THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE | MADE UP OF THINGS I OWN AND LOVE!

Oh hey you lot and welcome to my Christmas gift guide, can I get a whoop whoop!?

My favourite month of the year is in full throttle and it’s now sociably acceptable to listen to ALL the Christmas tunes despite having admittedly done so since September… Yeah, I’m THAT girl!

I haven’t done a gift guide for a few years now through fear of BOMBARDING you with yet another guide. There are some pretty awesome and down right beautiful gift guides in the blogging world and to be honest I felt like I couldn’t get involved as my standards just weren’t strong enough. But alas, I’m here with a guide I’m down right proud of, shot in a more lifestyle and therefore more “Megan” format and using things I’ve truly LOVED wearing, using and playing with over the past year and beyond. It would be SO easy for me to call in a number of gifts to offer to you but that just doesn’t sit right with me. I want to share the things I’m loving and the things I would whole heartedly recommend to you. The items I’d love to receive under my Christmas tree, the pieces I know you’d love to have waiting for you too and the things I know your loved ones are gonna adore also.

So without further ado here is my ultimate Christmas Gift Guide, an amalgamation of fashion, beauty and lifestyle items made up of things I already own, use and LOVE!

Finger Bling

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of some finger candy. It’s very rare that my fingers go bare unless I am sleeping, showering or have frustratingly forgotten to adorn my fingers with a set of rings that morning. I have a HUGE selection of rings, some of which you can see in this post here (an updated version coming up in the new year) but I wanted to pin point my four absolute faves from three of my fave jewellery brands and retailers to offer as gift inspiration for yourself (there's still time to send your list off to Father Christmas) or for someone dear to you.

Firstly we have two by Monica Vinader, a jewellery brand I completely and utterly ADORE! There’s always something for everyone and in my eyes it’s an absolute failsafe Christmas gift choice for someone close to you. The first ring I wanted to suggest was the beautiful coffin/rectangular shaped gold ring with stunning deep green stone named the Baja Ring; this is an absolute corker of a ring and receives the most wonderful of compliments from everyone who lays eyes on it. I chose a size that meant I could wear it on my ring finger and my index finger for ample styling opportunity as it looks awesome alone as a statement piece, but also layered up with all the other babies you can see in this shot. The Rose Gold Art Deco inspired ring is the latest ring to grace my fingers and was an early Christmas present to myself, it’s a really delicate piece that I think a whole host of ladies will just love!

If the special lady in your life is after something a little more quirky then July’s Child is your one stop shop for all things jewellery. July’s Child offer the most insane mash up of jewellery carefully curated from independent designers around the globe. The Opal Third Eye ring is probably my most worn and most loved piece of jewellery of late and similarly to the green MV ring it receives gallons of love from everyone who spies it.

And finally something totally unique is the personalised name ring by Anburis, a ring you all went WILD for over in my week in outfits video as it’s something I and clearly so many of you lot have never seen before. Anburis create beautiful eternity rings that combine two names in one ring. The front side of the ring clearly states Megan, but when the ring is removed perfectly and so totally delicately on the underside is the name George. It’s the most beautiful and most special piece in my jewellery collection and I just know that SO many of you and your other halves will love this forever more! Perhaps your gal pal’s just got married, or had a baby, or you're simply best friends fo lyf, theres something special about having your special names interlinked in jewellery form!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing Shoes

If there’s one thing my friends and family know I go wild for, it’s a pair of shoes! I’m a sucker for them especially those of the statement variety. Treating your Momma, Sister, Bestie or otherwise to a gorgeous pair of shoes is the most wonderful of gifts, particularly if they're a pair that they wouldn’t have normally treated themselves to, now thats what gifting is all about. I know that I’d simply LOVE (I mean, who wouldn’t?) to see this blue Prada box underneath my tree, fit with the most fabulous of seventies style burnt orange AND velvet platforms heels anyone has ever laid eyes on… AMIRIGHT or AMIRIGHT!?
Stay tuned for my Five Failsafe Gifts For Fashion Lovers Video this week for 3 other pairs of perfect dancing shoes.

