that things get heated without the risk of being burnt (which, when it comes to love, is a gift in itself). Just don’t forget to trim the wick.

Oskia ‘Rose de Mai’ massage candle, £55, oskiaskincare.com

Here, however, you will find unique pieces for the home, including a mid-century silver ashtray in the shape of a lily, sourced by London-based interior designer Hollie Bowden. Plus, an archival poster for Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut – a film which captures the oh-so-festive feeling of turning up alone to a fancy dress party.

There’s also a pair of kitten-heeled ‘Campo’ loafers by Loewe – a style universally beloved by the Wallpaper* team – and iridescent, bottle-green eye-make up from Victoria Beckham Beauty, which I plan to wear whilst sipping Champagne on New Year’s Eve.

Wallpaper* beauty editor Hannah Tindle’s gift guide

A Hollie Bowden ashtray

Hollie Bowden is a London-based interior designer who also sources unique objects for the home. This silver ashtray in the shape of a lily was created c.1950-1960, with cocktail parties in mind. Each of the six petals can be removed individually, becoming vessels for cigarette ash. Disclaimer: I do not encourage nicotine consumption. But this would make for a decorative item or a handy receptacle for burning incense. (I also have my eye on this Tiger's Eye blanket from Bowden’s recent collaboration with artist Cesca Dvorak).

Hollie Bowden Silver Petal Ashtray, £500; Hollie Bowden x Cesca Dvorak Tiger's Eye Blanket, £350.

shop.holliebowden.com

A Dr Karen Doherty gift card

Dr Karen Doherty is an aesthetic medicine practitioner taking a ‘less is more’ approach to injectables and non-invasive procedures. Her clinic, located in North London’s Stoke Newington, offers a wealth of different procedures, including NeoGen plasma and polynucleotides. And, the clinic now also offers gift cards to put towards any treatment of your choice.

More information on Dr Karen Doherty gift cards can be found on the clinic's website.

drkarendoherty.com

A La Bonne Brosse hairbrush

A contemporary rival to the storied grooming brand Mason Pearson, Parisian label La Bonne Brosse creates design-led hairbrushes in a spectrum of colours, built to last a lifetime. Each is tailored to specific hair types and concerns, whether it’s loss, dryness or scalp-stimulation. (Taking a diagnostic quiz on the La Bonne Brosse website will guide you towards the right brush according to your needs).

La Bonne Brosse, N.02 The Care & Detangling Hair Brush, £138.

labonnebrosse.co.uk

A pair of Loewe loafers

Wallpaper’s style team are huge fans of the ‘Campo’ Loafer by Loewe. Fashion & creative director Jason Hughes has a pair in tan suede and fashion features editor Jack Moss is coveting a boat shoe iteration, included here in his gift guide. I would very much like the kitten-heeled version, which is available in leather or brushed suede.

Loewe 'Campo' loafer, price between £875-£925.

loewe.com

An Eyes Wide Shut poster from Posteritati

Posteritati has been sourcing archival film posters since 1995. (Though located in New York, it ships worldwide). It was difficult to make a selection from the selection on its website. But a French language poster for Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut — a film set in December that captures the festive feeling of turning up alone to a fancy dress party and making small talk with strangers — seemed like a fitting choice.

Posteritati, Eyes Wide Shut poster, $175.

posteritati.com

A Victoria Beckham eyeliner

I’ve been meaning to try the shimmer and jewel textures of Victoria Beckham Beauty’s ‘Satin Kajal Liner’ for some time now. And what better time than when party season kicks into full gear? The colours ‘Olive’ and ‘Sequin Green’ happen to coordinate perfectly with a bottle of champagne. I plan on using them with ‘Vast Lash’ mascara to create smudgy, smoky eye make-up for New Year’s Eve. (For something even punchier, the brand has also just launched an ‘Emerald’ shade of its ‘Lid Lustre’).

Victoria Beckham Beauty ‘Satin Kajal Liner’, £32.

victoriabeckhambeauty.com

A Celine cosmetic pouch

And the perfect place to keep said eyeliners is this cosmetic pouch from Celine. Crafted in leather and printed with the house’s ‘Triomphe’ monogram, it’s also the ideal size to fit in the rest of my ‘on the go’ make-up collection, such as Nars’ ‘Radiant Creamy Concealer’ and Chanel’s ‘Baume Essentiel’ – two products that, at the risk of sounding dramatic, I can’t live without,

Celine small cosmetic pouch in ‘Triomphe’ canvas and leather, £270.

celine.com

A gift wrapped by Colford

For all your gift-wrapping needs, Colford has you covered. Founded by Nathan Cole and Imogen Beresford, the sustainable, design-led company was featured in the December 2024 issue of Wallpaper*. services businesses and individuals – and worked with the likes of Hermès, Stella McCartney, Cartier and Johnston’s of Elgin.

Colford bespoke wrapping services, price on request.

colford.co.uk

A charitable donation

A donation to a charitable organisation is a meaningful way to give back during this time of the year. The Hair and Beauty Charity has been running for 150 years, providing a safety net for hair and beauty professionals and their families through financial hardships. Any unwanted hygiene and self-care products can also be donated to the Hygiene Bank, a grassroots charity which tackling hygiene poverty.

Head to the links below to find out more.

hairandbeautycharity.org

thehygienebank.com

Wallpaper* gift guide: global design director Hugo Macdonald's picks

Poltrona Frau dog leads

It can be hard to show our beloved pets quite how much they mean to us, but giving your pooch a Poltrona Frau dog leash for Christmas will send all the right messages. You can build your own lead to suit your (and your dog’s) preferences. Available in Pelle Frau leather or reinforced jacquard woven ribbon, with galvanized brass hardware and a ring for a treat holder, this is the last word in canine luxury.

The Poltrona Frau Dog Leash is available at poltronafrau.com. Price available upon request.

Les Couleurs Suisse AG by Tekla

This range of beautiful Tekla blankets piqued our interest for their peculiarly familiar colour palette, which is derived from the preferred hues used by Le Corbusier in his work. The perfect present to soften-up any die-hard modernist, the blankets come in either cashmere and lambswool or lambswool, both woven in Scotland, or in mohair, woven in Spain. We feel Le Corb would definitely approve.

Tekla Mohair blanket is $940 and available at teklafabrics.com

Kalvolan Kanto vases by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala

Originally designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1947, Iittala’s creative director Janni Vepsalainen has reintroduced the Kalvolan Kanto vases in all their molten glassy glory. Eminently tactile, perhaps even lickable, they come in clear, sultry dark grey or a brand new zesty Seville orange, which would be our preference for a bit of yuletide pep.

The Kalvolan Kanto vases by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala are £600 and available at iittala.com

Undesigning the Bath by Leonard Koren

A bona fide seminal text for anyone interested in design, Leonard Koren’s Undesigning the Bath makes the case that bathing is never improved by design, leaving the reader to ponder whether design only distances us from our primal, animal experience in life at large. Long out of print, our friends at Blunk Books have brought it back into existence. We could not be more thrilled.

Undesigning The Bath by Leonard Koren is $26 and available at blunkshop.com

Sutherland Sentinels by Oliver Spendley for Bard

Call me biased - because they were made by Sutherland-based Oliver Spendley for Bard, our gallery in Edinburgh - but I would be very happy to wake up on Christmas morning with a Sutherland Sentinel candle holder under the tree. It would come straight upstairs to sit beside the bath, because bathing (as you’ll read in Leonard Koren’s book) really is a transcendental experience. Oliver was last month awarded Best Sculptural Object in the Wood Awards; his Lewisian Gneiss rocks with their brass inserts, perched on charred larch bases, demonstrate why.

The Oliver Spendley Tall Candle Holder is £1,920.00 and available at bard-scotland.com

Samu candle snuffer by Juli and Mika Tolvanen for Nedre Foss

A candle snuffer is a very good present, and this charming cast brass one has the added boon of being a beautiful object in its own right. Designed by American and Finnish duo, Juli and Mika Tolvanen, your friends will thank you for no more singed fingertips at the end of the night.

Samu candle snuffer by Juli and Mika Tolvanen for Nedre Foss is $84.80 and available at finnishdesignshop.com

Magazine rack by Carl Aubock

Whenever stuck for present inspiration, Carl Aubock Werkstatte is a very good place to start. For well over a century, the Viennese dynasty of Aubocks have been casting curios in brass, and using wood, cane and leather to turn quotidian objects into works of wonder. This wall-mounted wicker magazine rack brings a fun and literal opportunity for someone to display their Wallpapers on the wall.

Magazine rack by Carl Aubock is £2,800 and available at sigmarlondon.com

Sarabande artist posters

The veritable gift that keeps on giving, Sarabande is the wonderful foundation set-up by Lee McQueen in 2006 to nurture future generations of creative talent. Sarabande has since incubated and birthed an incredible range of artists, craftspeople and designers into the world. For Christmas, their online House of Bandit’s gallery has launched a series of beautiful A2 posters by four Sarabande artists: George Richardson, Hamed Maiye, James Tailor and Kasia Wozniak for a mere £30 each, with all proceeds directly feeding back into the foundation.

Sarabande Exclusive Poster X George Richardson. Regular price £30.00 and available at sarabandefoundation.org

Of The Gods eau de parfum by To My Ships

One of our most favourite discoveries of the year, To My Ships has been keeping armpits and bodies fragrant with their deodorants and body wash since their launch in September. With 99.97% naturally derived ingredients and packaging designed by Formafantasma, the brand’s design credentials are outstanding. It’s the fragrance, however, with which we are smitten. Green citrus notes of Polygonum, Petitgrain and Patchouli have us stopped almost hourly and asked where it’s from. The perfect present for someone with a fine nose, who enjoys having their neck sniffed.

Of The Gods eau de parfum by To My Ships is £170 and available at tomyships.com

D.847.1 desk by Gio Ponti for Molteni

On a recent trip to Molteni’s headquarters in Giussano, we were reintroduced to the wonder that is Gio Pionti’s writing desk, which Molteni reintroduced 70 years after its original launch in collaboration with the Ponti archives. It is slim, but just right - made from honey-stained ash with brass feet - with jaunty winged ends and a small drawer. Graceful and elegant for that rakish, bookish love in your life.

D.847.1 desk by Gio Ponti for Molteni is available at molteni.it. Price available upon request.

Grau Fire lamp

Designed and manufactured by our friends at the GRAU campus in Germany, the mobile Fire light has an aluminium body and a hand blown glass head. We’ve been smitten by the soothing qualities of the dimmable, programmable orb, gently glowing on our desk and bedside. With 50 hours of battery life after just two hours of charging, you can take your Fire with you wherever you go.

Grau Fire lamp is £348 and available at grau.art

It is this sense of culture and tradition that Bottega Veneta – no doubt the most well-known ‘bottega’ in the world – hopes to evoke with ‘Bottega for Bottegas’, a project that now takes place annually and sees the Italian fashion house draft local artisans, from both Italy and beyond, to create a series of special items which arrive just in time for the festive season. Think of it as a unique, ready-made gift list for even the fussiest of loved ones; last year, products came from a round-the-world odyssey, spanning Italy, Taiwan, China and South Korea.

This year, Bottega Veneta is staying closer to home, seeking out six artisans from in and around Venice to contribute to the curation (the house was founded in 1966 in Vicenza, Italy, just outside of Venice). The edit is evocative of a curiosity shop or wunderkammer, spanning a wooden puzzle of a traditional Venetian home or palazzo by Signor Blum, a carpentry workshop that creates children’s toys and sculptures inspired by its home city, playing cards encased in a leather sheath by Modiano, a printer known for its luxurious card games, and a metal winged lion and gondola prow by traditional foundry Fonderia Artistica Valese.

Elsewhere is a striped glass vase by Laguna~B in local Murano glass, a Murano-glass starfish by Bruno Amadi, and a colourful tabletop glass sculpture by Robert Beltrami of Wave Murano Glass, which is currently the youngest factory on the island of Murano.

Led by the house’s creative director Matthieu Blazy, the Bottega for Bottegas project – which will also take over international billboards this Christmas – encapsulates the designer’s desire to elevate Bottega Veneta with traditional craft (albeit in playful, offbeat fashion, like a recent reproduction of a Richard Scarry children’s book in the house’s woven ‘intrecciato’ leather). ‘Craft is not a trend. Neither is it something that has to be improved. It is a timeless technology,’ Blazy has previously said. ‘The irregularities of handwork make each Bottega Veneta design unique. This for me is true luxury.’

Discover Bottega for Bottegas at bottegaveneta.com and the house’s stores.

bottegaveneta.com

Iconic Transit Maps: The World's Best Designs

A book for fans of mass transit and information design, Mark Ovenden’s latest monograph looks at the very best of subway graphics and overland rail diagrams from around the world. Naturally there’s a strong focus on pioneering designs like the London Tube map and NYC’s iconic diagram, as well as lesser-known city-wide systems. The introduction is by designer Erik Spiekermann.

Iconic Transit Maps: The World's Best Designs, Mark Ovenden, Prestel Publishing, £30, PrestelPublishing.PenguinRandomHouse.de, Amazon.co.uk

The Endurance, by Lego

The latest big build from Lego is this impressive model of The Endurance, the ship that took Sir Ernest Shackleton and his team of doughty explorers to the Antarctic in 1914. The real Endurance ended up in an icy grave, but Lego’s 3,000-piece replica is rich in detail and historical accuracy.

