In a world full of influencers and trending aesthetics, figuring out your personal style has become both easier and overwhelming. While there is nothing wrong with taking inspiration from fashion icons, finding your signature aesthetic requires a touch of introspection. Here are some tips for navigating the personal journey toward landing on your own, very individual style.

Start with your closet

Your first thought may be to buy new clothes, but before you start refreshing your closet, take stock of what you already have. Begin from the “left side of your wardrobe and commit to wearing each item every day,” CNN said. Consider whether to “save it for evening wear or chuck it altogether.” This will give you a “clearer view of what does and doesn’t work, as well as what you’re missing.”

Everyone has a go-to outfit, “something you know works and makes you feel good,” Vitor Arruda, a personal stylist and content creator, said to The Guardian. Once you identify that outfit, “figure out what it is that makes you like it so much,” the outlet said. After you figure that out, you can search for “clothes that look or feel similar.”

Go window shopping

Shopping sprees can be fun, but they aren’t “always productive to finding your style,” said The Every Girl. There are “crowds and long lines for dressing rooms,” and sometimes the “chaos can make you pick up things you don’t actually love.”

Instead, spend your time “looking at clothes, not buying clothes.” Pick a day and “commit yourself to not swiping your credit card.” Instead, spend a “no-pressure day getting a better grasp of what you like.” You can also “test drive new pieces” by using a clothing rental service like Armoire, Nuuly and Rent the Runway. This way, you can “bring some of your style inspiration to life” without needing to “commit to new pieces that might not actually resonate with you in the long run."

Make a mood board

Mood boards and Pinterest are great ways to visualize your style ideas. If you’re a “tactile person,” you can “absolutely print and paste pictures, words, vibes together,” said The Good Trade. If you’re more tech-savvy, you can do this in Photoshop or Canva. Laying your inspirations out visually is a “great way to see commonalities in who and what you are drawn to.” Any kind of media or color swatches that catch your eye can be included. Once you put your vision board together, “you can see what aligns with what you already own and what feels far off.”

Don’t hyperfixate on your body

Many of us are conditioned to “believe that our body shape and size dictate what we wear,” said The Guardian. But this undermines the premise of personal style. Fashion advice devoted to dressing for your body type “creates a misconception that your body is wrong or that you have to hide certain parts,” Arruda said. When you do this, “you’re dressing with shame and fear,” which will “never allow you to be your true self and develop a style.”

It’s hard to “build perspective” when your “top concern is that every garment you wear makes it clear exactly how your waist is shaped,” or if you’re “worried about looking short in a long coat,” Lizzie Wheeler, a vintage expert, said to The Guardian. Don’t be afraid to experiment with shape, volume and proportion.

Learn to ride the wave

Personal style isn’t “something you find overnight,” Amanda Murray, a creative consultant, said to CNN. “It’s something you arrive at.” Over time, through “living, failing, heartbreak, love, wanting, shedding,” you will “understand what feels true on your body and what doesn’t.”

Your aesthetic is not just a reflection of your current life but “the life you’re aspiring to or think you deserve,” Jalil Johnson, writer of the fashion Substack Consider Yourself Cultured, said to CNN. Much like our “ever-evolving and changing lives,” our style “evolves too, and that evolution is not only natural but necessary.”

Move over, tech bros: Swaths of younger Black men are reclaiming the preppy pullover sweater in a trend dubbed the quarter-zip movement. While some praise the young men for abandoning their Nike Tech sweatsuits for more professional attire, critics say the trend reeks of respectability politics and exposes racial biases in fashion, particularly for young men of color.

How did the movement start?

The trend kicked off after a TikTok video of two young Black men “bespectacled and sporting navy blue quarter-zip pullovers” with iced matcha in hand went viral. “We don’t do Nike Tech, we don’t do coffee,” said Jason Gyamfi, one of the men in the video, proclaiming it’s “straight quarter-zips and matchas around here.”

As Gen Z matures and begins to “lean into business casual,” the “often ribbed, always square quarter-zip sweater seems to be their garment of choice,” said The New York Times. The “shift from the Nike Tech fleece sweatsuit” to the classic quarter-zip “signifies an aesthetic pivot toward professional expectations.” More than just a fashion statement, the trend has become a “cultural moment” alongside the current revival of Black dandyism, said the Chicago Sun Times.

The movement has inspired multiple large-scale meetups, where young men gather while wearing the versatile pullover. The movement is “bigger than just about what you’re wearing,” Corey Dooley Johnson, who helped organize the Chicago meetup, said to the Chicago Sun-Times. It is about “how you’re living” and “community service and brotherhood.” What we want to do is “bring that holistic community feeling back.”

The movement also signals a cultural shift, particularly among young Black men who have popularized it. Many associated Nike Techs with Black culture and, unfortunately, with corresponding negative stereotypes. The movement is fueled by a younger generation trying to leave those associations behind, TikToker Tamu Atemie said to Newsweek. Despite their comfortable fit, Nike techs have earned a “bad reputation.” There have been instances when “individuals are caught doing crimes,” such as stealing and burglary. “What are they wearing? A Nike tech.”

Is it about conforming, or does it symbolize more?

All movements are to “some degree, political,” said GQ. This one, “dressed as a finance bro, arrives smack dab in the middle of the purported crisis of masculinity.” Loneliness, “directionlessness, perceived powerlessness, physical and mental health issues” and a “decline in college enrollment rates” are all “pieces of that puzzle.” However, due to the “current social climate,” it is tempting to “not to see this viral trend as anything other than cookie-cutter conservatism propped up as elegance.” Still, “outright dismissing it feels rather cynical.”

Online, critics have dismissed the trend as a “form of respectability politics,” claiming participants are “making themselves more acceptable for white, mainstream society,” said the Chicago Sun-Times. But the “quarter-zip enthusiasts push back on that critique,” saying their intention is to “be fashionable, build self-confidence, foster community and show Black men doing positive things while having fun.” Respectability politics often “puts the burden on marginalized communities instead of addressing prejudices.”

“I think respectability politics is only half the story,” Chicago Fashion Coalition President Marquan Jones said to the Chicago Sun-Times. How you are dressed is “how you are addressed,” but that should “never determine the dignity that you’re owed.” No outfit has “ever protected a Black man from racism.”

For all his “talk of personal reinvention,” Gyamfi said to the Times, it would be “unwise to read too much into any pivot.” There is not necessarily a difference between “wearing a Nike Tech or a quarter-zip” because “clothes don’t make the man, the man makes the clothes.”

Presiding over the fashion empire that bore his name for 50 years, Giorgio Armani, who has died in Italy aged 91, was one of the most influential designers of the late 20th century, said The Times.

At the start of his career, in the 1960s, he had spotted that members of the middle classes had different aspirations from their parents. Members of this post-war generation rejected the stiff conventionality of the past, and yearned instead for comfort, ease and understated luxury.

His first great innovation was to deconstruct the traditional tailored suit, by removing canvas linings and thick shoulder pads, lengthening the coat and moving buttons. Armani suits were soft, slouchy and fluid, designed to suit lean, muscular men who didn’t need tailors to disguise the shape of their bodies; he described them as clothes that “give confidence without defining personality”.

Then he turned his attention to the women who were increasingly breaking through glass ceilings in the workplace – creating for them soft, elegant suits, in muted palettes, that would help them project authority without sacrificing their femininity. “I realised that [women] needed a way to dress that was equivalent to that of men,” he said. “Something that would give them dignity in their work life.”

Defining the times

The Armani label prospered in the aspirational, materialist 1980s, aided by some clever marketing. The designer had been quick to see the potential when the sexy clothes he created for the peacocking character played by Richard Gere in the hit film “American Gigolo”, in 1980, caused a sensation, said Vogue. (His suits became even more famous when they were worn by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas on the TV show “Miami Vice”.)

Back then, film stars were not often given outfits by designers; on the red carpet they wore their own, or co-opted the film’s wardrobe department to find them something. But Gere had carried on wearing Armani, and in 1983 Armani opened an office in LA to showcase his wares to Hollywood stylists, said The Guardian.

Being “dressed by Armani” turned out to have a remarkable impact, said The New York Times. Jodie Foster, never known as a fashion plate, entered the best-dressed lists after wearing Armani at the Oscars in 1992. In that decade, the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer and Sharon Stone were repeatedly photographed in Armani gowns, turning the red carpet into a major fashion event, while male stars including Russell Crowe and George Clooney wore Armani tuxedos to exude old-school tinseltown glamour with a modern twist.

Rapid expansion

By then, Armani had nurtured several “brand extensions”, including sunglasses, swimwear and watches. He also opened lower-priced lines such as Armani Jeans, Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange, to run alongside his premium ones, and moved into new markets, notably in Asia. Understanding that what he was selling was not so much clothes as a vision for a lifestyle, he later expanded into homeware, restaurants and hotels, where guests could eat off Armani plates and sleep under Armani sheets.

His extension strategy was risky: other designers undermined their brands by licensing too many products. But Armani – a perfectionist who kept tight control over every aspect of his business – succeeded in maintaining prestige, while selling in vast volume. He said he wanted to make people “look better”, and he wasn’t even troubled when counterfeits emerged. “I am very glad that people can buy Armani, even if it’s a fake,” he once said. “I like the fact that I’m so popular around the world.”

Once the brand had been established, he had shown little interest in setting trends, and for a time critics said that his lines were repetitive, and “out of step”, said The New York Times. Again, he seemed unfazed. The vast advertising budgets deployed by his firm ensured that Armani continued to enjoy “lavish and largely reverent coverage in the press”; and in any case, his classic, determinedly unfussy style would become fashionable again.

Personal complexities

By 2001, Armani became the first designer to have a solo retrospective at the Guggenheim. In the 2000s, he became the first designer to ban models with a body mass index under 18, and the first haute couturier to launch a new collection online.

As his wealth grew, the perma-tanned designer bought multiple houses, and a succession of superyachts, where he entertained A-listers and fashion royalty; but he seemed to live mainly for his work, especially after the death of his long- term romantic and business partner Sergio Galeotti, in 1985, from Aids-related causes. He once said that he sometimes longed for weekends to end, so that he could get back to his offices in Milan, a city he turned into a rival to Paris on the fashion map. In Italy, where he was revered, he was known as “King Giorgio”.

