Unusual Christmas gifts for fashion lovers
A selection of presents for fashionistas that won't leave them asking for the gift receipt
Gifting anything related to fashion can be a nightmare, especially if the giftee is a dedicated follower of fashion with taste as specific than Coco Chanel.
Fortunately, with these fashion-friendly gifts, you will not spend Christmas day worrying if your gift is going straight back to the exchange desk come Boxing Day.
'Desire: Patti & Robert' by Lloyd Ziff
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There’s something utterly seductive about the stitched together cover of this new book dedicated to Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith. The images of the legendary artist and his iconic muse were taken by photographer Lloyd Ziff between 1968 and 1969 and have never been published before.
Ziff befriended Mapplethorpe at art school (they both graduated from New York’s prestigious Pratt Institute in 1967) and he quickly fell under the spell of the couple’s creative fervour. “They were always making paintings and drawings and sculptures, and their walls were covered with their work”, he notes in his introduction.
“Desire” documents Patti and Robert’s first photo shoot together, one of two sittings which took place at Smith and Mapplethorpe’s Hall Street flat in Brooklyn and at Ziff’s tiny apartment on Charles Street, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, in 1969.
Mapplethorpe had yet to establish himself as a photographer at this time, so these beguiling images offer a rare and intimate look at a couple who were on the cusp of reshaping the cultural landscape of the 1970s. The book is surely the coolest fashion throwback you could hope to find under your tree this Christmas?
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
£60, njgstudio.com
Special edition poster by Louis Vuitton
A timeless Louis Vuitton piece for under £150? Yes, it is possible! Illustrator Polly Brotherwood was commissioned by the French house to create a series of 10 posters inspired LV’s “Objects Nomades” editions, a range of furniture/lamps by renowned designers.
Each poster represents the country of the designer; a blue prismatic sun rises behind the pyramids referencing India Magdavi’s Talismanic table, while the ribbon above a dancing girl takes the same shape as André Fu’s aerodynamic two-seater sofa.
£130, available in Louis Vuitton stores
Leica X Paul Smith camera
Leica has revealed a new classic CL camera with a sartorial twist thanks to British design guru Paul Smith. For this unique edition, the designer has referenced the colour scheme of his bespoke Land Rover Defender, a car steeped in history given its use as a service vehicle for the British Armed Forces.
There are more lovely design nuances to look out for too: an engraved eye symbol above the viewfinder adds an irreverent touch, while the words “look and see” in the designer’s handwriting which feature at the back of the camera, reference his famous quote: “Many people look, but often they don’t see”.
The finishing touch is of course a signature rainbow stripe that stretches along the bottom of the high-performance Leica CL, which boasts a 24-megapixel sensor, fast autofocus and a continuous shooting rate of up to ten frames per second. The limited edition comes in a presentation box which includes a neon rope strap with Paul Smith and Leica branding, a dust cloth featuring a photo print of Paul’s vintage cameras and a certificate of authenticity.
£3,500, from store.leica-camera.com/uk
IKEA x Virgil Abloh DIY must have
The American design virtuoso unveiled his collection of “MARKERAD” fashion-forward homeware with the Swedish giant a few months ago. Much of it has sold out but if you head to a store you can still pick up a few of these future collectibles by the man who currently helms Louis Vuitton menswear.
This vibrant red tool kit is oh-so-Duchampian, it may even make the pain of DIY assembly a little more pleasurable.
17-piece tool set £12 from selected IKEA stores.
Gucci Cat Plate
Who would say no to this cute Gucci Trinket Tray? It is pink, purrfect for cat-lovers and the “Guccy” name is a playful poke at the counterfeit market that continues the plague the luxury fashion industry.
Alessandro Michele’s genius goes way beyond the wearable; the Italian designer who has shepherded the Italian brand since 2015, has applied his vintage-inspired avant-gardism to every corner of the production line.
The homeware department is especially magical this season. As well as quirky plates and ashtrays, look out for delightful candles presented porcelain pots designed by Richard Ginori
£170 Gucci.com
Voyager Club
This isn’t your average concierge business, it’s a luxury travel and fashion service that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to planning exclusive holidays. Voyager Club has access to an extensive network of "hidden gem" properties from boutique hotels to exclusive villas that don’t advertise online.
Destinations range from France and Greece to far flung paradises in Thailand, Jamaica and the Bahamas. A yearly subscription offers a wide range of tailor-made bonuses that go over and beyond the planning and booking process.
An example? Fashion stylists and Voyager Club co-founders Sophie Caulcutt and Ashley Barras will curate your holiday wardrobe, devise specialised itineraries for you and your family and organise VIP upgrades such as spa credits and room service treats. It’s the perfect way to plan a chic getaway with absolutely zero fuss.
£1500 for a yearly subscription, voyagerclub.co
YSL popsicle mould
There’s always something fun and quirky to buy on the Saint Laurent Rive Droite website which launched earlier this year as a sister e-commerce operation to the mainline offering.
Treats to suit all budgets include branded YSL plasters, chopsticks and pet accessories. What’s not to love about this silicone popsicle maker. It’s a little frivolous at £55, but think how chic your vodka lollies would be!
£55, ysl.com