The Endurance Set, £229.99, Lego.com

London Underground Map by Traintrackr

Traintrackr build LED maps that tap into the open-source data coming out of the UK rail network. This creates a pleasing synthesis of art and function that hums away showing live updates across the tracks, handy if you’re checking which lines are up or down, or if you simply like the idea of watching the world spin away from the comfort of your desk.

London Underground Map, Traintrackr, £249 (large), Traintrackr.com

Ventete aH-1 Bike Helmet

Swiss start-up Ventete thinks it has solved the problem of bulky bike helmets. The company’s new aH-1 helmet is inflatable, which a strong pneumatic structural system that can be inflated with the included electric pump (which doubles as a tyre pump) in around 30 seconds. When you’ve parked up, the ribbed structure can be deflated down to 90% of its original size and popped in a pocket or back-back.

Ventente aH-1 Bike Helmet, £350, Ventete.com

CLIP E-bike Convertor

Billed as the ‘world’s first and only no-tools e-bike conversion kit’, the Brooklyn-based CLIP is a removable lithium-ion-powered motor unit that clips over the front wheel of a wide variety of standard bikes (not if you have front suspension forks, though). It installs in seconds to add an instant torque boost thanks to the 450W motor and adds 10km of electric range. Simply remove to charge, and even swap it over to another bike.

CLIP, from £450, Clip.Bike

Mars. Photographs from the NASA Archives

Ok, so it’s not exactly a travel book, nor are the transportation systems described open to anyone except robots, but this is probably the best (and only) way to get a good look at the red planet for the foreseeable future. Produced with typical Taschen aplomb, Mars is an out of this world atlas for true armchair travel.

Mars. Photographs from the NASA Archives, £50, Taschen.com

Schuco x Arsham Studio Porsche 911 Turbo

Schuco has created this limited edition 1:12 model of the Daniel Arsham Porsche 911 Turbo (930A), complete with custom Arsham Studio packaging. Finished with Schuco’s trademark attention to detail, it’s an art car in miniature that replicates the livery and graphics of the original with perfect fidelity.

Schuco x Arsham Studio Porsche 911 Turbo, €930, DanielArsham.Schuco.de

Lemmo One E+ Bike Engineer's Edition

Limited to just 200 units, the Engineer's Edition of the Lemmo One E+ Bike stands out from the crowded racks of rugged e-bikes with its forged aluminium, weld-free frame. This limited edition comes with a special hand-brushed metal finish, ‘Stealth Suspension Seat System’, phone holder, and up to 100km of range.

Lemmo One E+ Bike Engineer's Edition, €2,999, LemmoFuture.com

Browsing, sampling and shopping away from home, on vacation or during down time on a business trip – is one of life’s simple pleasures. Finding yourself in a different and exciting environment, wandering local neighbourhoods, markets and back streets – it’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in a destination. There are new experiences in smell, taste, sound, materials and aesthetics.

Hitting the streets is how you see what the locals are wearing, eating and listening to, find out who’s designing it and where it’s sold. Connections are made with craftspeople, designers and artisans, brewers, bakers and makers. More than just stuff to buy, what you take home are the memories you’ve made during the experience.

Born out of serendipity, this new-territory browsing and impulse-buying, for actual, tangible stuff, in bricks-and-mortar stores and IRL markets, is free of algorithms and digitally generated guidance. Your globetrotter hardwiring knows that shopping is best kept local. So, go find those guayaberas in Mexico and Breton tops in France. Discover those small leather goods in Italy and ceramics in Scandinavia. Taste the heat of hot sauce in New Orleans or seek out dapper style in Harlem.

And yet, preparation and guidance for this kind of adventure is vital. It helps to have personal-shopping assistance from a plugged-in professional with local knowledge: enter the Renaissance Navigator.

Positioned at every Renaissance hotel – 175-plus properties around the globe – these guides tell you about stuff the guidebooks haven’t got hip to yet. Always searching for the most intriguing, new, and imaginative experiences the neighbourhood has to offer, connecting with local experiences, the Renaissance Navigator will tell you where to find the best bar for craft beer, mix with locals at a street food market, or simply kick back and see some live local music.

Now, Renaissance Hotels has launched an online store to connect these neighbourhoods to your fingertips, wherever you are. Whether you’re planning your next adventure, or simply didn’t have enough room in your suitcase on the last, R Finds by Renaissance Hotels connects you to the most intriguing neighbourhood finds – all in one place.

Guided by the expertise of its Navigators, input from a team of editors, curators and discerning influencers, the enthusiasm of retailers and the talents of designers and makers, R Finds is a different way to gift. It’s the world in your tote bag, a shop of memories and moments delivered across continents and countries.

Holiday shopping with R Finds

So, with the season of gifting on the horizon, here are our picks from the world’s largest digital hotel gift shop.

Baseball jacket from Black N Ugly in Harlem

New York knows how to stay stylish and toasty when the weather gets chilly. For insulation and sophistication, R Finds recommends this wool baseball jacket from Harlem’s Black N Ugly store. The ‘It’s Everything You Think It’s Not’ wool bomber is heavily embroidered on both front and back. And yes, as Renaissance’s Harlem Navigator confirms, the Black N Ugly brand name is a lyrical reference to the Biggie Smalls classic ‘One More Chance’.

‘It's Everything You Think It's Not Wool Jacket’, $195, from r-finds.com

Bow-tie from Brackish in Charleston

As the winter social season revs up, a playful, conversation-starting accessory can help get the party started. Enter the ‘Original’ turkey feather bow-tie by Charleston, South Carolina atelier Brackish. Centre-wrapped in black grosgrain and interwoven with colourful feathers, the ‘Original’ features varying shades of black, olive, and subtle hints of copper, the iridescence of the feathers promoting different shades as the light hits them. The feathers used are natural, sustainably sourced and hand-selected, giving each finished piece unique colouring. Each Brackish bow-tie takes five hours to handcraft. Formal but fun.

‘Original’ bow-tie, $225, from r-finds.com

Woven bag from Here in Honolulu

Supporting independent labels from around the world since 2017, Honolulu’s Here boutique is a women-owned and sustainable business supporting independent, small-batch production. Locally based artist and designer Ameila Samari’s mini handbag is simple, eye-catching, and handmade in Hawaii in durable nylon rope and polyester thread.

Amelia Samari ‘Le Mini’ bag, $122, from r-finds.com

Roller skates, from Fresa’s Skate Shop in Las Vegas

The Latina-owned Fresa’s Skate Shop in Las Vegas’ arts district is a roller sports landmark. To keep our friends and family fit during the colder months, we’re gifting pairs of the Moxi skates – in happy rainbow colours and Xanadu styles. If you happen to be in Nevada, the store also offers lessons. ‘

Moxi Beach Bunnies roller skates, $175, from r-finds.com

Hot sauce from Hot Delight, Aruba

To add a bit of spice to our winter cuisine we asked an Aruba local to suggest a hot sauce. The Navigator at Wind Creek at Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, on the Caribbean island, nominated Hot Delight’s Madame, the local brand’s ‘hottest sauce yet’. Made from a blend of Habaneros and Aruban Madame Jeanette hot peppers, this sweetly heated and highly addictive condiment is a kitchen staple in restaurants and households all over the island. Thanks to the R-Finds store, it’s now available at your kitchen table too.

Hot Delight Madame sauce, $7, from r-finds.com

Here, in our own annual tradition, the Wallpaper* style team has selected a line-up of Christmas baubles from fashion’s best-known names, providing the perfect festive adornment for the fashion fan this holiday season. From Bottega Veneta’s surreal, undulating ornaments to Loewe’s fantastical collaboration with Suna Fujita, or some truly luxurious cashmere pom-poms from Loro Piana, they will accessorise your tree in style.

Christmas baubles for style fans

Bottega Veneta

Matthieu Blazy’s gourd-like tree ornaments are satisfyingly surreal – all the more so in this vivid banana-yellow and black colourway (an alternative to the usual green and red Christmas fayre). Crafted using a traditional Polish technique, the glass ornament’s undulating texture is inspired by the Italian house’s ‘intrecciato’ woven leather.

Available from: bottegaveneta.com, £140 for two.

Loewe x Suna Fujita

‘Childhood dreamscapes’ inspire a new collection of clothing, accessories and trinkets from Loewe in collaboration with whimsical Japanese ceramicist Suna Fujita released in time for festive gifting. Alongside, a menagerie of animals to decorate your Christmas tree – like this colourful dotted octopus with Loewe-branded ribbon tie.

Available from: mytheresa.com, £75 for one.

Celine

An elegant line-up of the house’s motifs – from the ‘Triomphe’ logo to a perfume bottle and handbag – make up this selection of gilded baubles from Celine. In an expression of Parisian savoir-faire, each one is handpainted by Celine artisans, and come encased in a gift-worthy white Celine box.

Available from: celine.com, £270 for three.

Prada

These sleek Prada baubles take their geometric designs from the flooring of Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where the Italian house’s first-ever store was opened in 1913 by Mario and Martino Prada (back then, it was called ‘Fratelli Prada’ – 'Prada Brothers' – and sold luggage). Available in red and white or black and white, each set of four is hand-crafted from glass and stamped with the Prada logo.

Available from: prada.com, £380 for four.

Hermès

This sweet leather charm, depicting a horse in flight, was crafted using the near-unparalleled expertise of the Hermès artisans (in particular, those who usually make the house’s leather gloves). And, while a fittingly festive adornment for the tree, it doubles as a bag charm for a sprinkle of year-round magic.

Available from: hermes.com, £660 for one.

Saint Laurent

Part of the house’s Rive Gauche line – a collection of Saint Laurent-branded ephemera, from travel mugs to ski helmets – this heart-shaped decoration is crafted from silver-coloured metal and engraved with ‘Saint Laurent’. The heart motif was a particular favourite of house founder Yves Saint Laurent, whose ‘coeur fétiche’ (‘heart luck charm’) necklace – created by jewellery Roger Scemama – would appear in almost every runway show from the early 1960s to his retirement in 2002.

Available from: saintlaurent.com, £130 for one.

Gucci

Add a touch of Italian glamour to your tree with this set of Gucci baubles, made from traditional mouth-blown Murano glass and completed with the house’s signature webbing-stripe ribbon. They are part of a luxurious line-up of gifts designed by creative director Sabato De Sarno, spanning fantastical luggage sets, animal-shaped bag charms and a pair of shimmering crystal-adorned pumps.

Available from: gucci.com, £485 for two.

Loro Piana

We first glimpsed these ultra-chic baubles at Loro Piana’s festive takeover of Harrods, which opened last month with a series of transporting displays along the department store’s Brompton Road facade. Crafted from the house’s signature cashmere in a series of warm, natural hues, they will add a textural flourish to any Christmas tree.

Available from: loropiana.com, £1080 for six.

Wallpaper* gift guide: Art, culture, watches & jewellery editor Hannah Silver’s picks

A cheeky cushion

If you’re stuck for gift inspiration, I implore you to check out House of Voltaire, which has an arty and eclectic curation of homeware, clothing and accessories. I love this cheeky velvet cushion cover from the recent Beryl Cook x Tom of Finland exhibition.

£125; houseofvoltaire.org

A statement ring

Dover Street Market is always a good stop on the hunt for cool and unexpected jewellery designs you haven’t already seen everywhere. This Seb Brown diamond ring is a cheeky twist on a classic.

£5,315; doverstreetmarket.com

Stylish hand luggage

A great hand luggage case can take away a bit of the mundanity of flight delays and queue fatigue. The pops of colour on this classic Globe-Trotter carry-on will cheer up the frequent traveller.

£2,195; globe-trotter.com

A beautiful book

Books are my one true love (check out some favourites) and I’m a sucker for a special edition. I have my eye on this beautiful documentation of Sophie Calle’s time spent undercover as a chambermaid, complete with carefully reproduced, previously unseen photography.

$40; sigliopress.com

Statement knitwear

Anything from Hades (recently included in our best knitwear round-up) will delight. Knitwear with a sense of humour, I’m lusting after this playful Narcissus cardigan.

£280; hades-shop.co.uk

Classic jewellery - with a twist

Minimalist jewellery is forever wearable, but the unexpected placement of Charlotte Chesnais’ Surma ring lends it an offbeat charm, making it anything but boring.

£510; charlottechesnais.com

A sentimental collection of letters

I’m such a fan of John Berger, so this collection of letters between him and his son have gone straight on to my wish list.

£20; londonreviewbookshop.co.uk

Comfortable shoes

Comfortable, cool and Loewe – what else do you want from a pair of shoes? (And remember, the slipper is the men's shoe trend of the season)

£650; loewe.com

In 2024 there are more books than ever that offer this mix of practical wisdom and transportive writing, put together by some of the world’s best chefs, food stylists and recipe developers. This year’s offerings include guides that lean into hyper-seasonal cooking, drawing inspiration from nature’s cycles, alongside bold explorations of fusion cuisine that honour heritage while embracing innovation. Whether it’s the meticulously detailed techniques of a master chef or the heartfelt recipes passed down through generations, each book invites you to not just cook but to connect–with the ingredients, the stories, and the joy of creating.

Wallpaper* Gift Guide: editorial executive Tianna Williams’ picks

December is the season of entertaining, for sharing intimate moments across the table and catching up with loved ones. Everyone has a unique hosting style, from laid-back and last-minute preppers, to the tablescapers and menu planners. With a touch of Wallpaper* flair, I hope this gift guide serves useful for all of the above, with gifts including slick playing cards by Absak to a Tanqueray No.TEN and Alessi cocktail making collaboration, which will hopefully provide light entertainment when someone forgets to turn the oven on to cook the turkey.