 

Get Personal

Artwork is always something I love to receive, admittedly it can be quite tricky to get right as it’s often not easy nor fair to impose your personal interior taste onto somebody else; however, saying that, online print and art store Junique have the most awesome artwork advent calendar that provides a different print behind each door for 25 days, the gift that keeps on giving if you ask me.
But, if you know that person extremely well then a piece of special artwork can be the most wonderful of gifts to give. My ultimate store for finding the most beautiful pieces of artwork, that can also be framed, is King & McGaw, both the quote by Andy Warhol (a personal fave quote of mine I must say) and the Vogue print which was a house warming gift from my parents (honestly best gift ever!) can be found on King & McGaw along with a whole host of other designs from various artists from around the world! Artwork is such a special gift as each time you cast your eyes at it, you’ll instantly think of the thoughtful person who treated you to it.

Loungewear

The one gift I thought was LAME af when I was growing up is actually the present I adore the most now I’m twenty five and that is Pyjamas (and socks lbf) Theres nothing better than slipping on a brand new pair of PJ’s on Christmas day night having eaten your weight in cheese and chocolate for the previous 6 hours! A few faves of mine have got to be these, these and these babies by Next, I do love a cuffed jogger style PJ, but for something ultra fabulous try this gorgeous silky set from Fig Leaves. Luxurious navy and gold colour-way with a red tipping, they feel really rather Gucci indeed… Plus, they feature bee’s and we all know what bee’s mean to this Mancunian now don’t we!?

Play That Funky Music

Now this is quite the splurge offering but it’s something George and I have truly ADORED over the past couple of week’s since we bought it for the new house so I simply HAD to share it with you just in case you wanted to seriously spoil somebody rotten this Christmas. The Marshall Speaker is a game changer when it comes to in-house speakers. Not only does it look simply delicious, especially on our all new seventies sideboard *heart eyed emojii* with it’s retro vibe and cream leather exterior but the sound quality is quite frankly phenomena! Each and every music lover who has stepped into our home has left with this baby high on their wish-list and I can totally understand why. They do smaller styles too which we’re hoping to get our hands on soon as together they can be synced up which obvz means Slade playing in every single room of the house ofc.

Something Pretty

Make up is always the thing I begrudge treating myself to, yeah I said it! I don’t know about you lot but all of my make up tends to run out all at once and I end up having to pay through the nose for each and every product I choose to slap on my face… Not ideal!
So in my humble opinion make up is such a wonderful gift for any lady in your life and personally, a failsafe beauty product is an eyeshadow palette, something you can’t really get wrong, especially when in neutral tones such as these two babies.

First up we have the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette which is pretty much my dream eye shadow palette; with orange’s, browns, tans and deep red’s it’s a neutral eye girl’s dream, offering both matte’s and shimmers meaning it’s perfect for both day and for night. There isn’t a single shade that I haven’t used and loved and I would whole heartedly recommend it to ANYONE. Colour selection, pigmentation, longevity, this babies got it all!

Second on my perfect palette list is the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eye Look Palette which offers shades for a “Day Eye” a “Desk Eye” and a “Disco Eye” quite obviously it is absolutely perfect for all occasions having been designed for just that! Whilst I am yet to use anything from the disco eye, the day and desk eye selection offers some truly beautiful shades in super pigmented matte’s and shimmers, I know my mum would TRULY adore this and don’t doubt that anyone wouldn’t to be perfectly frank.

Good Things, Small Packages

Small leather good’s are always a great bet for both men and for women. They’re a little slice of luxury and something completely and utterly precious! I tend to opt for a card holder such as this baby by Gucci that my parents kindly treated me to last Christmas, however a wallet such as this from Mulberry is never far from my larger bags and I know many of the special ladies in my life who will ADORE this too.
A number of small leather goods can also be personalised too, I’ve done this for George a few times at Aspinal Of London which just makes the whole gift giving thang that little bit more thoughtful and therefore special too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Spoil 'Em Rotten!

When it comes to gifting, I always like to think about pieces that my friends and family wouldn’t always treat themselves to. Something that isn’t overly essential, something that is more of a special treat, a little bit spendy and of course something oh so perfect to them.
If that sounds like you then a leather jacket is just the piece you’re looking for to treat your loved one to. This All Saints leather jacket is without a shadow of a doubt the most worn item in my wardrobe. It gets better and better as it softens with age and I just know that I’m going to have this baby for a very, very long time, if not for life! It’s one of those pieces that may be a little pricey, but just know that the receiver will thank you for it FOREVER more, you have no idea how much they’ll wear it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tipple or Two!