Humble origins

Giorgio Armani was born in Piacenza, in northern Italy, in 1934. He remembered going hungry during the War, and in 1943 he was severely burned when a shell that he and his friends had been playing with exploded; one of them died. “War,” he said, “taught me that not everything is glamorous.” His parents were of modest means, said The Daily Telegraph, but they dressed elegantly and looked wealthy, he said. He shared that sensibility: he loved the cinema, and was fascinated by the look of stars such as Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich and Humphrey Bogart. He originally planned to become a doctor, but two years into his studies he dropped out. In 1957, he went to work for an upmarket department store in Milan, initially as a window dresser, where he learnt about innovative new textiles and marketing. He had no formal training as a couturier.

In the 1960s, Armani went to work for the Italian designer Nino Cerruti, who asked him to design a menswear collection. This gave him fresh insights into the industry, including how textiles are made. Cerruti, however, rejected the idea that he had discovered Armani. He had, he said, “discovered himself... men like Armani are so rare that, when one emerges, even the blind are aware of it”. In 1970, Galeotti urged him to go freelance, and five years later, they founded Giorgio Armani. “Sergio made me believe in myself,” he told GQ this year. “He made me see the bigger world.” His suits were an immediate hit, and by around 1976, they were being sold at department stores in New York.

As the sole owner of Armani, he built up a fortune estimated at $12 billion. A fiercely private man, and a self-confessed loner, he said he found music distracting, and though he loved art, he had no interest in acquiring art or artefacts, “because you become used to them”, which is a “selfish thing”; his work was his preoccupation and he retained tight control over his empire to the end. “Life,” he said, “is a movie. And my clothes are the costumes.”

Piaget's Swinging Sixties comeback

The 1960s were a vibrant era for watch design, with bold dial shapes and the use of semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli, tiger's eye and turquoise. Watchmakers embraced avant-garde styles, incorporating unique materials into daring, dynamic timepieces that reflected the spirit of the decade. Piaget was one such pioneer, leading the charge with innovative designs that were elegantly disruptive.

Andy Warhol was a fan of the brand: one of his favourite Piaget pieces was a large yellow gold watch with a cushion-shaped case, featuring stepped or chiselled gadroons. The style has heavily influenced the marque's brand new silhouette, The Sixtie, which has a trapezoidal-shaped case embellished with the same decorative contour lines. Notably, the rounded case is wider at the top than at the bottom, offering a nostalgic nod to the past by celebrating the era's love of abstract forms.

The Sixtie collection offers a range of styles, from elegant yellow gold and steel to bi-metal and diamond-encrusted. Its distinctive shape perfectly captures the nostalgic glamour and sophisticated decadence of the past, with even more variations expected in the future.

piaget.com

Van Cleef & Arpels safeguard high glamour

The Cadenas model is one of Van Cleef & Arpels most historic silhouettes. Introduced in 1935, it was designed to harness the new-wave spirit of the times, fusing the philosophy of Duchampian ready-mades – in this case a humble padlock – with the geometric allure of Art Deco aesthetics.

Unapologetically distinctive, this timepiece balances audacity with restraint – its bold, volumetric look tempered by the quiet ingenuity of a slanted dial that tells time discreetly. No stranger to dressing up in precious gems, the Cadenas has secured its place in watchmaking history with a series of unforgettable iterations, including models embellished with leather and hardwood in the 1970s.

Celebrating the Cadenas' 90th birthday this year, AC&A has released two new dazzling designs that showcase the atelier's world-famous gem-setting expertise: a yellow gold version covered in snow-set diamonds punctuated by two rows of princess-cut sapphires, and a white gold model encrusted entirely with icy white diamonds.

vancleefarpels.com

Cartier's Jazz Age revival

A trip to London's V&A museum, which is hosting a blockbuster Cartier exhibition dedicated to the brand's bejewelled wonders, is a reminder of the marque's long history of crafting incredibly ornate jewellery watches. True to form, the house has this year released a number of gem-set horological marvels, including a yellow gold Baignoire Bangle covered in ‘polka dot’ diamonds, and a series of gem-set Tressage watches noted for their sculptural style inspired by braided material.

But Cartier is also associated with the Machine Age and the more restrained aesthetics of Art Deco style, at once industrial, adventurous and sleekly glamorous. These are themes harnessed by the house’s new Tank à Guichets from the exclusive Cartier Privé collection. Inspired by a vintage design first released in 1928, and worn by jazz legend Duke Ellington, this timepiece is a whimsical paradox: minimalist in its display of the time revealed through two tiny apertures, or guichets, yet unapologetically maximalist in form, with a bold metal sheath that nearly eclipses the dial beneath.

Equipped with a jumping hours complication, this unisex Tank will be offered as an open edition in platinum, yellow gold and rose gold. Additionally, a distinct platinum model featuring an alternate display will be released in a limited run of 200 pieces.

cartier.com

Chanel's true blue

Bleu de Chanel may be the name of the house's best-selling men's fragrance, but the colour navy is also dressing the maison's horological stars. The iconic J12 ceramic watch, first revealed in sleek black 25 years ago, has finally embraced a new shade: an intense, seductive midnight blue. It took Chanel's engineers five years to perfect the colour, as the true hue only emerges after the intense sintering process, in which ceramic and pigment particles are subjected to extreme temperatures, fusing them into a durable, scratch-resistant material.

Achieving the smooth, visually immersive matte finish was another challenge the research team overcame, ensuring the final result is nothing short of flawless. The J12 Bleu has already been turned into new haute joaillerie versions, including a Diamond Tourbillon and a skeletonised Bleu X-Ray iteration set with 196 baguette-cut blue sapphires. Like a piece of fashion couture, each watch is designed and assembled from start to finish under one roof, at Chanel's watchmaking workshops in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

chanel.com

Patek Philippe's surprise disruptor

Patek Philippe's elegant Twenty~4 women's collection has long been synonymous with the chic sophistication of a gem-set dial. However, in a surprising departure, the watchmaker recently unveiled a new model crafted entirely from rose gold, without a single diamond, yet still delivering an impressive statement for the wrist.

This new release is the first in the collection to feature the perpetual calendar, one of Patek Philippe's most iconic Grand Complications. The brand introduced the world's first wristwatch with a perpetual calendar in 1925, and vintage Patek Philippe models featuring this complication are known to command astronomical prices at auction.

The perpetual calendar is pure watchmaking wizardry. It automatically recognises the differing lengths of months, 30 and 31 days, and even accounts for leap years. Remarkably, it only needs a correction once every 400 years. Super slim with either a satin-brushed silver-tone dial (apparently inspired by shantung silk) or a sunburst olive green dial, this new reference 7340/1R-010 is the perfect union of delicate design and mechanical mastery.

patek.com

This year's Watches and Wonders week-long fair in Geneva reached a record attendance with over 55,000 visitors and a 21% jump in ticket sales from last year, proving that the luxury watch industry remains a captivating world for consumers, driving trends and preferences.

While all luxury makers are facing a significant slowdown, a number of top watchmakers are finding innovative ways to stay relevant. Here are some of the trailblazers for 2025.

Zenith: blue-sky thinking with the Chronomaster Sport

The process of colouring ceramic is a complicated one involving the high-pressure fusion of bonding agents with pigments and powdered zirconium oxide to create a mouldable material. Like an ultra-technical baking process, there's a huge amount of trial and error involved for the ceramic to 'take' the right tone, often requiring expert technicians months and even years to get right.

To mark its 160th anniversary, Zenith has stayed true to its name and looked to the skies for inspiration for a trio of scratch-resistant ceramic releases, dressing its most emblematic chronographs – the Chronomaster Sport, the Defy Skyline Chronograph and Pilot Big Date Flyback, in vivid cobalt.

The biggest crowd-pleaser of the three at this year's Watches and Wonders event in Geneva was the baby of the bunch, the Zenith Chronomaster Sport, first released in 2021 and now more eye-catching than ever in this electric-blue tone that's attractively offset by the tricolour counters in cooler gradients of grey.

Featuring a well-proportioned 41mm case with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces, the watch is powered by the El Primero 3600 movement which operates at the high frequency of 5Hz, allowing the wearer to measure time to a tenth of a second. A limited edition of 160 units.

£20,500, zenith-watches.com

TAG Heuer new F1 models: fast and furious with added fun

TAG Heuer has renewed its role as Official Timekeeper of Formula 1 which also means plenty of new models that channel the excitement and energy of the track. Most dynamic of all are a series of quartz Solargraph watches that appropriate a classic 80s design – the same fun style that was used for last year's collaboration with lifestyle brand, Kith.

This time, the new slightly smaller 38mm watches have solar-powered movements and come in nine bold colourways inspired by F1 liveries – three available now, six as limited editions that will individually drop to coincide with Grand Prix races throughout the year.

Weighing in at a very comfortable 71g, the watches feature cases made of a new resilient bio-plastic called TH-Polylight and showcases the TAG Heuer logo on the dial and embossed on the rubber strap. Pre-orders for the red, blue and green versions can be made in September 2025.

£1,650, tagheuer.com

Rolex's new Land-Dweller: a future collectible

The new Land-Dweller has dominated horological news thanks to its highly textured and patterned design that combines a honeycomb-motif dial, a shimmering fluted bezel and a new flat-link Jubilee bracelet that catches the light from every angle.

The model – available in 36mm or 40mm versions – may need some time to settle in given the nature of its stylistic proposal, a cross between smart dressy and daringly decorative, before assertively claiming its place as an industry disruptor. Why so? For one, it isn't every day that Rolex releases a brand-new silhouette – the last time was in 2012 when the brand introduced the Sky-Dweller. Secondly, this is a design made to be seen with lots of impactful details – for example, the flutes are much wider than on classic models and the dial is adorned with conspicuous hexagonal cells.

From a technical perspective, the Land-Dweller is also making waves because of an entirely new movement, the Calibre 7135. This nifty piece of gadgetry uses a double-wheel, indirect-impulse escapement called Dynapulse, a patented mechanism that, according to the watchmaker, is 30% more energy efficient than a traditional Swiss lever since it allows components to roll against each other without any sliding friction.

It's a 'Marmite' model for now, and it remains to be seen where sales will take it, though it's worth remembering that many models now regarded as timeless classics were initially slow starters. The much-sought-after Cartier Crash is one such example: fewer than a dozen were sold in the early 70s despite its avant-garde credentials. And let's not forget that Rolex also did it with the iconic Daytona, which was poorly received in the mid-70s, and is now widely considered the 'holy grail' of racing watches by collectors. The Land-Dweller may just conquer the luxury landscape in its own time.

Land-Dweller 40mm in Oystersteel and white gold, £13,050, rolex.com

The Pelagos Ultra: Tudor's deep dive

If you were to descend 1,000m below sea level, you'd see all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures like anglerfish, sea spiders and pink sea cucumbers known as 'headless chicken monsters', which have to be Googled to be believed. Of course, you'd also have to be superhuman to withstand the organ-crushing pressure but Tudor's special dive watch would be in its element.