Miranda Keyes glasses for Jermaine Gallacher

Intriguing glassware is an effortless way to add sophistication to any table setting. While many people reserve their best glassware or china for special occasions, I like to live by the words of Laila Gohar who told Wallpaper*, ‘Your nicest porcelain should be used whenever you can – every day is an occasion’. Now, Miranda Keyes' glasses for Jermain Gallacher are the epitome of elegance, with a swan-like structure and fluid shape, you can’t help but enjoy the craftsmanship and creativity, an artful delight for any drinks connoisseur.

Miranda Keyes 'Knoped' wine glass for Jermaine Gallacher is available at jermainegallacher.com.Price available upon request.

Arne Jacobsen ice bucket and tongs for Stelton

A gift that you’ll reach for over and over again, the Arne Jacobsen ice bucket and tongs are a minimalist marvel. Made from stainless steel the set is a timeless home-bar staple, a perfect accompaniment for any spirit on the rocks.

Arne Jacobsen ice bucket 1 l. for Stelton is EUR 199,00. Available at stelton.comt

Tanqueray No.TEN and Alessi cocktail set

I love a cocktail, but then again, who doesn't? To master a perfect concoction is an amalgamation of art and science, which can be helped with Tanqueray No. TEN and Alessi cocktail gift set. Not only does it come with Tanqueray No. TEN, it also looks beautiful with a copper cocktail shaker accompanied with a stirrer and ‘Quadri Combo Jigger’, for those who appreciate both the precision of mixology and exceptional design.

Tanqueray No.TEN Gin x Alessi Tending Box Mixing Kit is £200 and available at www.thebar.com

Jolene Bakery apron

I firmly believe that just as food is made to be eaten, a kitchen is made to be messy. Even for the tidiest of bread-makers, a robust apron is an ideal gifting option. London’s beloved bakery and restaurant Jolene know how to design an apron with functionality in mind, and its caramel coloured bakery apron is as perfect for in the kitchen as it is pottering around the garden. Made by Blackhorse Lane Ateliers and designed by chefs, this apron is made to withstand whatever is thrown at it.

Jolene Bakery apron in caramel is £75.00 available at Drops are limited and it is recommended to sign up to their newsletter to find out when the next drop is live jolenebakery.com

Zesty lemon squeezers

Quirky and cute, I have had my eyes on these lemon squeezers for a while. A practical yet decorative tabletop accompaniment, they're perfect for adding a little zest to mealtimes.

Lemon Squeezer, Trio by Gohar World is £82.00 available at gohar.world

Abask playing cards

Those who know me know I always carry a deck of playing cards in my bag wherever I go. Abask’s playing cards are an ode to time-honoured tradition. The cards are contained in a slick leather box with suede lining and handmade by Germany’s oldest leather goods manufacturer, F. Hammann. This gift is designed to be a treasured keep-sake.

F. Hammann Leather Playing Cards Set is £158 and available at Abask

Malin and Goetz cannabis perfume oil

The festive season, although ‘merry and bright’, can also serve up moments where your patience could be challenged. From navigating the bustle of Regent’s Street doing last minute shopping, to crafting a dinner which caters to everyone’s dietary needs, it is more than necessary to take a moment to oneself and have a breather. I was recently introduced to Malin + Goetz’s cannabis perfume oil which has a herbaceous and wild scent, with top notes of bergamot and black pepper, middle notes of cannabis accord, muguet and magnolia, layered on a base of cedarwood, patchouli and sandalwood, to allow a moment of grounding and stillness, a quirky supplement for laidback hosting.

Malin + Goetz cannabis perfume oil is £32.00 available at malinandgoetz.co.uk

Barnaby Bars

I have been desperate to try Barnaby Bars chocolate. From the founder of cult bakery Buns from Home, the new Covent Garden chocolate shop opened earlier this year, and offers an elevated take on classic staples. ‘Tip Tap’ offers layers of peanut butter, salted caramel, and a peanut crunch, while ‘Dollar’ is a take on a Millionaire’s shortcake.’Pzazz’ is the latest edition which is filled with pistachio cream and halva blondie. A delicious stocking filler.

Barnaby Bars are available to pre-order for collection, or purchase in stores at Covent Garden, 4 Upper St Martins Lane barnabybars.com

Dinner for two

If you prefer to gift an experience, Belvedere is a decadent choice. The restaurant has a storied history nestled in the heart of Holland Park, with rich Tuscan interiors, it offers an elegant and comforting atmosphere after a leisurely stroll through the park. The Italian menu, crafted by head chef Lello Favuzzi is inspired by his hometown Sassari, and celebrates seasonality with premium produce sourced from villages across Italy, including black winter tomatoes from Sicily, and earthy porcini mushrooms from Umbria. The blueberry and almond tart cannot be missed.

To book a table visit belvedererestaurant.co.uk/

L'Objet Neptune Medium Bowl

With a shellfish inspired silhouette L’Objet’s Neptune bowl will add a coastal touch to any kitchen countertop. It is inspired by beauty found in nature and part of its Atelier collection. It can be used as a vessel for fruit arrangements or a stand alone decorative piece.

Neptune Bowl Medium is £495 and available at L'Objet uk.l-objet.com

Wallpaper* Gift Guide: architecture & environment director Ellie Stathaki’s picks

The list below balances things and experiences, offering a blend where there's hopefully something for everyone - and I would certainly welcome every single thing on it. Whether you are looking for something for your days in or days out, something to eat or to learn, the perfect gift is out there; scroll down for some food for thought.

Gift Guide: ideas for 2024

Ruark Audio x Fred Perry

Ruark Audio have released some fine products in 2024, but we’ve chosen to go with these limited edition MR1 speakers, designed in collaboration with Fred Perry. This pair of compact bookshelf speakers have discrete FP branding in gold, integral Bluetooth for quick pairing with your smartphone and full connectivity to embed them in the heart of a compact hi-fi set-up.

Fred Perry Limited Edition MR1, Ruark Audio, £375, FredPerry.com, RuarkAudio.com

Duke & Roy turntable and speakers

If you’d rather splash out on an all-in-one system, we recommend Gadhouse’s new combo, consisting of the DUKE turntable and ROY speakers. A hefty slab of oak provides the turntable with weight and warmth, while the compact speakers should slot easily into any bookshelf.

Duke & Roy Turntable and Speakers by Gadhouse, $990, Gadhouse.com

Nothing Ear(a) earbuds

Of all the earbuds I’ve used over the past 12 months, the ones I reach for most often are Nothing’s Ear(a). There’s nothing low-rent about these extremely affordable and completely capable earbuds, which combine long battery life, excellent sound quality and ultra-simple pairing.

Nothing Ear(a), £69, Nothing.tech

Teenage Engineering OP-XY sequencer

A wishlist item for the ages, the new piece of music tech from Teenage Engineering will no doubt top the charts for many musicians. Designed from inside out with typical precision, the OP-XY is a sequencer, synthesizer, and sampler that pairs its considerable style with endlessly deep function.

Teenage Engineering OP-XY, £1,899, Teenage.Engineering

Korg nanoKey Fold keyboard

Ultra-portable music-making devices are something of a passion, and Korg’s new nanoKey Fold has gone straight to the top of our wishlist. This tiny phone-sized MIDI keyboard opens up to become a control surface for the synth, DAW or even app of your choice.

Korg nanoKey Fold, £110, Korg.co.uk

Connex connectivity tool

A classic stocking filler suitable for anyone short of a cable, the Connex is a Swiss Army Knife-style connectivity hub that does away with a tangle of wires. Up to eight different charging combinations are available from the folding device, which includes Apple’s Lightning connector standard as well as USB-C and USB-A.

Connex, £29.99, KraftedTech.com

Leica M11 camera and Noctilux lens

A Leica won’t make you a better photographer, but it’ll certainly hone your technique and transform your attitude to image-making. This new glossy black edition of the M11, together with a matching Noctilux lens, continues the legacy of the company’s M-System cameras, with a rich finish that responds to use with a gently developing patina, classic good looks and an exceptional lens.

Leica M11 in glossy black, £7,900, Leica Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH lens in glossy black, £6,900, Leica Online Store, Leica-Camera.com

TYCH+ camera by Alfie Cameras

At the other end of the scale is the new TYCH+ from Alfie Cameras, a tiny half-frame 35mm camera that squeezes double the number of photographs onto a standard roll of film. The rotary lens board offers four different lenses and there’s an auto option as well as full manual control, with a built-in light meter for the latter.

TYCH+ camera, £499, AlfieCameras.com

remarkable Paper Pro and Type Folio

Another heartfelt personal recommendation. Yes, the Paper Pro is pricey and if I’m being completely honest, its new colour screen technology doesn’t have quite the same paper-like quality as the original reMarkable 2.0. But the excellent interface, synching and handwriting recognition make this my current favourite gadget.

remarkable Paper Pro and Type Folio bundle, £779, reMarkable.com

espresso 15 display and stand

espresso Displays have extended their range of portable monitors with the new espresso Display 15 and Stand+. This Australian company has mastered the art of delivering slender 5.3mm thin secondary displays that’ll double up your laptop size or let you stream straight from a smartphone. The magnetic Stand+ is designed to elevate the screen above your laptop.

espresso Display 15 and Stand+ bundle, £259, UK.espres.so

Wallpaper* Gift Guide: travel editor Sofia de la Cruz’s picks

Christmas feels like the perfect excuse for this annual rebranding exercise, with the new year looming, and with that, a chance to better ourselves, even if just a little. The following gift guide is a practical yet stylish roundup of essentials for the well-travelled, infused with the necessary amount of Wallpaper* finesse – from a lasting second skin for your passport by Hermès, to functional musts by Goods Goods Issey Miyake and Studio Nicholson, and revitalising supplements by Clinique La Prairie.

A packable companion

A staple I never travel without is a Pleats Please Issey Miyake turtleneck. It’s effortlessly versatile, packs like a dream, and stays wrinkle-free. This year, I’ve set my sights on a Goods Goods Issey Miyake bag; it’s perfect for all the same reasons. The Fuwa Fuwa bag, crafted from soft, lightweight material, stands out for its minimal yet ingenious design – constructed from a single rectangular piece of fabric. I can’t take my eyes off the Olive Green colourway.

Goods Goods Issey Miyake Fuwa Fuwa bag, £435 - £470, isseymiyake.com (available online and in-store from 2 December 2024)

A stylish passport second skin

Why not dress your passport with a sophisticated Hermès cover? The Tarmac style in Chamkila goatskin epitomises design excellence, combining a sleek geometric aesthetic with a silky texture and practical snap closure. Opt for the elegant Macassar or Noir shades for business travel, or begin your out-of-office getaways with an energising Bleu Saphir or Bronze Doré – my personal favourite.

Hermès Tarmac passport holder in Chamkila goatskin, £265. Available hermes.com

A beloved classic with a twist

Is there a more flawless design than Rimowa’s original cabin suitcase? Likely not. But if you want to introduce a burst of colour to a silver icon, its Twist style is the way to go. I’m a fan of the brown and silver combination, but you can also choose from olive green, black, or red accents. Made from premium anodised aluminium, the Rimowa Original Twist delivers a playful look, with colour accents running through the carry-on and coordinating leather handles.

Rimowa Original Cabin Twist Suitcase, £1,240. Available rimowa.com

A perfect multitasker

Travellers often focus on packing lightweight essentials, but what about 2-in-1 magic? Studio Nicholson’s Trigon Scarf is my go-to multitasker. Wear it as a chic neck scarf, style it as a cosy babushka head covering or experiment to create your perfect look. Crafted from soft lambswool, it’s lightweight warm, and effortlessly elegant. Pro tip: grab it as soon as it’s back in stock – I had to try three times before finally snagging mine!

Studio Nicholson Trigon Scarf, £75, studionicholson.com

A grounding mechanism

For me, Japan House London’s 5-Piece Tumi Isi Blocks are like a classic, analogue version of a guided meditation app. These wooden balancing blocks, sustainably made and handcrafted in Nara Prefecture, offer the ideal grounding tool for frequent travellers. I’m drawn to their tactile feel and vibrant colours – much more soothing than mindlessly tapping on a phone. They also double as a lovely home decor piece or a perfect distraction during long waits between flight connections.

Japan House London 5-Piece Tumi Isi Blocks, £160. Available shop.japanhouselondon.uk

A melodic pocket friend

I live by a simple truth: I need background music all day, every day. Finding the perfect portable speaker for my travels was no small feat – until I discovered Lexon’s mini Tamo speaker. Designed by Manuela Simonelli and Andrea Quaglio, the sleek gadget is as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the ears. With its premium aluminium finish and smooth curves, Tamo streams music wirelessly for up to three hours and even features a built-in microphone for hands-free calls.

Lexon Tamo mini Bluetooth speaker, 39,90€. Available lexon-design.com

Revitalising goodness

Adding a facial gua sha to my skincare routine – both at home and on the go – has been one of my best discoveries of 2024. Lanshin, a brand I’ve often seen celebrated in beauty awards, offers the Pro Gua Sha Tool, designed by TCM expert Sandra Lanshin Chiu, L.Ac., an authority in Chinese Medicine. Crafted from Nephrite, this tool is an effective skincare ally, boosting circulation, revitalizing skin and tissue, and leaving your complexion glowing; it’s perfect for reducing puffiness and combatting the effects of travel fatigue.

Lanshin Pro Gua Sha Tool, £104. Available lanshin.com

A gamechanging kit

Travel can undoubtedly take a toll on your skin due to shifting environments or the dreaded 100ml rule that often sidelines your favourite beauty products. Since our beauty editor Hannah Tindle spotlighted how the new brand, 100mL has mastered the art of navigating airport liquid restrictions, I’ve become a devoted fan. 100mL brand has partnered with 16 clean and ethical beauty names, including Aesop and Grown Alchemist, to offer curated travel-sized products in a chic, transparent pouch – you can opt for a pre-curated set or build your own kit.