It’s absolutely no secret that I'm partial to a drink or two.
And I personally find that receiving a great bottle is a truly gorgeous gift indeed. Find out what your secret santa, what your partners parents or otherwise, tipple of choice is and have a nosey online at websites such as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols to find something that little bit special.
Gin wise, we adore Monkey 47 and Manchester Gin, two of our absolute favourite gin’s closely followed by Forest Gin. A bottle of bubbles is always a rather delicious gift, Laurent Perrier Pink is my all time favourite drink, what can I say I have expensive taste 😉

 

Winter Warmers

It’s only been a recent thing but I must say I’m really into cashmere right now.
I feel cashmere is a bit of an age thing. You hit a certain age where comfort and warmth are two key factors when it comes to getting dressed in a morning, and with that, you find yourself opting for cashmere errrthang! 
So I of course, had to suggest a few of my fave cashmere items that I think your favourites will love just as much.
First up we have Chinti & Parker, a brand you’ve heard me whittle on a lot about recently but I’m just totally obsessed. They do really gorgeous, really fun and colourful cashmere pieces, often with a theme or a collaboration with a well known brand such as The Moomins for example. If your babes are into things a little fun and different to the norm then C&P is definitely somewhere to check out! Similarly to that we also have Madeline Thompson who has changed the loungewear game for me with these insane rainbow trim cashmere joggers!

However, if it’s budget friendly cashmere you’re after, I mean, who the heck isn’t? Then ASOS White or M&S are my go-to’s!

 

The Ultimate Hair Care

I'm regularly asked what I use to style my hair, and whilst one day real soon I'll get a post together that will explain ALL from cut, colour, washing and styling, I REALLY wanted to share the Sam McKnight hair collection with you as it's an absolute game changer!
Not only is the packaging TO DIE FOR, with it's matte pastel shades and gold foil, minimalistic branding, but each and every piece does exactly what it states it will and smells absolutely incredible to boot.
If it's texturising spray you want, thats exactly what you get, if it's hair spray that holds, you betcha bottom dollar this baby does just that! It's a new find for me but one I am TOTALLY loving (and clearly stocking up on ey!?) so just HAD to share the love with you guys too, as I just know you're gonna love receiving, giving or both of the above this Christmas time.

 

Me Time

Me time is the most important thing, especially at this time of year! Give back to your momma, nanna, sister, auntie or BFF with a luxury candle or two. It's my ultimate failsafe gift for anyone, especially from either Jo Malone or Diptique, my ultimate luxury (but not too luxury, I'm looking at you Fornacetti) candle picks. 
The Christmas Diptique Candles on the right are my absolute favourites, particularly the green one. It's a candle I look forward to picking up at least three of every season and they make the most perfect gift too, even if they're somewhat too special to ever burn!

The Jo Malone Miniature Candle Collection is also a really great failsafe gift as they allow the receiver to make up their own mind about which Jo Malone fragrance is their fave. I'm a huge fan of SO many of the Jo Malone candles but this has still allowed me to discover some new faves! The perfect gift for a special lady or fella in your life!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a Lasting Memory

I was recently worked with Instax with their all new Instax SP2 printers and my goodness am I obsessed! Basically these little printers allow you to print photographs from your phone in the iconic Instax format… GENIUS! In an age where we take more photographs than ever it seems such a shame that printing photographs just isn’t the done thing anymore. Receiving this has made me realise the importance of having your loved ones scattered in frames, or hung in fun ways throughout your home, it’s an instant mood lifter and adds lashings of personality to a room. I’d definitely suggest adding this baby to your Christmas list pronto or perhaps treat your bestie to it, I just know they’re going to adore it as much as we do.

And here we are; my ultimate Christmas gift guide, made up of all the things I have used and loved this year and beyond! I really hope you enjoyed this post as I thoroughly enjoyed putting it together for you all! If you did enjoy, please do let me know, as I'll make sure to continue this next year too. I hope you have a bloody gorgeous Christmas everyone and this has made the whole gift giving/actually knowing what you'd like for Christmas that little bit easier!

 

LOADSA LAV!

x M