The brand's impressive new Pelagos Ultra is a titan among tool watches, setting new standards in robustness thanks to a near-indestructible satin polished case crafted from grade 2 and grade 5 titanium, equipped with a discreet flush-mounted helium escape valve at nine o'clock on the case band.

You may wonder how Tudor has managed to double the Ultra's water resistance from that of the original Pelagos model which is waterproof to 500m: it's thanks to a tiny increase in its case size from 42mm to 43mm, with an increase in thickness of just 0.2mm, putting Tudor at the forefront of stealthy technical engineering executed with style and elegance. Fitted with a titanium three-link bracelet, the watch has a special fold-over T-clasp which can be adjusted without tools for the perfect fit, whether it's worn over a wetsuit sleeve or under a cotton shirt cuff.

£5,070, tudorwatch.com

IWC's ingenious all-black Ingenieur  

IWC is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Gerald Genta's iconic Ingenieur design with five new models including a special 1,000-piece edition of the Ingenieur Automatic 40 featuring a striking olive green, grid-patterned dial, worn by Brad Pitt in new movie "F1", an Apple Original Films' production slated for release in June. Celebrity endorsements aside, the real star of the show is the inky-black ceramic 42mm edition which created a huge buzz at this year's Geneva watch fair and on social media.

It has a sleek, futuristic aesthetic that's visually deep and immersive, yet beautifully light reflective in all the right places thanks to a three-tiered surface treatment that combines satin-finishing, sandblasting and polishing. This technical feat that required the use of diamond-tipped tools given the robustness of the material, known for its scratch-proof qualities. The timepiece is extremely light on the wrist and boasts a striking gridded dial which creates a captivating dance of patterns as it catches the light.

£16,800, iwc.com

The fashion brand Reformation has been called out online for culturally appropriating South Asian attire. And this is not the first time mainstream Western trends have seemed to emulate South Asian design without giving credit for the inspiration. These companies are turning traditional attire into a tool to perpetuate fast fashion.

Claiming clothing

Reformation earlier this month released a collection with influencer and entrepreneur Devon Lee Carlson that contained a set of items echoing the South Asian lehenga: a midi skirt, matching camisole and long scarf. People were quick to make the connection and called the brand out for cultural appropriation. Reformation, in turn, claimed to respect the "origin of this criticism given South Asian culture's influence on Western style," said a brand spokesperson to The New York Times, adding that "no item of clothing or trend can be considered in isolation without broader historical and cultural precedent."

Taking fashion inspiration from other cultures and styles is not inherently wrong, but acknowledging the source of inspiration is what differentiates borrowing from stealing, "especially when the clothing items are repackaged at a high price by a brand in a powerful position," said the Times. "Suddenly, everything from our lehengas to dupattas are 'fashionable' — only, they're no longer attached to the cultural significance they once held," said Kriti Gupta at Elle.

Appreciating culture "requires education, it requires context and it requires respect," Souzeina Mushtaq, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin, said to The Washington Post. "You cannot just aesthetically borrow things without understanding the culture and without understanding the context." Ideally, brands would "tell the story of the roots and relevance behind a garment while collaborating with the communities these garments come from and paying them fairly," said the Post.

Cultural capitalism

Reformation is not the only brand to have created clothing with seeming South Asian influence. Fashion brands Oh, Polly and H&M have faced similar backlash. Many of these clothing companies also make their items cheaply and without input from South Asians. "The long history of cultural co-optation has often happened at the expense of the marginalized and to the profit of the white," said Harper's Bazaar India. "And what has been seen as backwards has quickly become trendy when usurped by the white."

"We're living in an extra strange time where the idea of credit has become far and far less assumed as a basic part of doing business," said Kestrel Jenkins, the host of the "Conscious Chatter" podcast, which discusses sustainable and ethical fashion, to the Times. This unfortunate trend also ties into the astronomical rise of fast fashion. "We have garments that are just being turned around as quickly as possible and with that speed, the attention to detail and the questions around what you're actually doing become less intentional and thoughtful," Jenkins said. As a result, culturally based items are being made with flimsier materials solely for the purposes of selling to a wide number of people. Just as quickly, these garments will no longer be trendy.

PrettyLittleThing, famous for cheap clubwear, has received a makeover as it attempts to establish a higher-end identity.

"It's the fashion equivalent of an influencer getting her lip filler dissolved," said India Block in London's The Standard, as the company switches to "elevated fashion essentials".

Its parent company, Boohoo, is also rebranding as Debenhams after a "fall from grace", said James Sillars on Sky News. But whether changes for the "struggling" retailer can make a difference remains unclear.

'Jump on the bandwagon'

Once the go-to for "clubbing attire at bargain basement prices", PrettyLittleThing's "all-pink logo and packaging" captured a generation, said Block in The Standard.

So ditching this for a "palette of greige, sage, taupe and watered-down burgundy" leaves something to be desired, especially given price increases not "reflected in the quality of the materials and fit".

A company that once "conjured up images" of "bodycon dresses covered in cut-outs" now sells items "reminiscent of Angela Merkel's capsule wardrobe for a G20 summit", said Katie Rosseinsky in The Independent. The tactic of the brand is "clear", even if its "sustainability practices or supply chain transparency" are not. Pretty Little Thing (PLT) is attempting to "jump on the bandwagon of so-called quiet luxury".

These are not just "blazers and beige blouses", said Tayler Adigun in Blavity, but a symbol of a "right-leaning" and "regressive" culture. PLT exists amid a "tandem cultural pivot" towards the conservative, where women are encouraged to be "financially reliant on their male partners" to secure a "soft life".

Not everyone will buy this "shallow" attempt at "posturing as a luxe-label" and this could mark the "beginning of the end" for the brand.

'Struggling badly'

It is "hard to escape the impression" that this fashion company has "simply had its day in the sun", said Nils Pratley in The Guardian. The "new name" of PLT's parent group, Boohoo, is Debenhams, restoring a well-known and trusted brand.

But this "resuscitation operation" may prove fruitless, given how the company is "struggling badly" amid competition in both fast fashion and second-hand spaces.

The best way for the company to secure future success is for it to "make good on its promise" to turn away from fast fashion, said Jenn Szekely in The Drum. Only by offering a "higher-end product" and increasing transparency on its progress can this rebrand "have legs".

A novelty Christmas jumper is as much a feature of the office Christmas party as injudicious snogging and reckless misuse of the photocopier.

"Obnoxious and tacky" in the eyes of some, but undeniably "kind of wholesome", said CNN, the garment has had its ups and downs over history.

'Uncomely cheer'

Festive-themed jumpers "started making an appearance" in the US in the 1950s, said CNN, "a nod perhaps to the holiday's growing commercialisation". Known at the time as "jingle bell sweaters", they "found little popularity in the market", although they were "really embraced" by TV crooners like Val Doonican and Andy Williams.

Christmas jumpers finally "hit the mainstream" in the 1980s when "goofball dad characters" in movies like "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" transformed them into an "uncomely but endearing expression of cheer". They might not have been "cool" but they "radiated yule", and would be "sported at office parties" and on Christmas Day.

During the 1990s the festive sweater "faded in popularity" and by the turn of the millennium, the garment was "widely considered" an "eyebrow-raising sartorial mishap".

Ironic abominations

It took a rom-com to turn things round, said The Telegraph, and "knitwear historians" will see 2001's "Bridget Jones' Diary" as a "turning point", when "humour and desirability gained the edge over naffness". The reindeer jumper sported by Colin Firth's character Mark Darcy may have been ugly, but his willingness to wear the abomination his mother had knitted him told the viewer that he was a "good chap". "The lesson was clear": the Christmas jumper was a sign of a "desirable mate", while anyone without one must be a "despicable cad who doesn't love his mum".

The woollen worm had turned: from being "Aunt Agatha's unwanted gift", they were suddenly "dead stylish", or at the very least "ironic wear", complete with "misshapen snowmen", carrots that "protruded suggestively" or garish designs that gave onlookers "the first rumblings of a migraine".

"The moment someone wore the garment in a humorous way, people started seeing the comic side of it," Brian Miller, co-author of a book on the Christmas sweater phenomenon, told CNN.

By 2012, Christmas jumpers were "everywhere", said The Telegraph, and they'd "finally shed the slippery skin of naffness, and irony". Stella McCartney released a polar bear-themed jumper and fellow fashion giants Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana followed suit. A galaxy of stars, including Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Jimmy Fallon, have also embraced the trend.

Nigh-on criminal

But they still have their critics. "No one with style", or even "the most basic standards of human decency", is wearing a jumper "with bells on it", said Anna Murphy, fashion director at The Times. In fact, to do so is a "nigh-on criminal act".

For "reasons that may well need collective psychoanalysis", men are "far more likely to embrace" the Christmas jumper, but there are "far better ways to let off sartorial steam" – including the "radical notion" of "wearing something you look really great in".

But the rise of social media has "only heightened" the "It" status of the Christmas jumper, said CNN, and we now "compete" to "show off our Christmas-sweater love" on Instagram and other platforms. They're "democratic" and "a lot of fun", said Miller. Christmas can be "quite stressful" and "wearing something ridiculous" can "help take the pressure off".

If you are after something a little bit different for your loved ones this Christmas, The Week has you covered.