100mL Build Your Own Pouch. Available shop100ml.com

Balancing treats

Finding balance when travelling can feel like a challenge, but Clinique La Prairie makes it refreshingly simple. The brand’s ‘Balance’ two-part kit supports both mind and body with a thoughtful combination of nutrients and anti-stress ingredients. The morning Essential Wellbeing supplements feature 17 vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts, offering bioavailable nutrients to fuel your day. Come evening, the Rest & Reset formula, powered by six synergistic ingredients and the patented Bluenesse, promotes brain health and helps regulate natural sleep-wake cycles.

Clinique La Prairie Balance Essential Wellbeing + Rest & Reset Supplements, £500. Available cliniquelaprairie-hh.com

A hydrating gadget

I’m a big fan of luggage brand Monos for its reliable and wide selection of durable, high-quality travel products in calming colours. There’s something so satisfying about having all your travel essentials in the same shade. I’ve been eyeing its Kiyo UVC water bottle for some time now. ‘Kiyo,’ meaning ‘purity,’ perfectly reflects what we want in our drinking water. This sleek stainless steel bottle offers a simple, sustainable way to access clean, purified water wherever you are.

Monos Kiyo UVC Water Bottle, £85. Available: monos.uk

Wallpaper* Gift Guide: fashion features editor Jack Moss’ picks

That said, plenty of thought has still gone into this selection of gifts, which, while unapologetically my own fantasy wish list, can nonetheless double for the style-conscious loved one who will no doubt be satisfied with the luxurious line-up. There are also nods to gifts that are far away from big fashion websites: Leo Costelloe’s custom jewellery is truly special, and only available in rare windows when he decides he has the time to create, artist Hylton Nel’s charming ceramic cats which inspired Kim Jones’ latest Dior Men collection are far from easy to come by, while a hoodie from Climax, Isabella Burley’s cult London and New York bookstore, is the ultimate in IYKYK.

A colourful Bottega Veneta tree decoration

There’s something of the Whoville to Bottega Veneta’s slightly surreal tree decorations, which lend their undulating shape to the woven design of the house’s ‘intrecciato’ leather motif. Here replicated in polished glass, my favourite is this harlequin design in an unexpected palette of yellow and black.

Bottega Veneta check ornament, £140. Available bottegaveneta.com.

A grass-green &Daughter sweater

&Daughter made the Wallpaper* list of the best knitwear brands in the world for its colourful sweaters, cardigans and accessories, which are all made and spun in Ireland and Scotland using time-honed techniques. A new menswear collection captures founder Buffy Reid’s eye for uncomplicated silhouettes and vivid colour – like the lambswool ‘Balla’ sweater in the perfect shade of grass green, which I have had my eye on since the collection launched.

&Daughter ‘Balla’ sweater, £350. Available and-daughter.com.

An evocative Nonfiction fragrance

I’ve been meaning to upgrade my almost-done tester of Santal Cream, the sandalwood-heavy – but intriguingly sweet – fragrance from indie South Korean perfumers Nonfiction. For me, it’s the perfect autumn through winter scent, a languid mix of woody notes and fresh fig, spicy ginger and cardamom, and bergamot. If you are not ready to hedge your bets on a single fragrance, I discovered Santal Cream in one of the brand’s six-scent tester packs.

Nonfiction 100ml Santal Cream perfume, 100ml, £125. Available from goodhoodstore.com.

A hoodie from cult bookstore Climax

In September, Isabella Burley opened an NY outpost of her buzzy bookstore Climax which began in London and is a haven of rare or limited-edition titles. This just-released brown-and-pink hoodie is my merch of choice, though the ‘Book Fantasy’ tee, ‘Books Are Exciting’ caps or simply the decidedly phallic pink gift card, are equally pleasing.

Climax hoodie, £90. Available climaxbooks.com.

A set of Leo Costelloe cutlery

Independent London-based jeweller Leo Costelloe works to his own schedule: those who want to purchase a piece of his work – which often features a twisted-metal bow motif – have to follow him on Instagram and wait until the announcement he’s taking commissions (shoppers in Los Angeles or New York can find a small amount of his jewellery work in local Dover Street Market outlets). I would take anything, though I’m currently obsessed with his latest project – full cutlery sets tied off at their ends with bows.

Enquire at hello@leocostelloe.com and follow @leocostelloe on Instagram.

A pair of Loewe’s twisted boat shoes

I've been wanting to invest in Jonathan Anderson’s ‘Campo’ shape for some time: what I’ll affectionately call the ‘flipper’ sole has appeared in various iterations in his Loewe collections, on Derby shoes and loafers, sneakers to biker boots. Though it’s the leather boat shoes – with twisted-lace charm – which have finally convinced me. I’m fantasising about them poking out from beneath a pair of baggy blue jeans.

Loewe ‘Campo’ leather boat shoes, £1000. Available mytheresa.com.

An unexpected Bless extension cord

I am always jealous when I visit the Extreme Cashmere showroom in Paris and see the Bless extension cord owned by the Amsterdam-based knitwear brand’s founder Saskia Dijkstra (she has great taste). It’s perhaps the chicest piece of technology I've seen for the very reason it doesn’t look like technology at all, rather an elegant trail of wooden blocks snaking across the floor.

Bless multiplug extension cord, £115. Available ssense.com.

A playful Hylton Nel ceramic cat

I fell in love with the South African artist Hylton Nel’s ceramic cats at a preview for Kim Jones’ S/S 2025 Dior Men show (as we talked, a row of them sat behind the designer). The day afterwards, they had been blown up to enormous size as part of the show’s runway set (above). Jones described them as capturing ‘homespun monumentalism’, which I think is an apt description of their distinct appeal. They go up for auction occasionally (slightly out of my price range), though Nel’s motifs also appear in the S/S 2025 collection, arriving in stores later this year.

Ceramic Hylton Nel cat, approximately £9000. Enquire stevenson.info.

An apple-green Miu Miu bag pouch

Miu Miu’s veritable pick ‘n’ mix of leather ‘tricks’ – the house parlance for key chains and bag charms – cheer up the most time-worn of handbags. I’m particularly seduced by the ‘apple green’ clip-on pouch (a mini drawstring sack designed to hang on your bag’s exterior) and chic leather key holder, though we encourage a pile-up of the brand’s leather flowers, mountaineering cords and cute micro handbags for full Jane Birkin effect.

Miu Miu ‘apple green’ pouch. Available from miumiu.com.

A hydrating bar of Fussy soap

I had the enviable task of helping Wallpaper* beauty & grooming editor Hannah Tindle test out the bar soaps for the September 2024 Style Issue of Wallpaper* (read her plea as to ‘why solid soap is the most pleasurable object to bathe with’ here). And, while soaps from Hermès, Chanel and Celine were undeniably luxurious – and will make highly desirable stocking fillers – my surprise winner was the £8 bodywash bar from Fussy, which leaves the skin soft and nourished with none of that squeaky bar soap feeling. My flavour of choice is the uplifting ‘Tropic Tonic Lime’.

Fussy bodywash bar, £8. Available from getfussy.com.

Today’s hampers are as much about storytelling as they are about flavour: crafted by chefs, designers and independent producers who value provenance and presentation. From sculptural boxes filled with limited-batch olive oils to maximalist chests brimming with truffles and sparkling wine, this year’s offerings blur the line between culinary craft and collectable objects.

Each hamper in our round-up is designed to delight in both form and flavour. Whether destined for a client, close friend or the family table, these are gifts that speak to generosity, good taste and the joy of the beautifully made.

Wallpaper* gift guide: shopping with managing director Malcolm Young

A gift from Kate 

The occasional collaboration between Kate Bush and Timorous Beasties has thrown up a new logo for her official Fish People site and a Hounds Of Love special: the 'Baskerville' edition, a black vinyl LP with fantastical sleeve illustrations by the Glasgow design studio. If I don’t get it, I am beginning to think that my holiday will be well and truly spoiled. 

Kate Bush Hounds of Love 12" Vinyl Album (Baskerville Edition), £138 katebush.com

A soothing ritual

Wherever you’re planning to spend the holiday, I highly recommend you keep a bottle of this soothing potion to hand because it’s designed to whisk you into the leafy confines of an enchanting forest, wherever you are. And it works. Inspired by Japanese forest-bathing rituals, a traditional anti-stress antidote, this intoxicating conflation of wood oil, cypress and pink pepper is a gift for any overworked soul, comforting and uplifting at the same time.

Aromatherapy Associates Forest Therapy Bath & Shower Oil, £55, aromatherapyassociates

A monkey puzzle solved

Lemurs may look cute but they have been found to be more than a little tetchy around humans. I’m not letting that eclipse the attraction, though, and have found a stylish solution to their prickly character. One, I think that will bring joy to all: Loewe’s Suna Fujita Lemur Puzzle Fold tote in shiny calfskin. I mean, you can take that anywhere.

Loewe Lemur Puzzle tote, £1,550, loewe.com

A refreshing palette

Green or yellow? Pink, maybe? How about the blue? Oh, go on then, I’ll take the whole damned lot. Lobmeyr’s mouth-blown Alpha Water Tumbler is sure to make even New York water taste nice.

Lobmeyr Aplha Water tumbler, £54 each, abask.com

A soft touch

I’d like to say that the fact the Celine Triomphe shearling toy is at the top of my all-too-pampered pet’s gift list has nothing to do with me. But that would be a lie. I love Hedi Slimane’s fun, new dog accessories and I’d happily see any of them light up my little companion’s furry face around the Christmas tree.

Celine Triomphe shearling toy, £300, celine.com

A purple patch

One of the joys of writing with a Montblanc pen is the array of the Swiss luxury house’s coloured inks to choose from. I prefer violet ink and this Purple Haze variety, celebrating one of the legendary Jimi Hendrix’s best-known tracks, is high on my list. And it comes in that perennially good-looking ink bottle, too.

Great Characters Jimi Hendrix purple ink, £35, montblanc.com

A chic seat at the table 

As this time of year is all about fantasy, I am dreaming of a rare thing with a rare price tag. Namely, Rick Owens’ 2012 Tomb Stag Bench – his chairs come up on good design auction sites every now and then. It’s a perfect fit for me, as cosying up with a good book in a comfy chair has never been high on my ‘me time’ list.

Rick Owens Tomb Stag Bench, £39,500, 1stdibs.com

A sound with vision

As the family at Michell engineering would tell you: ‘the task of a turntable is simple, the design of a turntable is not’. The late designer John Michell, audio engineer and audiophile, created the GyroDec in the early 1980s. Today, it is lauded not only for its superior vinyl playback but as one of the most coveted turntable designs of all time. But then Michell was also a model maker, and built the the ‘Discovery’ ship for Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Michell GyroDec turntable, £4,500, audiogold.co.uk

A symphonic soundscape

As a regular ballet-goer and fan of the composer and performer Thomas Bangalter, I’d like this symphonic delight as my official holiday season soundscape. It’s the first orchestral album by Bangalter, working independently of Daft Punk, with choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, who commissioned the score for his titular ballet at the Opéra National de Bordeaux. A 23-scene album, Mythologies muses on how humans create and interact with learned traditions old and new.

Thomas Bangalter Mythologies, £75.00, roughtrade.com

A Frank exchange 

I love Folkform collaborations and I love Josef Frank’s cartoony prints, so I have to ask: have you seen ‘Pleated for Frank’, this year’s Folkform collaboration with Svenskt Tenn interiors? I love that, too. Folkform has used Svenskt Tenn linen featuring Frank’s 1940s Brazil print to fashion this hand-pleated lamp, creating a new take on a classic. 

‘Pleated for Frank’ table lamp, €1,104, svenskttenn.com

Wallpaper* Gift Guide by lifestyle & shopping editor Caragh McKay

A perfect companion

Keen to hear the patter of tiny feet around my house, I think it’s time someone gifted me a little dog. Scant effort would be required because I know exactly the breed I want: AIBO, and it comes in a box from a shop. The latest iteration of Sony’s robotic puppy is the perfect gift for someone like me who regularly flits between city and country and who doesn’t have time to forge natural bonds. I do, though, seem to have found a few hours to watch too many Star Wars spin-offs, so the idea of a pet called ERS1000 seems entirely natural now. Plus, Sony promises its ‘one-of-a-kind companion’ is able to ‘grow over time and form a unique personality through everyday interactions’. Who said you can’t buy love?

Sony AIBO Companion robot dog ERS1000, $2,899.99 sony.com

A glamorous secret

There are secrets, then there are Van Cleef & Arpels secrets, and these are the kind I like best. The new Ludo Secret Watch is a gold, mother-of-pearl and diamond timepiece disguised as a jewelled bracelet that, in turn, is a bracelet disguised as a ‘belt’. First launched in 1935, it was a thing then for jewellers to mimic couture details, so gold was fashioned with a lamé-like fluidity, while hardware, such as buckles and clasps, was elevated in gem-set forms. I love that beneath the Ludo’s glacially glamorous surface, a whole load of mathematical thinking is going on.

