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Compiled by: Jenny Coggins
REMEMBER last year’s Christmas shopping you did? No? Chances
are it was such a horrendous battle you’ve blocked it out.
This year, learn from your lesson. London shopping can be an
absolute nightmare at Christmas, so you need to be loaded up with
a plan before you venture out, and we don’t mean taking
out some mistletoe to charm your way through the crowds!
Try our ideas on what to buy for each member of the family.
For Him
If he fancies himself as being a bit of a smooth guy, then the
James
Bond Complete Collection on DVD is the perfect choice. The
back catalogue has all the girls, gadgets and great theme songs
making unforgettable films and an unforgettable present. HMV have
it for £129, not a bad price at all for a secret agent wannabee.
(Amazon price: £129.99)
Or, if you want to show him your selfless side then get him Football
Manager 2005. Like Championship Manager before it, this is
a highly addictive game so you do run the risk of not seeing him
for hours on end. But when you do, he’ll be safe in the
knowledge that you really do care… Again, try HMV or WH
Smiths but prices rarely deviate from the £35 mark. You
can try online for a cheaper copy, but just be mindful of delivery
times.
www.hmv.co.uk
www.whsmiths.co.uk
For Her
The male species might like to imagine that all women love lounging
about in bed in nothing but a red lacy thong but the reality is
something quite different.
Appeal to her comfort needs by indulging her in a pair of beautiful
pyjamas. For a pair that will give her the sweetest dreams, try
Marks and Spencer, who have a great range, standouts include the
silk pyjamas for £40.
If you want to get her something she can show off outside the
house, try a pair of shoes from the award-winning high street
store Faith.
Get her a sexy pair of heels in the Solo range, prices start
around £50, but as the name Solo suggests they are designed
to look like retro one offs. Bargain!
www.marksandspencer.com
www.faith.co.uk
For Mum
Mums work harder than Santa himself each Christmas so your ma
is sure to appreciate anything that will pamper and relax her.
Better than any shop giftset, put together a pamper pack specific
to your mum. Pick a candle from the massive selection at Libertys
such as a Diptyque for around £25.
While you’re in there, visit the brilliant chocolate shop
and add a bar to the pack. Don’t worry if your mum suffers
any allergies, the massive selection includes dairy-free, sugar-free,
kosher, organic and gluten-free among others.
Nip over to Covent Garden afterwards and head for The Sanctuary
to add their Crème Brulee (£8.95) body lotion to
the pack. Finish it all off with a classic DVD for your ma to
sit and watch.
You can’t go wrong with Gone
With The Wind (also recently named as the
most attended film in Britain) HMV have it for £19.99.
Just remember to do the washing up on Christmas day and you’ll
be your Mum’s favourite for the rest of the year!
www.liberty.co.uk
www.thesanctuary.co.uk
www.hmv.co.uk
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For your Dad
Dads love being right know-it-alls, so make sure you get him something
to keep him as King of the knowledge jungle. Try the Trivial Pursuit
Genus Edition on for size, £34.99 from Hamleys, and you
might just find him pushed to the limits.
Or if you want to shut him up, send him up to the bathroom to
test out one of his many fragrances in his Lauder Men Scents of
Style set, £30 from Boots.
www.hamleys.co.uk
www.boots.com
For Your Brother
For joy that’ll last beyond Christmas day, sign your bro
up for Lovefilm.com. For £9.99 for the first month, he’ll
be able to choose from 25,000 films and he won’t pay postage
or packaging either. Check out http://www.lovefilm.com/
for more details.
Or for a present that will grow in value, but cool enough not
to make the antiques roadshow, visit the Vintage magazine store
on Brewer Street. They’ve got a great range of NME backcopies
– pick out a cover with his favourite band – or one
published on his birthday – from around £10 upwards.
http://www.vinmag.com
For Your Sister
Your sis will appreciate something to keep warm in, but also look
stylish too. Topshop have some great leather gloves, the long
leather gloves in a deep tan cost £22 but look like they
cost double.
www.tops.co.uk
For a sure fire way to get your sister grinning, get her something,
anything, in fact from The White Company. Even gift vouchers would
be forgiven and if you’re quick you can do it online at
www.thewhitecompany.com
For emergencies
Wrap a box of chocs to leave under the tree as a versatile emergency
gift. And if you don’t give them out you can scoff them
yourself! www.thorntons.co.uk
Take advantage of bookstores 3 for 2 offers and wrap your free
book – ready and waiting for that special someone you forgot!
www.borders.co.uk
A decent bottle of wine wrapped stylishly will fool your forgotten
one into thinking you cared all along. www.oddbins.com
Any excuse to give a Lush bath bomb is good in our books, so
get one of these as an emergency gift, particularly one of the
Christmas special.
www.lush.co.uk
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