Symfonisk floor lamp

Ikea has collaborated with Sonos to create the Symfonisk, a floor lamp with a built-in Wi-Fi speaker. With powerful 180° sound, the speaker sits directly under the bamboo shade, which provides a warm glow. £229; ikea.com

Jaeger-LeCoultre watch

This limited-edition Jaeger-LeCoultre watch (the Reverso) features a reproduction of a Monet painting on its reverse side. Each image takes an enameller 70 hours to create. IRO £100,000; jaeger-lecoultre.com

Personalised needlepoint cushion

This bespoke needlepoint cushion can be personalised with your choice of message. Available in a range of bright colours and border designs, the message will be hand stitched in your chosen font and colour. £75; thegoto.com

Foldable keyboard

Seenda’s ultra-slim foldable keyboard is simple to use: you just charge it up and it links to your device (phone, laptop, PC) via Bluetooth. It folds out to a standard-sized keyboard, with a built-in touchpad. £30; amazon.co.uk

Play-Style table

Cornilleau’s stylish Play-Style tables easily convert from outdoor pingpong table to dining table. The net is magnetic and bats and balls can be stored in the integrated drawer. The resin laminate surface creates the perfect bounce, and the matt coating reduces glare. From £1,749; uk.cornilleau.com

BenQ GV50 Projector

It can be tricky to find a white wall big enough for a projector, so the BenQ GV50 sits in a special cradle to beam the 120in Full HD picture onto a ceiling. It has built-in speakers, Google TV and a sleep timer. £639; richersounds.com

Limited-edition electric motorbike

French brand DAB is making waves with its innovative, sports-inspired designs for electric motorbikes. Join the waiting list for the limited-edition DAB 1a. It can do 90 miles on a single charge, at up to 75mph. From €14,900 (£12,355); dabmotors.com

Wireless table lamp

Created by independent designer George Sowden, these elegant PL1 wireless portable table lamps are made from soft silicone, which diffuses light and is easy to clean. They are dimmable and charge via USB. A full charge delivers at least four hours of light. £72; scp.co.uk

Spider Web Drying Rack

Masquerading as a garden sculpture, the Skagerak Spider Web Drying Rack, designed by Anders Brøgger, is crafted from teak and stainless steel. It has 23m of black cord to hang washing out in style. £1,449; hauslondon.com

Ceramic water filter

Far more elegant than a standard plastic water filter, this 62cm tall ceramic one uses gravity to draw the water through a fine-pores carbon filter. The upper chamber takes five litres and the filter lasts six months. From £555; endlessrhythm.org

Hand-painted stone bath

Artist and illustrator Emily Forgot has hand-painted a limited number of these engineered dolomite stone baths with her Apricity design, an abstract depiction of the four seasons. £10,000; clearwaterinteriors.net

Smart mattress cover

In the vanguard of the "tech-meets-wellness" trend, Eight Sleep has produced a smart mattress cover that promises longer and better sleep. It automatically adjusts the temperature on each side, can detect snoring and elevate your head to reduce it, and tracks your vital signs. From £2,409; eightsleep.com

Unisex swim briefs

Miu Miu has started a new trend of "underwear as outerwear", and according to the Lyst Index, which analyses online shopping behaviour, these unisex swim briefs are currently the third-hottest fashion item in the world. They come in a range of colours, from canary yellow to pillar box red. £600; miumiu.com

Garden hose

At last, a beautiful hose for the garden. This classic “racing green” 25-metre hose comes with solid brass quick-connectors and a brass nozzle with adjustable spray. UV-resistant, it is supple and won’t kink. £150; clavertoncloches.com

The Week subscription

Of course our gift guide wouldn't be complete without a subscription to The Week magazine. An easy and entertaining way to stay informed, it's the perfect present for anyone who wants to reflect on the news away from the noise of the media.

This Christmas, we're giving you an extra £10 off our annual gift subscriptions (that's 58% off the shop price). Or with an extra £5 off quarterly subscriptions starting from £33.99, there's something for everyone.

Give The Week

Hatchimals, Hot Wheels and Hex Bots are among the top toys on sale this year, according to the Toy Retailers Association.

The annual Dreamtoys list is selected by an independent panel of toy retailers and toy experts and, with only six weeks until Christmas, they are all "expected to fly off the shelves", said The Scotsman.

The UK toy market was estimated to be worth £3.4 billion in the 12 months to September and, during the 2023 Christmas season, £900 million was spent on toys. Though the UK is in a period of economic uncertainty, the toy industry is "seeing a remarkable resurgence" and this festive season is set to be "record-breaking", said the association.

"Sales are being boosted this year by a growing number of nostalgic kidults – individuals aged 12 and older", said Toy World magazine. The latest data from market research company Circana shows that these older toy-lovers account for nearly one in every three pounds spent on toys in the UK. "Toys are increasingly being recognised for their positive mental health benefits as they spark nostalgia and bring escapism from global turmoil into consumers' lives," said Melissa Symonds, UK toys director for Circana.

This year's top toy list includes a wide variety of playthings, from new interactive toys to classic family favourites. The list features the toys that are most likely to be requested from Santa, while including products that "suit everybody's budget". The price of the toys on the list ranges from £9.99 to £79.99.

Here is the full list, in alphabetical order.

Beyblade X Xtreme Battle Set (Hasbro), £44.99

Bluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Playset (Moose), £59.99

Despicable Me 4 The Ultimate Fart Blaster (Moose), £29.99

Disney Stitch (LEGO), £59.99

FurReal Peanut the Playful Monkey (Just Play), £79.99

Hatchimals Alive Mystery Hatch Pufficorn Egg (Spin Master), £64.99

Hex Bots Wall Crawler Gecko (Spin Master), £29.99

Hot Wheels Ultra Shark Car Wash playset (Mattel UK), £59.99

Icons Tiny Plants (LEGO), £44.99

Kinetic Sand SquishMotion (Spin Master), £19.99

Little Live Pets My Walking Penguin – Waddles (Moose), £24.99

Littlest Pet Shop - Pet Shop Playset (Bandai UK), £39.99

Miniverse Make It Mini Potions Class (MGA), £49.99

Paw Patrol Rubble's Bark Yard Deluxe Bulldozer (Spin Master), £44.99

Pets Alive: Mama Duck & Baby Surprise (Zuru), £29.99

Real FX Disney Stitch Puppetronic (Wow Stuff), £69.99

Speed Champions McLaren Formula 1 Race Car (LEGO), £20.99

Sticki Rolls Sticki Book Pack (Character Options), £9.99

Unicorn Academy Interactive Rainbow Light-up Wildstar (Spin Master), £35.99

UNO Show 'Em No Mercy (Mattel UK), £12.99

For the best part of the 1990s and 2000s, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show "represented the nexus of pop culture, fashion, entertainment, camp, commerce and upbeat, all-American 'sexy'", said Emily Cronin in The Telegraph. "Then, abruptly, the party was over."

Rocked by toxic workplace allegations and the "MeToo reckoning", the show was pulled in 2019 with "many predicting it would never return". But last night, following a five-year hiatus, the polarising runway show was back at the brand's flagship store in New York City.

Organisers were tasked with balancing a "narrow tightrope of values", said Cronin: "seductive but not male-gazey, inclusive but traditionally feminine", and shedding the more "problematic" elements. But "does the show – and everything it once stood for – still belong in 2024?"

'Boring and lacklustre'

Once the "sexiest and most outrageous night in fashion", last night's show was "accused of going woke", said Adam S. Levy in the Daily Mail. A "far cry from the event's heyday", some fans labelled the new staging "boring and lacklustre".

This year's comeback "promised to 'celebrate all women'", and featured the first walk down the Victoria's Secret runway for Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio, who became the first transgender model to represent the brand in 2019, said Annabel Rackham for the BBC.

Alex Consani, another transgender model, appeared on the runway, along with a handful of plus-size models including Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser. But there was also an array of "fan favourites" returning to the show, from Gigi and Bella Hadid to Candace Swanepoel and an "unexpected" appearance from Kate Moss. Former "America's Next Top Model" host Tyra Banks also returned to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway for the first time in almost two decades.

'A lot of lip service and little action'

"There are moments from the original Victoria's Secret Fashion show that live rent-free in my mind", like "Rihanna out-strutting the models" in 2012 or Cara Delevingne's "football-inspired look" in 2013, said Dani Maher in Harper's Bazaar. "This year, were any moments burned into my brain with similar urgency? I'm not so sure."

Efforts to make the comeback show "bigger and better than ever" by bringing back so many famous faces meant the runway was still "overwhelmingly dominated by thin conventionally attractive models". And while disabled models did appear on the pink carpet, they were absent from the runway itself. The "narrow lens of beauty" from decades gone by still seemed to "linger in the air".

"I love a good dose of nostalgia", added Aiyana Ishmael in Teen Vogue, but "there are some things better left in the past". Despite the brand's noisy pledges to make this year's event more inclusive, the tiny number of curvier models "felt like a gut punch". And if the attempt at diversity "begins and ends with mid-size hourglass-shaped models, where do I and so many women like me fit in?" All in all, the show felt like a "lot of lip service and little action".

Shein is set for a £50 billion stock market flotation, making it one of the biggest in the history of the London Stock Exchange.

Both the government and Labour have held talks with the online fashion brand, which was set up in Nanjing in China but is now based in Singapore, to try to persuade it to float in the UK amid intense interest from New York and Paris.

The company could file for an initial public offering (IPO) as soon as this week, said Bloomberg UK. And doing so in the UK would be a "much-needed milestone for ministers and City chiefs who have been battling to restore London's status as a global listing venue after a series of blows", said The Times.

The business model

Launched in 2008, the "ultra-fast" fashion retailer has seen its popularity explode over the past decade. It has expanded rapidly around the world while buying up many of its rivals. For Gen Z shoppers – those under 30 – Shein is now "the hottest ticket in town", said Retail Gazette, after it officially became the largest fashion retailer in the world in 2022. That year, it reported £18.9 billion in revenue.

The Shein business model revolves around "low-cost, throwaway items that are constantly being marked down," said The Independent. 

With roughly 10,000 new products released per day, its "entire premise is based on fashion being disposable, the implication being: here, buy these very cheap and often poorly made clothes, wear them once, then buy something else. And as wild as that may seem to some, it's a modus operandi that is clearly working."

Young shoppers in particular have been "enticed away from rivals such as Boohoo and Asos thanks to ultra-cheap prices" that include less than £3 for a top or £4 for a dress, said This Is Money.

"First and foremost, Shein is a tech company not a fashion brand," said fair fashion campaigner Venetia La Manna. "It uses highly advanced SEO, which means it can quickly react to trends and churn [clothes] out quickly."

It has pioneered the use of so-called "haul" videos on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where content creators and brand influencers buy masses of clothing and try them on for their fans. At the same time, Glossy magazine reported on how Shein has "seized the opportunity to allow many young designers – who lack accessibility into the industry – to sell their designs on its e-commerce site and take part in dedicated programs, TV shows and catwalks".

Fast fashion vs. sustainability

What makes Shein's success all the more remarkable is that it has come in the face of intense scrutiny over its working conditions, human rights record and carbon footprint amid a wider trend towards sustainable fashion.

The retailer has launched a roadmap to "accelerate" its "journey towards a sustainable future accessible to all". Last month, it announced its "first-ever entirely deadstock collection" featuring new pieces crafted out of leftover fabrics.

"This is the start of a new sustainable era for the label's sourcing practices," said Bustle, part of a drive "to cut their carbon footprint by at least 25% by 2030".

The problem, said Drew Afualo, a TikTok influencer with more than six million followers who has faced online backlash for partnering with Shein, is that "not everyone can afford to shop sustainably".