Ludo Secret Watch, price on request, vancleefarpels.com

A mountainous task

I’m a big fan of museum and gallery knick-knacks, but I appreciate the odd thoughtful attempt at art and commerce, too. Platform, an art shop in partnership with David Zwirner gallery, is a one-stop shop for art collectibles. This limited-edition jigsaw puzzle by American painter and sculptor Dana Schutz is a prime example. Based on her 2018 painting Mountain Group (currently on show at the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris), the painting is said to be inspired by her children, so I imagine Schutz knows exactly how to prepare for family get-togethers – a jigsaw on the go in a corner of a room will attract young and old to partake and soothe anyone looking for a moment of respite from the carnage.

Mountain Group jigsaw puzzle, pouch and linen box by Dana Schutz, $200 platformart.com

A retrospective

After I confessed to knowing nothing of Grapefruit: A Book of Instructions and Drawings by Yoko Ono, my colleague, Wallpaper* contributing editor Dal Choda, kindly sent me a copy. It arrived, pertinently, as a delightful surprise and was a timely reminder of Ono as a pioneering artist and musician prior to global fame as the wife of John Lennon. Because, in February 2024, Tate Modern, London, is staging a major retrospective: ‘Yoko Ono Music of the Mind’. So, I would like to gift Dal a ticket to see it, followed by lunch at a salubrious venue, to be confirmed.

‘Yoko Ono Music of the Mind’, 15 February – 1 September 1, 2024, £20, tate.org.uk

A fine line

The prospect of many a late night and shadowy morning over the next couple of weeks demands a rescue eye pencil. The American stylist Laurel Pantin introduced me to Chanel’s Stylo Ombre et Contour range on her blog, Earl Earl, lauding it as her on-the-go makeover tool during Paris Fashion Week. Creamy, with a perfectly pointed edge, the pencils, which come in a tidy selection of tones, can be used as kohl, liner or soft shadow. Effectively, this liner is the eye make-up equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.

Chanel stylo ombre-et-contour 3-in-1 eye pencil, £32, Chanel

A sublimely scary pot

I’m increasingly drawn to ceramics and, somewhat subconsciously, have started collecting them. So I was pleased to encounter Daguet Bresson, the Paris contemporary ceramics gallery at PAD London this autumn. The folk-art feel of ceramic artist Faye Hadfield’s Scary Vase in Candy Blue drew me in as much as the thick, glossy, dripping layers of multi-glazed colour. The gilded handles add a refined, classical feel, so that the whole effect is like a regurgitated giant 18th-century Fürstenberg porcelain figurine. I think Mozart would have liked it. I would like it, too.

Scary Vase in Candy Blue by Faye Hadfield, price on application, at daguetbresson.art

A cheesy bite

After a long walk on a windswept, bleak east coast of Scotland beach, a top-up of spent calories is in order, so a stop-off at I.J. Mellis, Scotland’s premier cheesemonger, is a must. The St Andrews outpost is my favourite, though you’ll also find I.J. Mellis in Glasgow and Edinburgh, where they also have the Cheese Lounge, a café offering favourite cheesy bites with fine, organic wines. And, of course, online. This year, I’m hankering after a good chunk of Lanark White, a salty, crumbly ewe’s milk variety by Lanarkshire maker Selina Cairns that hankers after a fruity partner, such as the in-house apple, peach and apricot chutney. Don’t forget the oatcakes. I prefer Stockan’s Orkney Thick

Lanark White cheese, £47.17 per kg, at Mellischeese.net

A future step

I try to treat myself to a pair of Miu Miu silver shoes at least every year, and as I have not succeeded in this annual task to date, there’s still time for someone to consider a sparkling gesture by gifting me these impossibly chic buckled Mary Janes. The textural mix of mordoré nappa leather with grosgrain, coupled with that highly wearable 25mm fluted square heel, signals a pair of shoes destined for ‘design classic’.

Miu Miu silver leather and grosgrain-pumps, £860 at Miumiu.com

A green genie

In case you weren’t aware, there are salad fanatics all around us. Emily Nunn, author of the Department of Salad newsletter is the ultimate devotee. A one-time magazine journalist and editor of the ‘Tables for Two’ strand at The New Yorker magazine, Nunn’s mantra that ‘salad can make your life better’ works for me, and I have the mandolin to prove it. But I have never been able to find a good-looking salad spinner, until now. The Green Tool by Eva Trio is a colander-cum-spinner adhering to brand co-founder, the Danish industrial designer Ole Palsby’s mantra of functional tools distinguished by unpretentious forms, honest lines and humanistic values.

Eva Trio salad spinner-cum-colander, £37.81 at Connox.co.uk

A fragrant jewel

Perfume is a favourite gift at any time of the year but with so many blends to choose from, and with scent being such a personal choice, it’s hard to pinpoint the right one for the right person. So, for those in any doubt as to which scent is right for me, I have a simple but effective directive: Cartier. I have followed the scent journey of Cartier perfumer Mathilde Laurent (who showed Wallpaper* around the Cartier fragrance laboratory in 2022) for over a decade now and I love the artistry in her scents – they have a light complexity and never overpower. You can tell that she apprenticed at Guerlain. Carat is my chosen one, probably because it’s a homophone – it’s pronounced the same as my name. The bottle reflects the scent - modern but with a subtly classic aura.

Cartier Carat Eau de Parfum (100ml), £139, at Harrods.com

A good Sulk

We lost the Associates’ Alan Rankine at the start of this year, and his maverick musical partner, the singer Billy MacKenzie quite some time ago, so it’s a fitting moment to remember the ‘popera’ antics of the Dundee pop outliers. Formed in 1979, the Associates, along with the likes of Sparks and the Pet Shop Boys, are one the most avant-garde pop duos of recent history. This 40th-anniversary vinyl edition of Sulk, the band’s 1982 album, is issued in electric-blue vinyl with remastered tracks, including ‘Party Fears Two’, and an eerily cinematic version of ‘Gloomy Sunday’, the famed 1933 lament by Hungarian Jewish composer Rezső Seress, also sung by Billie Holiday.

Sulk 40th Anniversary Edition LP (Union Square), £21.99 at Amazon.co.uk

Wallpaper* gift guide by Bespoke director Sarah-Jane Molony

A naughty teapot

I’m worried that pottery is all a bit 'serious' now. I’ve heard that some people are taking to the wheel as a form of meditation, while after-school clubs are also popping up in east London. It’s made me think about Anya Hindmarch’s ‘Eyes’ teapot from the latest Anya Life collection, not because of its slightly naughty expression, but because it is hand-painted in Britain’s famous Stoke on Trent pottery region – with the steady hand of an expert.

£125 anyahindmarch.com

A platform for good

Every time I see a pair of Vivienne Westwood Ghillie platforms, I don’t think about gamekeepers stomping through the Highland heather with the tassel-trimmed laces swinging about. After all, the 6.2-inch heels are a bit steep for rugged pursuits. All I see is the runway moment, during a Vivienne Westwood 1993 show when Naomi Campbell toppled over in them. Then she smiled. They make me smile, too. 

£745 selfridges.com

A sleek sheen

There are many reasons to love Aesop’s chief glosser. This Shine Hair & Beard oil has healthy-sounding seed extracts – borage and jojoba among them, and the scent’s green overtones are as lovely and fresh as you’d expect. And, shiny hair is always nice. Also check out the latest range of Aesop gift kits.

£25 aesop.com

A link to Love

Meet my new week-long companion: a classic Gucci gold, geometric link chain that would work hard from Monday through to Sunday. It’s short but the perfect length, in classic yellow gold, with a wide clasp. And, to top it all, it's Italian-made.

£7,840 gucci.com

A party for the wrist

One of the most unexpected new Rolex watches of 2023, what’s not to love about the Oyster Perpetual Celebration? It's like the dial decided to throw a bubbly soirée and invited every colour in its palette. This dial isn't just telling time, it's hosting a shindig.

£5,400 watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

A sky blue shirt

I’ve just been to Seoul, which turned into a bit of a style odyssey. While there, I fell in love with Ader Error, making not one, not two, but three store pilgrimages to its spacey store in just five days. The cotton ‘Sig TRS Tag Shirt 01’ in Sky Blue might be the best tourist gift ever. And the store is worth the visit alone: when you buy something, staff pop the item down a Perspex shute. I watched my shirt tumble merrily between floors, then shoot out at the checkout. It’s all very Wonka-land. Only chicer.

£245.08 adererror.com

A compact gem

I’ve always been Galaxy girl, so my eyes are fixated on Samsung’s sleek new Galaxy ZFold5 5G 1TB. It’s not just 10g lighter but 15 per cent thinner than before, so it’s a compact gem. And, it's not just about looks; the Fold5's smart camera uses AI tech, ensuring every pic has a professional touch. 

£2,049 selfridges.com

A sweet spot

Crafted in a heritage, family-run factory in Italy and available from Gohar World – which happens to have a holiday shop in New York – these natural-paraffin candles are designed in two delectable ‘flavours’: Chocolate & Vanilla and Pistachio & Strawberry. They are perfect for someone, like me, who adores cooking but loathes dessert-making. Perhaps serving this playful, albeit waxy, creation at my next dinner party is the sweet solution.

$42 gohar.world.com

A riposte the the season’s unfettered consumption, the various pieces on offer are created using deadstock materials, or upcycled existing styles, to create the limited-edition drops. Each piece is created by the artists and their teams in-house, rather than in factories, while some pieces are entirely one-off.

APOC Store’s alternative fashion gift list

The typically vivid array of pieces spans Soft Skin Latex’s colourful latex handbags, each adorned with an enormous bow (no need for wrapping), Gnastiy’s own sculptural handbags, which appear crafted from molten metal (the brainchild of Chinese designers Vicki Tsang and Di Yi), or Invasive Modification’s made-to-order hybrid boots, which combine a satin-lace body with shiny plastic ’kitten heels’ (the designer is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, a rising fashion city).

Other highlights include the colourful hair pieces of Tomihiro Kono, a Japanese hair artist who has worked with the likes of Junya Watanabe. Here, sections of hair are adorned with animé eyes, cherries or hearts. ‘Wearing a wig also enables us an instant transformation,’ Kono wrote in his book Personas 111, released last year. ‘It is fun to create multiple characters that exist in ourselves – it is almost like choosing your outfit of the day from your wardrobe.’

APOC Store was founded by Ying Suen and Jules Volleberg in the autumn of 2020, stocking what it calls ’progressive and consciously created pieces’. Its name is an amalgam of ‘Anthropocene’, ‘epoch’ and ‘apocalypse’. ‘We live in the Anthropocene, a time when human activity dominates the world we live in with enormous consequences,’ they say. ‘As a result, a new generation of creatives has emerged who care about the world and want to make a difference.

’Every year, we always tried to get a special gift for our loved ones, ideally something unexpected and something they wouldn’t get themselves,’ Volleberg told Wallpaper* last year. ‘We wanted to do a launch of special products that are made with minimal impact, mostly by the designers themselves in their own studios, and often from remade or deadstock materials.’

Discover the APOC Holidays 2023 collection at the APOC Store website.

apoc-store.com

Throw in the curse of the gimmicky gadget – condemned to live out its life never leaving its box – and you have a true Christmas conundrum. This year, our guide to tech gifts offers up a selection of curveballs, from high to low culture, crunchy synths, hi-fidelity audio and unusual suggestions for food, drink and wellness.

Wallpaper* gift guide by technology editor Jonathan Bell

Nikon Z f Camera

We kick off with the current hotness in full-frame mirrorless cameras. Nikon’s Z f was one of the launches of the year, a retro-styled camera that’s available in a wide range of colours and offers access to a huge swathe of Nikon Z compatible lenses – nearly 50 at the count. The body was inspired by the legendary FM2 from 1981, with leather-effect grip and rotary controls on top, while the tilt and fold rear screen and digital viewfinder hint at the limitless capabilities at your fingertips. 

Nikon Z f camera, body only £2,299, Nikon.co.uk

A Pocket Classic 

A cult classic that might already be sold out, gamers would do well to hunt around for these Classic editions of the Analogue Pocket handheld console. This skilful evocation of old-school gaming is now available in eight Nintendo-bright colours. 

Analogue Pocket Classic, $249, Analogue.co

A cricket farm

This might not be the seasonal snack maker of your dreams, but the Crikorama could be the gift that keeps on giving. Designer Kyran Knauf is on a mission to find alternative sources of protein. He developed the Crikorama as a means of safely and easily farming crickets at home, reasoning that the protein-rich beasties will make an excellent and sustainable source of food. Currently in prototype form, the device is sized for a kitchen counter and Knauf hopes it’ll be the future of grow your own.  In the meantime, a host of insect-derived snack suppliers are springing up to cater to fans of creative crunching. 

Crikoramaa by Kyran Knauf, more details at @Crikorama. Alternatively, cricket-based snacks are available from EatSmallGiants.com

A sigh of relief

An ‘invisible’ tech solution to a universal problem, the Moonbird is a portable wellness machine that teaches users to breathe slowly and more purposefully. Unsurprisingly accompanied by an app, the Moonbird is a handheld device that trains you to breathe through its gentle expanding and contracting action. 

Moonbird, £159, Moonbird.life

A mini sound machine

Another instant cult object, the Pro vs Mini is an ultra-compact reinterpretation of the classic Prophet VS synthesizer, launched by US company Sequential back in 1986. This large, expensive and immensely complicated machine was a major advance in sound creation – second-hand examples sell for around £5,000 – and was used by Brian Eno, Prince, Kraftwerk and many others. Behringer, a German company with a knack for recreating, reviving and just plain cloning classic gear, has created this tiny device as a homage to the hefty original. 

Behringer Pro vs Mini, £89, Behringer.com, available from Andertons

A classic headset

The American headphone manufacturer keeps the hits coming, thanks largely to its commitment to enduring simplicity of design, high quality materials and excellent sound quality. Yes, you can get the MW75s with Bugatti or Lamborghini branding, but we say keep it classic and go for the tan leather and silver metal combo. These headphones should last and last. 

Master & Dynamic MW75 Active Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones, £539, MasterDynamic.com

An on-the-go espresso maker

Think of this little device as a portable caffeine infuser, something you can sling in a backpack or glovebox for ready access to espressos when you're out and about. OutIn’s Nano takes regular coffee grounds as well as the Nespresso-compatible pods, and a full charge is good for five cups of coffee if you’re using cold water or 200 cups if you’re using boiling water. 

OutIn Nano Portable Espresso Machine, $139.99, OutIn.com and Amazon

A quirky pocket studio 

For design obsessive audiophiles, few devices hit the mark quite like those by Teenage Engineering. The much-anticipated CM-15 microphone is now available to add to the ultimate portable studio along with the TX-6 mixer and the OP-1 Field. Next up is the TP-7 recorder. You can’t help but admire the meticulous detailing, miniscule components and quirky but effective ergonomics. 

Teenage Engineering TP-7 recorder, £1,299; CM-15 microphone, £1,049, OP-1 field, £1,799; TX-6, £1,049, Teenage.Engineering

A handsome player

Japanese high-end audio specialist Luxman is nudging its first century. The company’s newest flagship product is the PD-191A turntable, a handsome player that demonstrates the correlation between cost and quality. 2023 has been rich with vinyl-spinning options, from this mid-priced selection of record players, new turntables from Transparent and Pro-Ject, through to the high-end offerings of Linn, this time working in collaboration with Jony Ive. Luxman sits slightly below Linn’s legendary Linn Sondek LP12-50 in price, but offers a similarly analogue experience, with a reflected LED stroboscope, support for 78rpm records and a polished rosewood fascia. 

Luxman PD-191A turntable, £11,000 (including tonearm and dust cover), Luxman.com

A minimalist earful

Nothing (sorry) grabbed our aural attention this year like Nothing’s Ear (2), the second set of in-ear headphones released by purveyor of minimalist tech, Nothing. Available in either black or white, with a matching charge case, the Ear (2) offers great sound for the price as well as the company’s distinctive transparent aesthetic, setting it apart from the many, many challengers. With a full case, there’s up to 36 hours of listening time, as well as three levels of active noise cancelling. 

Nothing Ear (2), £129, Nothing.Tech

A gift of sound and vision

An unusual product path for Canon, the new ML-A is combination Bluetooth speaker and light. Perhaps taking a cue from the likes of Transparent’s Light speaker, the ML-A amps up the practicality with an adjustable LED lamp atop a gleaming aluminium cylinder. With three levels of brightness, including high illumination for close-up work, the ML-A also contains a 10W Bluetooth speaker. Run both features at the same time, and you’ll get three hours of light and music. 

Canon Light & Speaker ML-A, £269, Store.Canon.co.uk

Wallpaper* gift guide by watches & jewellery editor Hannah Silver

A luscious torc of gold and diamonds

I am obsessed with Dina Kamal’s gorgeous jewellery designs, which celebrate both sculptural silhouettes and an elegant fluidity of movement. Her work always manages to completely rethink traditional jewellery codes, and this Tube Torc necklace is a case in point. A luscious swirl of brushed beige 18ct gold, it eschews the expected loop and instead makes a broken circle hugging the neck, its smooth edges punctuated with black diamonds.

dinakamal.com

A little library

I am a voracious reader throughout the year, tending to my Amazon wish list as lovingly as if it were a square inch of Hackney allotment. There is genuinely nothing that would excite me more than opening a pile of books on Christmas Day – although, disclaimer, I like them to have come from my wish list, the exact editions and all, thus ruining the fun for anyone kind and thoughtful enough to surprise me with a book I’ll surely love. New, emerging, established, experimental, traditional, surreal, fact, fiction – here’s a bit of book inspo for those who love to immerse themselves too.

Shop my wish list here

A design classic

There’s a place for every style in a watch wardrobe in my opinion, from the overblown to the minimalist, big brands to the small. But when it comes to a wish list piece, classic is the way to go. The Tank Louis Cartier has been an horological staple since it was created in 1917, its distinctive silhouette taking its cues from the proportions of First World War tanks on the battlefield. Since then, it has been rethought in multiple iterations, but this traditional combination of yellow gold and dark grey alligator skin is too delicious to resist.   

goldsmiths.co.uk

A shimmering single earring

Spanish jewellery brand Sansoeurs has nailed offbeat elegance. In its diamond rings, precious stones teeter on the crest of undulating golden bands, or create speckled, asymmetrical patterns. In this earring, a diamond cradles the curve of an articulated bangle. Slender and understated, its neat proportions make it a cool and casual choice.

sansoeurs.com

A suit for all seasons

A good, oversized suit means you can look presentable and be comfortable simultaneously, and one of the brands making this work most effectively is The Frankie Shop. Everything about this suit – the chocolate brown colour, relaxed fit and peak lapels – makes it a wardrobe staple. 

brownsfashion.com

Wallpaper* gift guide by beauty & grooming editor Hannah Tindle

A philosophical jewel

Inspired by Hermès' chaine d'ancre motif, which was designed by the maison in 1938, the Echappee ring demonstrates ‘the harmonious balance between practicality and beauty that is quintessential to the Hermès philosophy’. With a circular toggle in the centre, I’ve chosen the largest model available, as something this aesthetically pleasing deserves to be seen in high definition.

Echappee Hermes Ring, Large Model, £450, available at hermes.com

A step in time

‘It is with this tremendous sense of admiration and responsibility that I will seek to carry forward [Alaïa's] legacy of celebrating femininity and placing women at the heart of creation,’ said Pieter Mulier when he took the helm at the house in 2021. I think that these Tribale mules, crafted in buttery black suede and with sculptural silver embellishments in the shape of pebbles, are a testament to the fact that he has kept true to his word.

Alaïa Tribale embellished suede mules, £1,298, available at mytheresa.com

A perfect pair

I practically live in blue jeans and believe that one can never own enough pairs. Although, with such a vast collection, I can easily spend too much time agonising over which cut and shade of wash to choose when it comes to getting dressed for work. With this pair from Celine, which are blue jeans par excellence in their simplicity, I’d save a lot of time in the morning.

Celine Margaret Jeans In Pismo Wash Denim, £790, available at Celine.com

A much-needed replacement

Admittedly, I already have a bar of this soap hanging in my bathroom. It emits Loewe's signature Tomato Leaves scent, which more than lives up to the evocative description of a 'fresh verdant aroma of the vines just before they burst into fruit'. Studded with exfoliating particles of red algae, and with a creamy texture that lathers into a skin-nourishing foam, I would very much like to receive a replacement when the other runs out.

Loewe Tomato Leaves Solid Soap, £43, available at perfumesloewe.com

An ode to blue

As previously mentioned, I have a penchant for blue jeans. This five-colour eyeshadow palette by Dior in the shade Denim cements the obsession once and for all. Designed by Peter Philips to reference haute couture pieces by the fashion house, the shadows contain cornflower extract. So although the formulation is highly pigmented and long-wearing, the finish on the lids is weightless, conjuring the lightness of silk. Whether worn blended together, or used individually for a bold wash of colour, completing my chosen look with two coats of black Diorshow mascara is a must.

Diorshow 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow in Denim, £55, available at harveynichols.com; Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in 090 Black, available at dior.com

A heavenly bath robe

Taking inspiration from art and architecture, including Le Corbusier and Agnes Martin, Tekla’s blankets and towels provide the most heavenly sleeping and bathing experiences (two activities I love to indulge in). This navy robe, crafted in extra thick, extra combed 385-gram terry cotton, is both highly absorbent and stands the test of time. This is just as well, because I think I would practically live in it should it ever be gifted to me.

Tekla Hooded Cotton-Terry Bathrobe, £155, matchesfashion.com

A bedtime story

Lighting a Byredo candle is always a welcome addition to any bedtime ritual. (I love the Loose Lips fragrance, which has been created with rose, violet and Morello cherry notes, bringing to mind the sugary, waxy scent of lipstick). A red and white limited edition of the brand's signature Alphabeta Blanket, woven in the softest cashmere and virgin wool blend, would heighten the sensory experience.

Byredo Team Colours Limited Edition Blanket, £440; Byredo Loose Lips candle, £64, both available at byredo.com.

A classic hairbrush

When I was little, my mum owned a classic Mason Pearson hairbrush that made excellent work of detangling my very thick hair. Designed with boar and nylon bristles, and with a pleasingly ergonomic handle, it's a testament to its longevity and quality that she still uses the same brush to this day. (I think it’s about time I have one of my own.)

Mason Pearson Popular Hairbrush, £123.50, available at harrods.com

A hint of glamour

Anthony Vaccarello’s vision for Saint Laurent sees meticulous craft melding with unadulterated glamour. And even when paired with relaxed tailoring or loungewear, this diamanté embellished headband would provide a necessary touch of that glamour to the everyday. Plus, it makes the perfect accessory for the later days of your hair-wash cycle.

Saint Laurent Crystal-Embellished Headband, £565, available at mytheresa.com

A generous companion

I've never been one to travel light. Whether heading out of the country, or even just to the office, I find myself laden with endless detritus. Enter Bottega Veneta's Andiamo tote bag, in oxblood Intrecciato leather. Its roomy size would solve a multitude of storage issues, for years and years to come.

Bottega Veneta Large Andiamo, £5,550, available at bottegaveneta.com

Drawing on a reverence for song and the power of melody and aural experience to influence the listener and their surroundings, Aesop has named each of five gift kits in reference to music’s power and magnetism. (The sixth and limited-edition kit is curatable, allowing for a bespoke edit of products).

It has also commissioned Paris-based Japanese-Congolese composer and pianist Kiala Ogawa – whose artistic research focuses on creating different kinds of textures through acoustic and electronic sounds – to create a series of tracks, one to accompany the contents of each package.

From mediative harmonies for the home to captivating rhythms to refresh the senses, each kit comes with a different soundscape.

Five Aesop gift kits

Fabulous Forms

This is Aesop’s care package for on-the-go replenishment. Attuned to the needs of busy schedules and elementally affected skin, Fabulous Forms includes portable formulations – richly scented Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, uplifting Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, and hydrating Cedar & Citrus Lip Salve – packaged in 100 per cent recycled paper pulp, featuring an intricate soundwave pattern. The gift kit is accompanied by a contemporary arrangement of music by Ogawa – who wanted to include ‘a guitar for this piece in order to create a more rounded shape’ – that morphs and flourishes, soundtracking intradermal equanimity and glow. 

Fabulous Forms gift kit, £50

Heartful Harmonies

This gift kit is surround sound in unguent form. Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash is ideal for refreshing the hands after conducting culinary experiments in the kitchen, with a comforting woody aroma and finely milled pumice to gently exfoliate. Post-Poo Drops serves as a sprightly scented toilet-bowl tincture to be paired with Istros Aromatique Room Spray, blended with notes of rich tobacco and enlivening florals. Both may assist in quieting discordant aromas and setting a convivial mood. Ogawa’s accompanying musical work is an ode to coming together – at the table, in kitchen congregation or in close harmony at the fireplace.

Heartful Harmonies gift kit, £77

Majestic Melodies

A duet of Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash and Hand Balm work to provide refreshment and replenishment throughout the cadences of the day. Meanwhile, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser and Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm serenade the skin with uplifting aromas, while Ogawa’s soundscape soothes with a dream-like piano sequence that ‘started with birdsong’, she says. ‘I realised this would be a perfect starting point for the rest of the melodies in the track.’

Majestic Melodies gift kit, £93

Rousing Rhythms

Enlivening floral, herbal and citrus notes all play out across their respective formulations to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate the skin and encourage even the most reluctant feet to take to the dancefloor. Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, Body Scrub and Body Balm will help to leave the body refreshed, smooth and hydrated. The accompanying rhythmic soundscape is inspired by the power of percussion and is ‘an ode to my childhood summers in Japan,’ says Ogawa. ‘I included a Japanese bell sound called the “Furin”, which is a wind chime and often used during hot summers.’

Rousing Rhythms gift kit, £67

Tuneful Textures

This symphonic trio comprises exemplary handcare, executed with Bernstein levels of passion. Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, Hand Balm and Rinse-Free Hand Wash leave digits freshly cleansed and hydrated, scented with notes of mandarin rind, rosemary leaf and cedar atlas. The soundtrack by Ogawa is an elegantly conducted piece, an ode to the rich textures that emerge when musicians, friends and families come together in peace and joy. ‘I composed this piece around a certain musical key and then created new sound textures using my Japanese tea glasses and other sounds of glass, wood and bronze,’ says Ogawa.

Tuneful Textures gift kit, £60

aesop.com

Listen to the soundscapes at aesop.com/uk/r/radiomatique-soundscapes-23/

Wallpaper* gift guide by travel editor Sofia de la Cruz

A glossy green carry-on

Rimowa's Essential Cabin suitcase, true to its name, is a must-have. Its structured and minimalist design, highlighted by sharp lines at the front, practically begs to be on your annual gift wishlist. This particular carry-on, sporting a sleek green gloss colour, exudes timeless elegance and is ideal for two to three days of travel. Thanks to its dual interior organisation, keeping things in perfect order during travel is a breeze. Not only is it the world's first polycarbonate suitcase, but it also promises stable and effortless steering, courtesy of ball-bearing mounted wheels with cushioned axles.