"Sustainable fashion is a privilege," wrote Afualo, hitting upon a truth that for many the cost and speed offered by the brand outweighs any ethical or moral concerns.

"Shein is soaring in popularity because people still refuse to grasp that cheap clothing comes at a very steep price to other humans and our planet," said Aja Barber, author of "Consumed". "It is now the biggest ultra-fast fashion retailer in the world and it's all about taking market share. And it's a scary vision we're hurtling towards."

The theme of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's spring costume exhibition is "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" – but at the Met Gala on Monday, Kim Kardashian reawoke a debate about "unrealistic beauty standards" with her "incredibly tight" corset, said Grazia.

Attending the star-studded fashion event in New York on Monday, the reality TV star wore an outfit designed by John Galliano that left the magazine asking, "where exactly are her organs?" 

In a behind-the-scenes Vogue video, Kardashian explained just how uncomfortable it was to "vacuum-pack her lungs" into her outfit, said The Cut. "I'll feel so snatched, I won't even be able to communicate to you how snatched I feel," she said, adding that breathing in the corset was "an art form".

'Outrage baiting' at the Met 

The founder of shapewear brand Skims "always makes a splash with her Met Gala looks", said Vogue. This year's combination of a "dramatically cinched waist" and a baggy grey cardigan clutched around her shoulders recalled the "extreme proportions" seen at Galliano's spring show in Paris, which "set the internet ablaze" in January.

Actually, that's the point, said Glamour. Over the past few Met Galas, Kardashian has "made a name for herself" for "outrage baiting": showing that she can "contort her body to fit into dresses that most mere mortals cannot". She "all but ensures weeks of online discourse". 

The Kardashian "bread and butter" is causing scandal and gossip, often at the expense of "making women feel bad about the way they look". It seems she is "less focused on fashion" than on the "all-consuming need to ensure that we all talk (and talk and talk) about her seemingly non-human body".

In a "debacle" in 2022, Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday Mr President" dress by Jean Louis. Fashion lovers and historians were "outraged", especially after the dress was rumoured to have been damaged.

If this year's outfit made you angry, "that was probably the goal", agreed Glamour. And this isn't the first time Kardashian has been accused of "promoting unhealthy beauty standards", said The Cut. She gushed about the "crash diet" that allowed her to fit into Monroe's dress. And before the 2019 gala, Kardashian took "corset breathing lessons" to wear a Thierry Mugler outfit. "I have never felt pain like that in my life," she later said.

Fashion 'should never come at the cost of well-being'

Every year Kardashian's waist "seems to shrink further", said Rebecca Shepherd, senior anatomy lecturer at the University of Bristol, in an article published on The Conversation. 

She has long championed "waist training" (wearing compression girdles for long periods to "train" the body into an hourglass shape). But this year's look involved a "controversial" practice: tight lacing, or extreme corset cinching. Medical professionals have been concerned about it since at least 1793; a tiny waist can come "at a terrible price" to the anatomy. 

A tightly laced corset "compresses the lower rib cage", restricting the lungs and diaphragm, which can cause dizziness, fatigue or fainting. 

Tight lacing also "increases pressure inside the abdomen", which can compress the vein that carries blood back to the heart. Over time, this can increase the heart rate and blood pressure, because the heart has to work harder. Compressing the abdomen can "displace the stomach, intestines and liver", leading to "slowed or disrupted digestion". This can cause acid reflux or "chronic constipation".

Corsets can even lead to "musculoskeletal changes", because they restrict the natural movement of the torso and hips – which could explain why Kardashian seemed to have "difficulty walking" on the red carpet. Over time, this can lead to "weakened back muscles", posture issues and chronic back pain. 

Although occasional wear is unlikely to cause severe consequences, frequent tight lacing can lead to "a host of medical issues – and potentially even death". Ultimately, said Shepherd, fashion and style "should never come at the cost of well-being". 

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The Mini Tank Louis Cartier  

This dinky Tank Louis Cartier was a huge hit at April's Watches and Wonders fair in Geneva – so much so that it triggered a wave of interest on Instagram, proving that quartz Tanks have retained their timeless allure through the decades. It's teeny-tiny, at just 24mm x 16.5mm (versus the small model which is 29.5mm x 22mm) but it has all the good looks of its larger counterparts: namely a signature rectangular face with softened lugs, which hug a chic black alligator strap. The only feature missing from its 'parent' model is the chemin-de-fer minutes track, which would have been illegible on this reduced size. 

Designed in 1917 by Louis Cartier, the eldest grandson of the Maison's founder, the iconic Tank is considered an icon of Art Deco design. It set a new trend in watchmaking that favoured clean lines and a machine-like aesthetic to reflect industrial progress, including advances in aviation and the automotive world. Its bold Roman numerals were considered daring at the time of release, since the more decorative Art Nouveau style was still very much in vogue in horological circles. It hasn't appeared in collections as a miniature since the early 1990s, so this is understandably an exciting release with effortlessly cross-generational appeal. Look out too for the new mini Tank Américaine, known for its slightly longer curved case, also cast in 18ct yellow gold. Cartier.com; £3,250

The tiny world of Chanel Novelties  

Chanel's watch novelties are always an exciting talking point. Every year the design team dreams up a visual language that subtly rekindles Coco's spirit by alluding to her great passions, be it astrology, her lucky numbers, favourite holiday destinations and even her lovers. 

This year the lion, her most beloved wild beast, dominates the collection in tiny, bejewelled form or cast in 18ct gold on statement 'hidden face' sautoirs, wristwatches and cuffs. The sewing skills of the maison's haute couture ateliers are also celebrated via some astonishing haute joaillerie timepieces including a sautoir in the shape of a miniature gem-encrusted mannequin and an extraordinary automaton which features a number of these dinky mannequins which dance around a tiny chandelier. These are the staggering one-of-a-kind showstoppers of the collection, but there are also some eye-catching limited editions that are destined to be future heirloom pieces. 

Of special note are four new pink editions of the J12 and Boy.friend timepieces, the most striking of which is the J12 X-Ray Pink Edition, a masterwork of translucence limited to 55 pieces with a 38mm pink sapphire crystal case contoured by a bezel set with 46 baguette-cut bonbon-like pink sapphires. Bold, daring and unapologetically extravagant, it's a symbol of Chanel's ability to constantly surprise. Chanel.com; POA

Hermès, The Cut  

The Cut is the name of Hermès's all-new 36mm model, possibly inspired by the idea of 'being cut from a different cloth', which, in terms of women's sporty timepieces, it certainly is. 

On first inspection, it appears typically classic with bold Roman numerals – but look closely and you'll see that this design tilts towards the unconventional, like all pieces made by the Parisian maison, which somehow always manages to strike a poised position between high luxury and beguiling whimsy. Available in all steel or two-toned in steel and rose gold (with or without diamonds), its main draw is its case, which playfully places a perfectly round bezel within a slightly squarer silhouette, apparently inspired by a child's hand-drawn circle. Adding intrigue to this subtly 'off-kilter' geometry is a crown at 1.30. Engraved with an elegant H, its unusual position endows the design with a touch of the avant-garde, as if the watch face has somehow magically shifted, paused like a spinning top toy. 

The steel version pushes this concept further forward thanks to a grey and orange accented minutes track which is traced by a seconds hand finessed with a tiny Hermès orange dot. Powered by the in-house calibre H1912, all Cut watches are pretty from both sides: a sapphire crystal caseback showcases a rotor entirely decorated with an H pattern. Its sober, graphic design can be livened up by switching to a rubber strap available in white, orange, gris perle, gris étain, glycine, vert criquet, bleu jean and capucine. Hermes; £5,930

Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse  

Every guest at Watches & Wonders 2024 wanted to get their hands on this exquisite unisex piece, one of the most tactile Patek Philippe models to date. The Golden Ellipse was first introduced in 1968, and its case is a work of mathematical precision, the proportions following the Ancient Greek concept of the 'golden ratio' which identifies harmonised shapes – both in nature and in art – as those expressed following a 1:1.61 scale. A similar model with a gold 'beads of rice' bracelet appeared between 1984 and 1999, but this super-slim version (reference number 5738/1R-001) which measures 34.5 x 39.5mm with a thickness of 5.9mm, is the first large size to be fitted with a metal bracelet. 

And it's not just any metal bracelet, but a work of intricate craftsmanship comprising 300 tiny 18ct rose-gold links individually mounted by hand, culminating in a distinctive pattern that looks and feels like it's been lovingly braided. An 18ct rose-gold case frames a black sunburst dial with elegant baton markers, while a subdued crown is set with a black onyx cabochon. It's also worth mentioning the fold-over clasp, itself a thing of beauty engraved with a matching chevron-like pattern along with the watchmaker's Calatrava Cross symbol. It has the advantage of three adjustment positions which is very unusual for a mesh jewellery bracelet, even one of this pedigree. Patek.com; £52,470

Chopard Happy Sport  

In the world of watchmaking, there really isn't a better name for a watch that epitomises the timeless allure of diamonds. Plus, they dance around the dial, which makes this classic model, first introduced in 1993, fabulously fun, because who doesn't love a bit of kinetic magic to wear on their wrist? 

The new all-black 30mm model (also available in a 36mm dial size) really sets off the sparkle of its free-spinning gems encased between two sapphire crystals. Some critics have argued that the oversized gold Roman numerals and gold accents on the crown and lugs clash with the colour of the polished steel case but, on the wrist, this contrast actually adds to the dynamic movement of this design and lends the face a unique luminescence as the stones daintily bounce around. Chopard.com £4,690

A wedding ring may be the only jewellery that many men habitually wear, but a growing number are embracing earrings, necklaces and other such accessories.

According to Euromonitor, the global value of the men's luxury jewellery market reached around $7.3 billion (£5.8 billion) in 2023 – an annual increase of 7.3% that "outpaces" the 4.6% growth in the women's market, said Vogue Business.

Glittering history

The popularity of jewellery for men has "waxed and waned over millennia", said fashion writer Shane Kurup in The Telegraph. After opening Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, Howard Carter discovered "that the boy king had pierced ears". And the ancient Persian capital Persepolis is decorated with engravings of warriors "with dangling lobe ornaments".

Earrings were also a "male preserve" among the "movers and shakers of 16th century Europe". Sir Walter Raleigh was "fond of a sizeable pearl earring", as was Charles I, who is "believed to have worn his prize teardrop into battle".

In the 1980s, jewellery-wearing "pop poster boys from George Michael to Billy Idol" helped to bring earrings back into fashion, and in the 2000s, "metrosexual icon" David Beckham made diamond studs a "must-have among chaps who would have baulked at them before". 