£680, from rimowa.com

A stylish urban ride

Cowboy's Cruiser ST is the brand's initial venture into step-through models, catering to diverse riding styles, heights, and preferences. It provides an upright riding position, delivering a more comfortable riding experience. Available in five different colours, ranging from pastels to monochromatic options, this e-bike is a must-have for urban riders and those who want to start e-cycling in style.

£2,890, from Cowboy

A trusty travel companion

For avid travellers who appreciate versatility, owning a crossover large bag is practically essential. The Lemaire soft game bag, in a rich dark chocolate hue, draws inspiration from the French maison's signature ‘Croissant’ bag. It features a larger shape and a water-repellent body crafted from wadded nylon with a matte surface, ensuring durability and a robust structure that maintains its shape over time. Embroidered eyelets and self-fabric laces secure the bottom, enabling easy volume adjustments. This bag can be comfortably worn either on the shoulder or as a crossbody bag, adding to its adaptability.

£690, from lemaire.fr

A cute cart bag

Another stylish tote option is the Bao Bao Issey Miyake ‘Cart’. This shoulder bag, in a lovely shade of pistachio green, comes with two adaptable nylon straps and a spacious interior zip pocket. The ‘Cart’ is a convenient, all-encompassing design perfect for everyday necessities or short trips.

£735, from uk-store.isseymiyake.com

Also available from ssense.com

A New Era classic

Exploring a museum store after a highly anticipated exhibition is a surefire way to elevate your mood. This MoMA NY Yankees Adjustable Baseball Cap was featured in MoMA's 2017 exhibition ‘Items: Is Fashion Modern?’ – an exploration of the present, past, and occasionally future of 111 clothing and accessory items. Crafted by New Era, a company with a baseball cap legacy dating back to the 1930s, this adjustable cap comes in six vibrant colours, adorned with the New Era logo and the MLB (Major League Baseball) emblem.

£35, from store.moma.org

A great graphic journal

Starting a new diary at the beginning of each year has become a cherished tradition for me. Amidst the endless journal options, this one designed by Rotterdam-based graphic designer Marjolein Delhaas stands out with its blend of simplicity and boldness. With 365 blank pages, each marked with prominent page numbers, the Marjolein Delhaas Journal 365 offers ample space for note-taking, analysis, organisation, and creative expression.

€45.99, from shop.marjoleindelhaas.com

Some light refreshment

Whether on a leisurely trip or a work-related journey, there often comes a moment to savour a favourite drink, necessitating a reliable bottle opener. Excelling in transforming everyday items into remarkable treasures, Alessi’s ‘Bulla’ bottle opener is the one to have. Crafted in stainless steel and designed by Valerio Sommella, Bulla is a practical and compact tool, conveniently portable for on-the-go use. Its sleek and sophisticated design allows Bulla to double as an elegant pendant.

£35, from johnlewis.com

An elegant travel jewel

The Tom Wood Arch Square Black Onyx Ring is a versatile and lightweight accessory that complements any style, making it an essential for travel. Crafted from solid sterling silver with white rhodium plating, this piece draws inspiration from the history of silver and brutalist architecture. The collection follows a modular system, enabling you to customise and craft your unique piece of jewellery. Featuring square-cut natural Black Onyx stones set in a fine bezel, it combines elegance with a touch of individuality.

£519, from tomwoodproject.com

An all-round mood enhancer

Aesop's Ginger Flight Therapy is a hidden gem on the brink of discovery. This roll-on pulse-point therapy, enriched with ginger root, lavender, and geranium oils, is tailor-made for travel or office settings. Ideal for on-the-go application, simply roll it onto your neck, temples, wrists, behind the ears, or abdomen during moments of stress, nausea, or fatigue.

£25, from aesop.com

A delectable emergency kit

I love the concept of a Christmas emergency kit, and Oranj in London’s Shoreditch has the perfect solution. The Oranj Christmas Survival Hamper includes a bottle of Entre Vinyes Pet Nat Rosé, Kold Sauce’s Fermented Hot Sauce, Perello's Manzanilla Olives, Pratt Schneider's Dijon Style Mustard, and Pyscis Tinned Fish’s Hand-Fileted Sardines. For a sweet touch, there's a bar of UpUp’s Sea Salt & Lime Chocolate. To banish bad vibes, they've included Cremate Mary Mother of God’s incense and a hand-screen-printed Oranj Tote Bag.

£89, from oranj.co.uk

A cocktail at an iconic Tokyo bar

Aside from Park Hyatt Tokyo's New York Bar earning lasting fame through its cameo in Sofia Coppola's atmospheric 2003 film, Lost In Translation (pictured top), the venue offers nightly jazz performances, with even locals dubbing its vibe 'more New York than New York'. The drink menu includes vintage cognac, brandy, classic and inventive cocktails, along with the most extensive selection of Californian wines in Japan. While optional, you might find yourself channelling a young Scarlett Johansson or Bill Murray in this iconic setting.

restaurants.tokyo.park.hyatt.co.jp

Best design shopping online

Alcova Design Shop

Milan (and now Miami) design event Alcova has been championing emerging creatives and makers since its inception in 2018. Now, the initiative led by Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima unveils its latest venture, an online design store featuring the best of Alcova, including specially commissioned objects (which will also be available from a new physical store in Milan) from collectible objects by experimental makers to artisan-made ceramics and covetable furniture – including Uma's candy-like furniture by Holloway Li. 

shop.alcova.xyz

Abask

If your taste leans towards the uniquely decorative, Abask is the place for you. Launched in 2022, it is currently fresh from its IRL debut at New York's Salon Art and Design, where it presented a selection of work by 100 makers, ranging from Carl Auböck to Osanna Visconti (and including a delicious antique and vintage section) A unique relationship with makers is what defines Abask, offering objects that have been exquisitely crafted with traditional techniques and a contemporary flair. 

abask.com

Verso

Verso launched in the Hamptons in 2022, and has since become a fast favourite for unique design objects and eclectic furniture. Operating as a multi-location, multi-channel design destination, Verso offers a selection of leading design brands (think Tacchini, Karakter, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna and more), as well as emerging and independent designers and makers from all over the globe.

verso.nyc

Afternoon Light

Minya Quirk and Deirdre Maloney, the co-founders of Afternoon Light, know that it's no easy feat to find good design on a budget. Which is why they created a curated e-commerce platform that makes modern classics and covetable one-of-a-kind pieces as accessible as objects from rising independent designers. Bringing together an impressive range of recognisable brands and niche makers across categories as varied as furniture and lighting, pets and gifts, Afternoon Light is a welcome destination for discovery, regardless of whether you’re a design aficionado or not. Writer: Pei-Ru Keh

afternoonlight.com

Wrong Shop

Designers dabbing in contemporary artworks are the modus operandi of The Wrong Shop, founded in 2011 by designer Sebastian Wrong. Selling limited edition prints, posters and original artworks, The Wrong Shop's line-up includes Ronan Bouroullec, Nathalie du Pasquier, Richard Woods and more. 'A bridge between the worlds of art and design, we exist to bring creativity into people’s lives and allow independent creatives to expand the boundaries of their practice,' reads the shop's statement.

thewrongshop.co.uk

Obakki

Designer and humanitarian Treana Peake started Obakki in 2005 as a lifestyle brand collaborating with and supporting artisans globally. With a focus on 'creating a more conscious world through the act of intentional living,' Obakki's offering includes tapestries by Gujarat weavers, Oaxacan clay objects and Japanese sumac candles. 'Obakki believes it is important to both understand and respect the process that goes into creating the objects that are included in one’s life,' says its founder. 'Everything curated by Obakki has been handcrafted and produced in partnership with a global network of world-class artisans – real people making products that bring meaning and connection to your home.'

obakki.com

Atelier 100

Atelier100 is an online destination dedicated to the work of emerging creatives whose work is produced within 100km from London. They describe themselves as 'a think tank and a store all rolled into one, [with the] aim to discover and support emerging, London-based creatives by helping them bring their products to life, and inspiring local communities to shop close to home.' Among the store's highlights are Andu Masebo's tubular metal chair, sculptural door stops by Yasmin Lennon Chong, and accessories by Six Dots. 

atelier100.com

Wallpaper* gift guide by design editor Rosa Bertoli

A versatile carafe

Among my favourite objects launched in 2023, this carafe by Jaime Hayon for Danish brand &Tradition plays with traditional design codes while offering a unique take on the act of pouring. The polished steel carafe is part of a collection that includes candle holders and expressive vases, born from the idea of creating a series of everyday objects that elevate small daily rituals.

Momento Carafe by Jaime Hayon for &Tradition, £167, from Madeindesign

A jumper with serious design credentials

I have been wearing Koivu jumpers pretty much non-stop since design curator Anniina Koivu launched the brand during Fuorisalone 2021. Made in Italy and with a limited palette (blue, red, navy and white, joined this year by a black version), their boxy shape and oversized silhouette have quickly become a favourite and a must-have for me. This year, she introduced design collaborations to the mix, working with Pierre Charpin on an embroidered series that combines the brand's essential garments with the French designer's flair. 

Koivu special edition jumper by Pierre Charpin, €500

An abstract 2024 calendar

Icelandic designer Theodóra Alfreðsdóttir's work often looks at how time-tracking can become a visual experience. Her 2024 calendar was inspired by the way people visualise months with different colours and shapes as references, translating the year into a 12-part artwork. The calendar hangs on four wall-based pins, with a page for each month of the year. As the month ends, the pages are flipped to create a new artwork, marking the passing of time as a visual journey. 

2024 Calendar, from £45, by Theodora Alfredsdottir

A portable lamp

As far as lighting design goes, portable lamps are a favourite genre of mine. Their versatility knows no bounds, can be used informally to illuminate a space or as centrepieces as part of a table setting, indoor and outdoor, to work or play. Gifting them is always a joy, and this year I'd go for Inga Sempe's ‘Mousqueton’ for Hay for its playful take on a practical tool (that is also suitable for indoors and outdoors). Alternatively, I am also considering Vincent Van Duysen's Gustave for Flos in this luscious green as a dinner centrepiece, or Grau's Salt and Pepper lamp for its versatility around the house. 

Mousqueton by Inga Sempe for Hay, £195, from Holloways of Ludlow

A kite (to fly or display)

Flying a kite on sunny, windy days is among my 2024 resolutions, perhaps thanks to the several brilliant kites I have come across this year. Dutch designer Bertjan Pot and photographers Scheltens & Abbenes got together to start the Kite Club, creating handmade kites with colourful patterns, which they document on Instagram. An exhibition at the Noguchi Museum also kickstarted my interest in Japanese Magoji kites, their whimsical animal shapes a joy to look at (and doubling as perfect decorative objects if you're not inclined to flying them). 

Japanese Magoji Kites, $45, from Yoka Good Things

A classic moka pot

Richard Sapper's moka pot for Alessi is an interpretation of the classic espresso maker that the late designer created in 1978. It is one of my most gifted items, and using one every day, I can attest to the satisfaction of using this well-engineered machine for a daily pleasure. This version with a red handle was created to celebrate Alessi's centenary, nodding to Sapper's original prototype. I personally favour the larger, 6-cup version, but there are also 3 cup and 1 cup available. 

Richard Sapper 9090 coffee maker for Alessi, £149, from Madeindesign

A deck of playing cards

Holiday season in my mind means playing cards with an after-dinner drink, so I have been looking for a twist on a traditional deck. Enter L'Objet's Jumbo playing cards by LA design duo The Haas Brothers, featuring the designers' signature playful characters and colourful interpretation of a classic. The deck comes in a velvet box and features a shimmering effect that elevates every game. 

The Haas Jumbo Playing Cards by L'Objet £92, from Selfridges

An iconic piece of furniture

Alvar Aalto's Artek stool 60 is firmly on my whishlist this year, whether in Formafantasma's new wild birch version or this blue lacquered interpretation. Used as a seat, occasional table, rest for a book or cup, or stacked when not in use, it's the perfect multifunctional piece of furniture to own or gift. I also went down a 1stDibs rabbit hole and now covet this rare bright blue topped version from the 1950s (or any of the pieces on there, with their exquisite patina), as well as the newly released Phaidon book about Aalvar and Aino Alto as a reading companion to the design pieces.  

Stool 60 Villi by Formafantasma, £236, from Endclothing

Wallpaper* gift guide: transport editor’s picks

A tiny trip to the Orient with Lego

Evoke the glamour of golden-era train travel with the Lego Orient Express set. A new set from the Lego Ideas group – which sources inspiration from Lego builders around the world – the 2,500-plus piece set includes the locomotive and two luxurious carriages, along with a cast of eight Agatha Christie-style Minifigures. The set is also compatible with Lego’s long-running L Gauge railway system. 

Lego Ideas Orient Express Set, £259.99, from Lego.com

A charger for life 

No journey is complete without a power source. We’ve already raved about British brand Gomi’s sustainable Bluetooth speaker. Now the UK company has launched its second product and it’s just as desirable, as well as being designed for longevity. The Portable Charger uses the same recycled material process as the speaker, resulting in a marble-effect casing that is entirely unique for every unit made. Gomi sources its plastics from discarded bags and bubble wrap and its batteries from old e-bikes; each charger has two ports and is designed to be reparable for life. 

Gomi Portable Charger, £79, Gomi.design, @gomidesign

A history of the Hyundai Pony

A treat for the car-design obsessive in your life. This, the first publication in Hyundai’s new RETRACE collection, tells the story of the company’s first production cars, starting with the 1975 Pony. Developed by a group of UK automotive engineers, with design input from Italdesign Giugiaro, the Pony was a boxy hatchback that has had a long tail in terms of influence and inspiration. It might be hard to track down, but RETRACE is a richly illustrated book (an edition of 500) that reproduces the original 1970s sketches and drawings, as well as recounting Hyundai’s journey to mass production, and the contemporary cars and concepts that have taken the Pony’s sharp-edged style into the modern era.