Now, a new generation of "Gen Z catnip like Paul Mescal, Shawn Mendes and Rege-Jean Page" is taking up the mantle.

The new gem-fluencers

Never underestimate the influence of pop culture, said Rhik Samadder in The Guardian. The "simple chain worn by sensitive beefcake Paul Mescal" in his role as Connell in the 2020 BBC adaptation of "Normal People" became a "cultural phenomenon" that "inspired a song, its own Instagram account, and still shines as a symbol of our lockdown thirst". 

The signet ring worn by Leo Woodall in the Netflix romcom "One Day" looks set to be "this year’s Connell's chain". And men are also drawing inspiration from Timothée Chalamet's "Cartier candy-inspired necklace" and "Jacob Elordi's thermometer-busting eyebrow piercing" in "Saltburn". 

Reinventing the classics

After hosting Sotheby's first sale dedicated to men's jewellery last year in New York, the auction house's vice-chair of jewellery, Frank Everett, told the Financial Times that "even very traditional guys" will now wear a tie pin or lapel pin, which are a "great way to dress up a suit".

London jeweller Darren Sherwood, of the Mr Sherwood brand, is also a proponent of the pin. While men's watches can be pricey and are often hidden under cuffs, lapel and tie pins offer "subtle ways that men can show off their style", he said.

Daniel Todd, buying director at Mr Porter, told the paper that the online fashion retailer had seen sales of tie bars more than double between January and October last year, compared with the same period in 2022  – an increase that he attributed to a post-pandemic "return to more formal dress codes".

Shopping trolleys have been given a "complete makeover" and are finding new fans among a younger audience.

They used to be "associated with elderly women who wheeled the drab yet practical accessories around town", said the Daily Mail. But these bags on wheels have "come a long way from the bulky tartan shoppers seen trundling down high streets decades ago", said The Guardian. 

Many newer trolleys "combine lightweight, waterproof materials with stylish design", including foldable frames and, "in a godsend for people who live in top-floor flats", stair-climber designs.

"Fancier versions", boasting limited-edition fabrics and customisable bag, frame and wheel colours, can cost several hundred pounds. However, a "smart entry-level model in Argos or Ikea" only will set you back about £25. 

Their surprising resurgence as a must-have accessory forms part of a wider style trend towards "embracing 'nanna glamour' for its combination of "high fashion with comfort and convenience for a modern, eccentric look".

Roshni Chauhan, a buyer for John Lewis, told The Telegraph that the latest generation of trolleys had helped "shake the 'fuddy' image". The store said that sales had risen by nearly 80% over the past six months, compared with the same period in 2023, with the "high level of interest prompting it to increase the number of styles it stocked", said The Guardian. 

Converts praise them as a "trendy and sustainable alternative to carrier bags", said the Mail, allowing shoppers to transport larger loads without risking back strain.

Younger people are also more attuned to the potential physical impact of carrying heavy bags, Matthew Murray-Downing, a physiotherapist who works with British Gymnastics, told The Telegraph. "My generation were perhaps more 'fashion over function'," he said, but younger people now are more "evidence-driven".

Critics may claim Rishi Sunak has many reasons to say sorry, but few will have anticipated the "fulsome apology" that he has now offered – for wearing fashionable trainers. 

Adidas Sambas have been "everyone's favourite sneaker" for decades, said GQ's style editor Murray Clark, but the prime minister "ruined it" by wearing a pair in a recent Downing Street interview. Sunak teamed his Sambas "with skinny slacks and a tailored white shirt", said Michael Hogan in The Observer. "a look that aims for 'Succession'-style stealth wealth but lands on midlife crisis fintech mogul". 

'Deeply insincere and uncool'

The "unstoppable rise" of Sambas to a must-have for everyone from fashionistas to celebrities is "difficult to parse", said The Telegraph. Designed in 1949, they are simply "bog-standard black and white gum-soled trainers", although their price tag of around £90 is "comparatively fair" compared to "other cult" footwear. 

After repeatedly getting flak over his penchant for Prada shoes and designer suits, Sunak's more affordable footwear for his Instagram interview with an influencer was clearly a bid to "present himself as young and hip", said GQ's Clark. 

Yet, "as deeply insincere and uncool as he is", said Clive Martin in The New Statesman, the PM is very much a "trainer native". Born in 1980, Sunak would have grown up with trainers "as the norm" for everyday wear. And despite the recent Sambas furore, the likelihood is that he is merely "aping the style of the 'tech bros' he so clearly admires".

'It's just over'

Sunak's Sambas sparked mockery on social media, with one X user noting "how clean they are", while another tweeted: "We had a good run." The prime minister "has done for the Samba silhouette what Liz Truss and Nadine Dorries did for the all-white trainer", said The Telegraph. "He has made it criminally – perhaps permanently – uncool."

 The backlash has prompted a wry response from Sunak. "I issue a fulsome apology to the Samba community," he told LBC's Nick Ferrari yesterday. "But, in my defence, I would say I have been wearing Adidas trainers including Sambas – and others, in fact – for many, many years." 

Whatever his motives for sporting Sambas, what the trainers row really underlines is that "it's just over" for the Tories, said Hugo Rifkind in The Times. "And before any one of his rivals imagines they could do a better job, they should walk a mile in his shoes. Not that he has, of course. They clearly just came out of the box."

In 1964, Polish-born fashion illustrator Barbara Hulanicki opened a small fashion boutique in Kensington's Abingdon Road, and "London's retail landscape changed irrevocably", said the London Evening Standard. Sixty years on, a new exhibition at the city's Fashion & Textile Museum celebrates "the iconic shop's cultural importance".

The shop was called Biba, the nickname of Hulanicki's younger sister Biruta, and the brand was designed to be "affordable and accessible for everyone".

Hulanicki's journey to the heart of the fashion world began with "a short pink gingham shift dress based loosely on the one Brigitte Bardot wore in Saint-Tropez in 1963", said The Guardian. Hulanicki's dress, which opens the new exhibition, cost 25 shillings and "changed the course" of her life, after featuring in a fashion spread in the Mirror newspaper in 1964. "On the same day", 17,000 readers ordered the dress from the mail-order business that she also ran with her husband, Stephen Fitz-Simon.

Former advertising executive Fitz-Simon is credited with keeping Biba prices low. "He discovered the average secretary took home £10 a week," said The Guardian, and reasoned that "£3 could buy them a new dress in Biba and still leave them with plenty of change for rent and food".

As well as low prices, Biba was different in its décor, which was "like no other, with blacked-out windows, communal changing rooms, and music vibrating against the second-hand furniture", said Vogue. 

Building on her commercial success, Hulanicki opened a bigger Biba premises on Kensington Church Street in 1966, before moving to an even larger shop on Kensington High Street in 1969. But it was a 1973 move to a nearby seven-storey art deco building that cemented her "vision of a full lifestyle proposition", said the Standard. Biba's merchandise range expanded to include everything "from bell-sleeve maxidresses and leopard-print swing coats to cans of lobster soup, packs of pin-up playing cards, lampshades and makeup" – a "resolutely modern" approach that was then viewed as radical.

Biba was also ahead of its time in terms of shoppers' in-store experience. The clothes for sale at the "legendary emporium" were "tossed on coat stands and surrounded by dimly lit feathered chandeliers", said The Guardian. Underwear and silk sheets were sold in a "Mistress Room", and the store also housed a restaurant-cum-nightclub with a ceiling "lit with the colours of the rainbow". On the rooftop, "shoppers could sip tea next to pink flamingos perched by a pond".

Little wonder, said The Guardian, that come Saturdays, the queue for Biba "curved its way along the high street, with customers ranging from teenagers to the Rolling Stones and Twiggy".

The store would "shut its doors for the final time" in 1975, but the brand's popularity has lived on, with fans now flocking to the new retrospective, "The Biba Story, 1964-1975".

The "perfectly preserved miniskirts" and "leopard-print coats" on show are a fashion "time capsule", said the Financial Times. And they also act as a reminder, said the exhibition's curator Martin Pel, that "fashion at low prices does not need to be disposable".

"The Biba Story, 1964-1975" runs until 8 September at the Fashion & Textile Museum

The "strangest trend in men's shoes" has emerged this year – ballet slippers.

According to The Wall Street Journal, fashion designers, celebrities and notable trendsetters have been spotted wearing the shoes over the past few seasons. They also appeared on the Paris runway for the brands Dries Van Noten and Jil Sander, as well as "rising New York label" Bode, the newspaper said.

In 2023, fans of the "sleek, barely there footwear for men – which, indeed, recall simple ballet flats when not flat-out copying the dance shoe silhouette – have emerged", said GQ. "And while the idea of them may yet give some men pause, there's a perfect storm brewing that's toeing the line toward the mainstream."

'Traced back to the Renaissance'

According to Footwear News, ballet flats have an unexpectedly deep history.

The classic silhouette we know today "can be traced all the way back to the Renaissance". It was worn by both men and women, and the "length and point of the shoe’s toe was an indicator of nobility", the site explained. "The longer the point, the more noble the wearer was."

They became a popular dance shoe in the 1730s, when French dancer Marie Camargo began performing in flat-soled shoes rather than heels, which had been a dance staple for decades. This move "set in motion a chain of events that would pave the way for the modern ballet flat", Footwear News added.

Now, their non-dance purpose appears to have been rediscovered as they have become an emergent trend around the world.

First, they were picked up by women. According to Katie Jackson on NBC's Today, the Amazon Essentials Belice Ballet Flat was number one on Amazon's list of bestsellers in women's flats back in 2020.

"We've seen ballet flats sweep the fashion world for months – from the streets to the runway – with no sign of the trend slowing down as we get into the holiday season," Bianca Gates, CEO and co-founder of Birdies, told Footwear News.

In the wake of their revival among women, increasingly they are being adopted by men too.

'A style that will continue to simmer'

According to Casey Lewis, writer of a popular fashion newsletter "After School", the trend may have been started by singer Harry Styles, who sported a pair of white dance shoes on the cover of his "Harry's House" album last spring.

"I'm a longtime Harry fan and I think he can kind of pull off anything," she told GQ. "It's really interesting to me the way that he'll wear something and all these hip New York guys will start doing it."

The shoe represents "femme footwear for all", said High Snobiety. Ballet flats offer "an example of how traditionally female footwear can be reinterpreted as unisex sneakers".

For Men's Folio, ballet slippers are a style that transcends traditional gender divisions. "With on-going discussions regarding gender and the deconstruction of its binary nature, it is likely that the love for this style will continue to simmer," the site said.