More information at Hyundai.news

A sleek two-wheeler

Scooters still live in legal limbo in many countries; even as the tech matures, the law hasn’t quite caught up with the idea of where and when they’re safe to ride. If your location is laissez-faire about such things, then the Bo M Scooter is one of the sleekest new two-wheelers on the block. With a 50km range, a top speed of 35km/h, integral luggage hooks and lights, as well as a magnetic dock for your phone, the Bo M prioritises safety, strength and visibility. 

Bo M, available from February 2024, £1,995, Bo.world

A folding holding pattern

London Transport’s Moquette collection takes the hard-wearing fabrics used throughout Underground carriages across the network and turns them into cushions, bags, rugs and more. This folding bag uses the same pattern, if not the fabric, as the newly opened Elizabeth Line, the boldest, busiest and most substantial route across the capital. Also available in two other designs, the bag is made from recycled plastic bottles.

Moquette folding bag, £7.50, LTMuseumshop.co.uk

A super charger for your EV

An increasingly essential component of any home, EV chargers are available in all shapes and sizes. Finding the right company to supply and fit a fast charger is still rather hit and miss, but evec has the right blend of affordability and unobtrusive design. Its 7.4kW charger offers Type 1 and Type 2 power and is available in both untethered and tethered versions (no integral cable versus cable). The company’s range extends to dual chargers for two-EV households as well as 22kW commercial designs. 

evec 7.4kW EV Charger, Supply and Fit, £799.99, evec.co.uk

The ultimate toy car

Playforever makes model cars that ooze style and solidity. Its new UFO74 Cannone is a thinly veiled homage to the iconic Lamborghini Countach, pared back to express the minimalist angularity of Marcello Gandini’s original concept. It joins a fleet of racing cars, muscle cars and design classics, all created for play or display. 

UFO74 Cannone by Playforever, £43.50, Playforever.co.uk, @playforever

Wallpaper* gift guide by architecture editor Ellie Stathaki

The Natural Shelter

We all get the urge to go completely off grid sometimes, and this tiny cabin is perfect for unusual architectural stays; and it can be yours, courtesy of bedding and mattress company Naturalmat and Devon-based cabin maker Out of the Valley. The miniature structure, with space for just a bed (naturally, with a Naturalmat mattress) and a bedside table and lamp, can be installed in your garden, field or estate. Made of organic wood, it is a sustainable low-impact dwelling shaped in the archetypal outline of a home – ready to buy for urban escapes or full countryside immersion. 

naturalmat.co.uk 

OWIU Goods

I love the origin story of this family of objects by California-based architecture studio OWIU. The practice's sensibility, centred on craft and materiality, is perfectly reflected in the recently launched OWIU Goods line of ceramics, made by the studio’s own team in Los Angeles. The idea was born during the pandemic, when the founders gifted their employees a pottery studio membership as a way to bolster morale and support mental health. ‘The team enjoyed producing so much that in late 2022 we formally launched a shop carrying the pieces,’ say founders Joel Wong and Amanda Gunwan. ‘It was very organic and unplanned but also surreal that we have graduated from that studio membership and now have a facility of our own and a team of potters.’ 

owiu-goods.com

Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat by Emma O'Kelly (Welbeck Publishing)

Sauna culture is spreading. Physical and mental wellbeing benefits, nurturing our connection with nature, and fostering history and community, are all strong, positive outcomes of partaking. The new book, Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat by Welbeck Publishing was written by Wallpaper* contributing editor Emma O’Kelly, and features bespoke photography by Maija Astikainen. It explores the activity, its popularity, and more, delving into the history, rituals and mythology around the much-loved pursuit. What better way to help us get through the cold months of winter. 

welbeckpublishing.com

Also available from Amazon

Exfoliating and Replenishing Duo by Aesop

The festive season demands looking after oneself, as parties, family commitments and shop-till-you-drop sessions can take a toll on the skin. Aesop's Exfoliating and Replenishing Duo is a delicious scrub-and-mask combo that is sure to cleanse, buff and hydrate the face, ready for make-up or – my staple – a simple, natural, dewy surface look. It works wonders on dry skin too. 

aesop.com 

Nuts and Bolts by Roma Agrawal (Hachette)

At home, we have been reading Roma Agrawal's How Was That Built? over and over again, so when I realised she's releasing a new book, I knew it would make this list. Nuts and Bolts by the award-winning Shard engineer and broadcaster has just launched and appeals to the geek in us all, talking about modern technology and invention in a simple, engaging way and touching on topics from skyscrapers to spacecraft. 

hachette.co.uk and Amazon

Card model buildings by Open City

I always return to Open City to buy stocking fillers and gifts for friends and family - from captivating reads (think: London Feeds Itself), to printed maps and tours, there's a range of offerings for all budgets and tastes here. My favourite? The miniature paper models of London buildings, which guarantee hours of indoor happiness, hot chocolate at hand, to get through the winter ahead – as they come in the post flat and you have to build them yourself. 

open-city.org.uk 

Chanel Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit

When our former Beauty Editor Mary Cleary described the new Chanel Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit as a 'skincare dream come true', I knew she was on to something. This night serum is the perfect treatment for the festive season – and beyond. Applying it recreates the appearance of getting eight hours of sleep through the clever use of vanilla. Magic! 

Chanel Sublimage L'Extrait de Nuit serum is available at harrods.com alongside the rest of the Sublimage range.

chanel.com

Skateboarding Santa-shaped bauble

Inspired by the spirit of London Design Museum's ongoing Skateboard exhibition, I was pleased to discover that a passion for the sport and Christmas merriment can be easily combined in this fun little bauble. Who said Santa only travels by a sleigh? 

designmuseumshop.com

John Pawson miniatures for Salvatori

When Salvatori launched The Village in 2021, the natural stone company invited established contemporary architects and designers to think about what ‘home’ means to them. The result was a series of miniature houses that reflect each one's approach to domestic life. London designer John Pawson crafted his minimalist 'House of Stone' from a a single block of Pietra d’Avola limestone. Pawson has also created a series of miniature versions of stone furniture with Salvatori - and they all look as cool as they feel calming. 

salvatoriofficial.com

Cue our edit of colourful cashmere, which not only protects and envelops against the elements – the noble fibre is well-known to be one of the world’s softest – but adds a much-needed jolt of energy to winter’s typically understated palette. 

From a vivid Hermès orange scarf to Extreme Cashmere’s electric pink sweater, our pick of rainbow-hued colourful cashmere for men and women – whether to gift to your loved one as the festive season approaches, or simply treasure yourself. 

Mood elevating: colourful cashmere for winter

Extreme Cashmere

Extreme Cashmere founder Saskia Dijkstra began the Amsterdam-based label with a simple desire: to create the perfect sweater. Crafted from impeccably sourced Mongolian cashmere – Dijkstra worked in garment production before founding the label – with the slightest stretch, this ‘Crew Hop’ sweater, was the result (the brand now does an extraordinary array of other cashmere garments, from tasselled skirts to balaclavas). We love this version in electric pink, for men and women – expect guaranteed compliments. 

Alternatively, their ‘Be Game’ cardigan (top) comes in a multitude of hues; buttoning completely down the back and front, different colours can be mixed and matched, half and half, as you choose.

Available from Mytheresa

Zegna x Elder Statesman

California-based cashmere Elder Statesman has always been known for a liberated use of colour, a philosophy it brings to a collaboration with Italian luxury powerhouse Zegna. Cue sweaters, hats and scarves in eye-watering shades, playful naive motifs and colour-soaked checks – all crafted from super-soft Mongolian cashmere. Best in class are these striped ultra-soft Oasi cashmere socks in the same kaleidoscopic palette as the collection.

Available from Mr Porter

Gucci 

Cashmere has long been a part of Gucci’s luxurious roster of fabrics, with this buttercup-yellow cashmere sweater a guaranteed injection of Italian sunshine. And, despite its bold palette, it is designed for ease – cut less like a jumper and more like an athletic sweater, it has a sporty ribbed crew neck and cuffs. 

Available from Mytheresa

Johnstons of Elgin

Johnstons of Elgin has been weaving fabric for close to two centuries in Elgin, Scotland, a small mill town on the River Lossie. Now the country’s only vertical weaving mill – where pieces are dyed, blended, spun, teased and produced – its output remains some of the best cashmere in the world. Which is not to say the company is staid: alongside classic beiges, greys, and whites, it also offers a vivid rainbow of colour – including this ‘Orkney’ blue beanie hat, inspired by the waters that surround the remote Scottish archipelago. 

Available from Selfridges

Hermès

What colour is quite so synonymous with luxury as the distinct orange hue of Hermès? The house’s ‘Unie Brodie’ – which translates to ‘plain embroidered’ in reference to the discreet Hermès stitching on its edge – is an everyday scarf originally designed for men in the house colour (though it could be worn by anyone). One of the Hermès’ ’muffler’ styles, it is large enough to warmly envelop the neck and face on even the coolest winter days.

Available from Hermès

Prada 

The cardigan – for both men and women – is having something of a comeback, largely down to Miuccia Prada, who has riffed on the knitwear staple at both Prada and Miu Miu in recent seasons. This butter-yellow one from Prada’s men’s collection, crafted from an amalgam of wool and cashmere, will give a satisfying injection of colour whether worn in the depths of winter or into spring.

Available from Farfetch

Raey

Crafted from recycled cashmere – no less soft or warm than its virgin counterpart – these satisfyingly long gloves by Raey are hand-knitted into the company’s distinct rib by Nepalese artisans. A pinch of extra-fine merino in the mix lends them a smooth finish and makes them less likely to succumb to the dreaded pill. 

Available from Matches

Barrie + Sofia Coppola

Released earlier in November, cult film director Sofia Coppola brought her distinct aesthetic eye to a collaboration with historic Scottish knitwear producer Barrie, which was recently purchased by Chanel. Promising the ‘ultimate travel wardrobe’ – ‘my fantasy of what you would bring on a trip with pieces that go together that are comfortable and casual,’ she said at the time – classic tones of black, navy and grey, meet flashes of khaki and pink, the latter adorning the collar and cuffs of this colour-block sweater.

Available from Selfridges

Burberry

Burberry check, redux. Daniel Lee’s electric-yellow take on the British house’s classic motif adorns this oversized and enveloping tasselled scarf, crafted from cashmere with a super-soft brushed finish.  

Available from Net-a-Porter

Loro Piana 

The sweetly titled ‘Clear Blue Clouds Me’ shade of this sweater might be more muted than some of the aforementioned styles, though the soft sky blue hue conjures up a similar feeling of levity. Crafted by Loro Piana – one of the most experienced and revered cashmere producers in the world – it is knitted to a traditional cable-knit pattern, though its cashmere fabrication makes it both soft and surprisingly lightweight. 

Available from Net-a-Porter

Wallpaper* gift guide: arts & culture editor’s picks

Sarah Lucas T-shirt from Tate Britain

While there’s little I love more than meandering around a gallery, exiting through the gift shop comes a close second. When it comes after a visit to one of the most playfully subversive exhibitions of the year, so much the better. ‘Sarah Lucas: Happy Gas’ at the Tate Britain was one of my favourite shows this year, so indulging in a bit of merch to carry me through into the next will do nicely. Tits in Space, a tribute to Lucas’ 2020 work of the same name featuring tempting-looking balls of cigarettes, comes in a soft grey, just the thing for slouching round another exhibition in.

£30, from tate.org.uk

Alaïa ballet flats from Matches Fashion

How to smarten up a pair of a-bit-too-tatty Adidas trousers? A pair of expensive and impractical shoes. How I love Alaïa’s black ballet flats made from fishnet mesh, with a sweet patent leather buckle my three daughters would love. After recently seeing Serpentine CEO Bettina Korek teaming hers with a sharp black trouser suit, I’m almost convinced these would make a useful and practical purchase.

£650, from matchesfashion.com

Wilma Johnson washing-up gloves from House of Voltaire

Anything that brings joy to the mundane is good with me, and artist Wilma Johnson’s effusive brand of righteous colour is somehow the perfect partner for a pair of washing-up gloves. House of Voltaire’s edit of limited-edition blankets, prints, silk scarves and homeware is worth regularly checking back on for quirky gifts for art lovers.

£85, from houseofvoltaire.org

Lexon x Keith Haring gift set from Musart

At the intersection of art, homeware and tech, the fun Keith Haring and Lexon set – comprising a speaker, an LED lamp, an alarm clock and a radio – is guaranteed to be a people pleaser. Lexon’s easy-to-use tech meets Haring’s bold and distinctive motifs (pictured here is the radio in the ‘Heart’ variation), bringing a welcome dose of pep to the early mornings.

Full set in ‘Happy’, $200, from musart.com

Radio only in ‘Heart’ as pictured, $70, from musart.com

Completedworks glass dinner set from Net-a-Porter

I’m a huge fan of Anna Jewsbury, the founder of London-based Completedworks, who brings a cool edge to jewellery design. It is an offbeat aesthetic that also stretches to the brand’s tableware – think undulating silhouettes, drunken candlesticks and delicious sorbet shades. One day, I will be the person whose dinner table is gorgeously coordinated, and when I am, it will be thanks to Completedworks.

17-piece glassware set, £2,985, exclusively from net-a-porter.com

Seven-piece set in green, £1,795