Not everyone is convinced, however. Vogue writer Christian Allaire "test-drove" a few pairs of ballet flats at New York fashion week last year. At the end of his two-day test, Allaire questioned whether he was "a total ballet flat convert? Hardly. By day three of fashion week, I was back into my Gucci loafers, already feeling more like myself."

Footwear News conceded that the ballet flat style "is definitely not for everyone", but said: "One thing is for sure though, the shoe is not going anywhere anytime soon."

Considered by some to be the unacceptable face of fast fashion, the Chinese behemoth Shein is about to test its acceptability on Wall Street, said The Economist. 

Its forthcoming float could be "one of the biggest New York listings in years". There's a lot at stake. The company, founded by Chris Xu (aka Sky Xu), was valued at $66bn in May (down by a third on a year ago), but it "will probably aim for a higher valuation" of $80-90bn – testing an IPO market "dampened by soaring inflation and high interest rates". Although Shein shifted its HQ to Singapore in 2021, the move is also a marker of broader Sino-US relations.

In little more than a decade, Shein has "disrupted the clothing industry with its on-trend $5 skirts and $9 jeans" to become "one of the largest fashion brands in the world", said Corrie Driebusch and Shen Lu in The Wall Street Journal. 

Having notched up "hundreds of millions of shoppers" – particularly in its largest market, the US – the online juggernaut pulled in record revenues of $23bn in 2022. Shein doesn't sell in China, but it has come "under intensifying scrutiny from Washington" over its supply chain there, with US lawmakers pressing the company over whether it sources cotton using forced Uyghur labour in the Xinjiang region, which it denies.

Those aren't the only complaints, said Helen Davidson in The Guardian. Shein has also been attacked for "alleged copyright infringement on independent artists' designs", its environmental impact, and for "building empires" by using loopholes to dodge taxes. "The No. 1 question for us is: are we adversaries or partners?" observed President Xi Jinping at an investment conference during his US visit in mid-November. Despite its attempts to internationalise, Shein may be a litmus test.

Sisters Rosanna and Christie Wollenberg founded their chic London-based jewellery brand, Otiumberg, in 2016 as a side hustle. At the time, they were working in, respectively, fashion and media. 

Rosanna, 34, an art director and branding expert, was splitting her vocational time between London and New York, while Christie, 38, spent more than a decade working in the communications, buying and VIP departments of Burberry and Louis Vuitton, both in London and the UAE. 

By all accounts, the siblings were happily settled in their careers, but momentum built quickly for their kitchen table start-up. Within 18 months, they had decided to quit their jobs and move full tilt into their self-funded venture. 

A sense of soulfulness

With Otiumberg, the sisters have set out to fill a gap in the market for well-crafted, demi-fine jewellery that is unfussy, affordable and smartly marketed. Shaped from sustainably-sourced materials, the sculptural pieces are intended for everyday wear. Nothing is overcomplicated, but all are made with the kind of attention to shape and form that allows the wearer to feel and engage with the artist's production. 

Above all, the duo felt that a sense of soulfulness was missing in jewellery design, a drive to be completely transparent about provenance, workmanship and artistic intent. The name says it all: the "berg" is drawn from the third syllable of their surname, while "Otium" is from the Latin term for leisure time spent in a creatively enlightening place. 

"When we first founded the brand, we were living together in London and both working in the creative industries," said Rosanna. "While we both enjoyed our work, we very much felt a level of frustration and dissatisfaction. We recognised that at that time the jewellery market consisted of high-street jewellery where the quality fell short, or expensive fine jewellery that was simply inaccessible. We instinctively started to build the collection piece by piece based on what we wanted to wear, and the brand really grew organically from there." 

Today, Otiumberg operates from a modern studio in London Bridge, producing small, non-trend/non-season-led collections in recycled solid gold, gold vermeil and recycled silver sourced from suppliers certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council, with many premium pieces set with ethically-sourced gemstones that are fully traceable. Christie oversees design, while Rosanna directs the brand image, although the creative process is never clear cut, and the sisters collaborate on all decisions. 

A 'savvy' British brand 

Otiumberg was described by Forbes as focused on "craftsmanship, style and of course, a healthy dose of good old fun". A driving force is also working towards a smaller carbon footprint. The sisters keep stock levels small, and ensure that 99% of the gold is recycled and that packaging has no plastic or foam inclusions. 

And the pair are keen to go over and above the usual "green" guidelines. 

According to Vogue Business,gold mining has "come under increased scrutiny" for its links to mercury pollution and human rights abuses, "prompting a move towards sourcing more traceable, fair-mined gold". Recognising the need to support a workforce that relies on the financial stability of a mining culture, Otiumberg recently launched a capsule collection in Single Mine Origin (SMO) gold which offers customers transparency and full traceability.

This London brand has gone from strength to strength, with sales increasing 64% year on year since 2016, gaining further traction with reputable stockists including Alex Eagle, Selfridges, Matches Fashion, Galeries Lafayette Champs Élysées in Paris and Six Senses Ibiza. 

When times were tough and the UK entered its first lockdown, the sisters intuitively adapted their sales operation. The Telegraph’s Lisa Armstrong reported how the sister-duo had begun "offering style consultations via FaceTime, Zoom or WhatsApp", and "started photographing new collections on themselves". 

Personalised jewellery has been a lucrative branch of the business, with namesake bracelets, necklaces, diamond encrusted initials and engraved pendants proving to be a big hit – notably these feature bold capital letters, which stand out from the more daintily rendered cursive models that have flooded the market. In 2020, things really accelerated on the bespoke front when Irish actor Paul Mescal wore an engraved Otiumberg silver pendant, shirtless, while out for a jog.

'Heirlooms of the future'

For the past two years, the Wollenbergs have been working towards Otiumberg's B Corp certification, a status they achieved this June. It's a small and difficult club to join: currently there are just more than 6,000 B Corp companies globally – among them Patagonia, innocent Drinks and The Body Shop – and the process to achieve certification is rigorous. "As a sister-led, family brand we have always wanted to create a business that we can feel proud of, and B Corp has always been part of that vision," said Rosanna. "B Corp gives us a verified regulation and responsible framework to navigate a space which can so often be unregulated and misleading. We are incredibly proud and now even more determined as a team to continue to do better: this is really just the beginning." 

At the heart of things is the emotional connection that jewellery can facilitate, be it a memory, a special bond or a dream forecast for the future. "Jewellery holds such sentimental value and is gifted for so many reasons," said Rosanna. "Our signature name bracelet and necklaces mark new births, and we'll often know the name of the baby before the rest of the family finds out. We even had one customer WhatsApp us from her hospital bed in the maternity ward to place an order. Another memory that comes to mind is of one of our dear customers, who came to the London boutique to treat herself to a new diamond ring to celebrate the end of a complicated divorce. 

"There is something beautiful about the thought of these special pieces living on to become heirlooms of the future."

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Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

This rugged GPS smartwatch has solar-charging lenses to extend battery life, as well as the usual array of activity-tracking functions. From £350; garmin.com

JBL Clip 4 Eco

This mighty but small waterproof speaker is made from up to 90% PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic, and comes in packaging made from FSC-certified paper. £60; uk.jbl.com

Framework Laptop 13

You can replace every single component on this laptop, and if you order the DIY Edition you can build it yourself. From £849; frame.work

Nokia G22

Unlike other smartphones, the Nokia G22 can be completely disassembled and repaired. The back cover is made from recycled plastic and the battery runs for up to three days. £139.99 before trade-in; nokia.com

Nomad Eyewear Original

These cool polarised sunglasses are made from 100% recycled ocean plastic, and Nomad promises to plant five trees for every pair bought. From £46; nomadeyewear.co.uk

Allbirds Tree Dasher 2

Carbon-neutral running shoes, these have a eucalyptus-tree-fibre upper, a midsole made from sugarcane-based EVA and laces made from recycled bottles. £125; allbirds.co.uk

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1. Breville VBL248 Blend Active Personal Blender

Incredibly simple to use, this 350W blender comes with two sports bottles. It can operate for 30 seconds, with a minute’s rest, and all of it, including the blade, bottles and lids, can go in the dishwasher.

£23; argos.co.uk

2. Smeg PBF01CRUK Red Compact Personal Blender

There are two speed selections on this retro blender, which can take four ice cubes. The 300W motor can run for up to a minute, then must rest for a minute. It comes with two 600ml bottles and all parts are dishwasher-safe, apart from the blade assembly.

£110; shop.smeguk.com

3. Nutribullet GO portable blender

This handy cordless 70W blender can whizz for two periods of 30 seconds, before it needs a minute’s rest. It charges from a socket or a computer, and the 370ml to-go cup and lid are dishwasher-friendly. Smaller than most, it can’t be used for fizzy drinks, ice or hot liquids.

£40; nutribullet.co.uk

4. Kuro NutriPro Blender & Smoothie Maker

With no button, you simply press down and twist to operate this 1,000W blender, which can run for 30 seconds, before cooling for a minute. It crushes ice and has a single large blending cup, which has to be hand-washed.

£50; salter.com

5. John Lewis On The Go Food Blender

This sleek blender has two speed settings and a pulse function, while the 350W motor operates for two minutes, before needing to cool. It comes with two 600ml jugs, which don’t have carry handles. Ingredients need chopping into small pieces before blending, and it has to be hand-washed.

£25; johnlewis.com

6. BlendJet 2

With this small but powerful portable blender you can make a smoothie on the go, and drink it straight from the jar. The BlendJet 2 is light enough to stash in a bag, and it has a USB-rechargeable battery that lasts for 15 blends.

£40; blendjet.com

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1. KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker 5KSMICM

If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer (or are getting one), this attachment can make it double up as an ice cream maker. There’s no timer, so the process is a bit more manual, and does require some pre-freezing, but it’s easy to use and works well.

£127; kitchenaid.co.uk

2. Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Professional

Cuisinart’s great all-in-one machine will let you make a tub of ice cream without any need for pre-freezing. It has a family-sized 1.5-litre capacity and while it will take up a bit of counter space, it’s fairly good looking.

£300; cuisinart.co.uk

3. Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Maker

With this model, you fill one of the provided tubs with your chosen ingredients and freeze them for at least 24 hours, then when you fancy a treat, you pop it in the machine to create an ice cream, gelato, sorbet, smoothie or milkshake. It’s a bit noisy, but it’s very quick.

From £180; argos.co.uk

4. Sage Smart Scoop

This all-in-one machine is on the large side (although at 1 litre, its bowl is smaller than some), but it is versatile, and there are lots of settings that enable you to do things such as choose your preferred consistency.

£370; sageappliances.com

5. Lakeland Digital Ice Cream Maker

One of the cheapest models on the market, this requires a bit of prep and pre-freezing for its recipes, but the results are good. It’s also easy to use and clean, and has a good 1.8-litre capacity.

£50; lakeland.co.uk

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1. George Foreman Medium Steel Grill

You can cook almost anything on this non-stick George Foreman grill, from a Full English to lean chicken. It has a drip tray, adjustable feet, and can be stored vertically to save space.

£40; amazon.co.uk

2. Tower T27032RG 3-in-1 2-Portion Sandwich Toaster

This comes with three sets of non-stick, dishwasher safe, interchangeable plates so you can make waffles, deep-fill toasties – or use it as a grill. It has automatic temperature control and cool-touch handles.

£45; argos.co.uk

3. Tefal OptiGrill XL GC722D40

Not your average toastie maker, this has programs to cook everything from burgers to fish, plus four temperature settings and an indicator to make sure the meat is cooked just right. Its plates are removable and dishwasher safe, and there’s a drip tray.

£219; currys.co.uk

4. Breville VST026 4-Portion Sandwich & Panini Press

This family size press can toast up to four paninis at a time. Made from brushed stainless steel, it has a lockable lid for a golden sear, and can be used for ciabatta, focaccia, naan, tortillas, crumpets, and even teacakes.

£43; argos.co.uk

5. Ninja ST200UK Foodi 3-in-1

This space-saving multifunctional machine has a slot toaster, grill and panini press. Its seven modes include one for bagels. It’s easy to use and has a useful crumb tray.

£129; amazon.co.uk

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1. Audio-Technica AT-LP5X

It has a plastic base, but this 7.3kg turntable is well built and has remarkable sound quality for the price. It has USB connectivity to transfer your vinyl to digital and its direct-drive 3-speed motor can play 78s.

£380; audio-technica.com

2. Elipson Chroma Carbon Riaa BT

This 5.8kg Bluetooth turntable has lots of high-end features, including a super-rigid carbon-fibre tone arm, a digital belt drive motor for accurate pitch and consistent speed, plus an elliptical stylus to stop records wearing out.

£700; audioaffair.co.uk

3. Pro-Ject Primary E

Pro-Ject’s entry level player is stripped back to basics, including a manual speed change. It’s compact (4kg) and has very competent playback. Pre-adjusted and pre-installed, it’s ready to go out of the box.

£199; richersounds.com

4. Pro-Ject Essential III

This isn’t that easy to set up, but once it is, it sounds superb, offering a wide soundstage across a range of genres and volumes. Available in a high-gloss finish in red, black or white, it weighs 5kg.

£255; hifisound.co.uk

5. Technics SL-1200GR

Suitable for DJs and audiophiles, this technologically advanced direct-drive model delivers superb sound output and immense bass. Easy to set up, it weighs 11.5kg.

£1,600; premiumsound.co.uk

6. Rega Planar 3 Turntable with Elys 2 Cartridge

The reliable Planar 3 has been a top record player since the 1970s, but owing to a new tonearm and cartridge, its sound quality has been raised to a new level.

£799; hifix.co.uk

7. House of Marley Stir It Up

This upgraded model looks great and is sustainably made from solid bamboo, recycled plastic and aluminium. It connects wirelessly to speakers or headphones via Bluetooth.

£99.99; thehouseofmarley.co.uk

8. Clearaudio Concept MM

If you’re looking for the ultimate in sound quality, this multiple award-winner is the one to splash out on. It’s much simpler than many of its top-end rivals, as most variables are set for you at the factory.

£1,150; analogueseduction.net

9. +Audio The +Record Player

At more than £1,700, the +Record Player from +Audio may be on the pricier end of the scale, but it delivers superb audio. The all-in-one phono system features a built-in, high-performance stereo speaker system.

£1,740; plusaudio.com

10. Brionvega Radiofonografo

Originally designed by brothers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1965, the stylish Brionvega Radiofonografo includes a turntable, radio and twin speakers. This updated unit also has subtly incorporated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

From €13,000; brionvega.it

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1. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

These sleek earbuds are “the best in the business” when it comes to noise cancellation. Bose claims that they can actually tailor the audio to the shape of your ear canal. Either way, their sound is very good.

£239.95; bose.co.uk

2. Grado GS3000x Statement

Given the price tag, you would expect an awful lot from these headphones, and, remarkably, they deliver it. The sound quality is “incredible”, they are beautiful to behold, and the attention to detail is evident.

£2,195; premiumsound.co.uk

3. Jabra Elite 7 Active

Marketed for use while exercising, these in-ear headphones have a comfortable fit that is designed to make sure they stay in place. They also have plenty of battery life, noise cancellation and great sound quality.

From £170; jabra.co.uk

4. Fairphone Fairbuds XL

With sustainability as its USP, Fairphone makes headphones that are made largely from recycled materials, and that are modular and repairable. You can buy spares for any of the 11 parts, and they’re easy to replace. The “leather” on these is vegan.

About £215; fairphone.com

5. Nothing Ear 2

These wireless earbuds are stylish, but also substantial. They pack some power, and offer 24-bit Hi-Res Audio, as well as active noise cancellation and good battery life.

£129; nothing.tech

6. Kokoon Nightbuds sleep headphones

Kokoon’s earphones are designed to be worn at night, with soft earbuds for side sleepers. Connected to an app that plays relaxing sounds, they can identify when you’re drifting off and fade the audio or replace it with white noise.

£161; uk.kokoon.io

7. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX

Made of soft leather and recycled aluminium, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX headphones are amazingly light. They fold flat to fit in the sturdy case, have amazing sound, automatic noise cancelling and 35-hour play time.

£449; bang-olufsen.com

8. Marshall Motif A.N.C. earbuds

Marshall’s earbuds promise “front-row sound” and come equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 for a solid connection to your devices. Designed for all-day listening, the Motif A.N.C. boasts 20 hours of wireless playtime with active noise cancellation and 26 without. If you’re ever low on juice, simply pop the buds in the portable charging case and after only 15 minutes you’ll get one hour of listening time.

£179.99; argos.co.uk

9. Apple AirPods Max

Apple’s first over-ear headphones warrant the hefty price tag. Among the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones on the market, they have stunning audio. Their case isn’t great though.

£549; apple.com

10. Panasonic RZ-S500WE-W

Although a bit big and bulky for earbuds, these offer noise cancellation to rival many over-ear headphones. Audio is clear and balanced, and the touch controls are easy to use.

£84.99; amazon.co.uk

11. Bowers & Wilkins PX7

With a unique wireless design, the PX7 has finely balanced sound quality. Noise cancelling works well and is versatile, with three levels to choose from.

£99; richersounds.com

12. Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony’s wireless over-ear headphones provide impressive sound and noise cancelling, and can be controlled by touch control, voice command or the app.

£249; johnlewis.com

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1. Foreo ISSA Oral Routine

Made from hygienic silicone with polymer bristles, which last twice as long as standard ones, this BPA-free brush uses sonic pulse technology to clean teeth. The battery lasts for up to 365 days on a single charge.

£179; foreo.com

2. Organically Epic Sonic Wave Electric Bamboo toothbrush

This award-winning toothbrush has compostable bamboo heads with recyclable bristles. There are five settings and the battery lasts for up to six weeks.

£79.95; organicallyepic.uk

3. Georganics Sonic Toothbrush Set

Georganics makes natural, ethical and sustainable oral-care products with minimum environmental impact. Its recyclable Sonic Toothbrush has a unique speed-adjustment setting, which is ideal for those with fixed braces. Packaging is recyclable and compostable.

£70; georganics.com

4. Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush

The Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush has recyclable plant-based heads and bristles, and an aluminium body designed to be easy to repair.

£75; trysuri.com

5. Booheads Bamboo Heads

If you’ve already got a perfectly good electric toothbrush, you can swap to sustainable heads such as Booheads Bamboo Heads (above), which are Sonicare-compatible or Humble Earth’s recyclable heads, which work with Oral-B brushes.

£15 for 4; booheads.com

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1. KitchenAid 2.1-litre

Easy to use and very speedy, this classic 240W model is up to most kitchen tasks: it chops, whips, slices, shreds, purées, mixes and kneads. It has 3 speeds and comes with 6 attachments, including a dough blade and a julienne disc.

£199.99; lakeland.co.uk

2. Bosch MC812S734G 3.9 Litre Food Processor

This 1,200W food processor has seven attachments in a handy bag for chopping and blending, whisking and juicing. With incredibly sharp steel blades, it’s great for slicing veg and grating cheese. It has five speeds, and a large 3.9-litre bowl.

£175; ao.com

3. Kenwood FDP22.130GY MultiPro Go

Kenwood’s smallest food processor – it has just one blade, a slicer and a grater – punches above its weight. At 650W, it has only one speed, but is streamlined and quick, and the 1.3-litre bowl is good for small families.

£58; argos.co.uk

4. Ninja 3-in-1

Incredibly versatile, this is a processor with two good blenders. The 1.8-litre processor is powerful (and loud), thanks to the 1,200W motor. There are five modes and eight attachments, but it is rather bulky.

from £170; ninjakitchen.co.uk

5. Magimix 4200XL

This quick, sturdy 590W machine has a 3-litre bowl and can slice, chop, grate, beat and knead. It has nine attachments, including a BlenderMix for liquidising, and a mini processor.

£320; johnlewis.com

1. Joolz Aer+ Buggy

This newly improved model has perhaps the best folding mechanism of any on test – it folds and unfolds in a very smooth action with just one hand in a second, leaving you free to hold a wriggling baby or bags in the other. At just 6kg, it’s up there with the lightest options too, and an integrated stretchy strap means it can conveniently be carried over your shoulder when not in use. It not only looks the part, but it features a top-end spec too: four-wheel suspension, full recline, five-point harness, and decent storage underneath. There’s also a clever folding bassinet option which means you’re all set for a newborn, and raincover is included, although the bumper bar is an extra.

£449; joolz.com

2. Cybex Coya

An ultra-compact option – matching the even smallest other alternative for size when collapsed – this stylish buggy is perfect for the space conscious user. Despite this, comfort for the child hasn’t been sacrificed at all – seat padding and configuration is excellent. There’s a generous adjustable leg rest, it reclines particularly flat, and it has a convenient one-pull five-point harness system. If you choose this brand for other product choices, it’s also compatible with Cybex baby car seats to make life even easier.

£539.95; cybex-online.com

3. Yoyo2 Stroller

Not only a great choice for travelling families – the Yoyo is almost ubiquitous with overhead locker compliance – it’s also established itself as a trendy must-have for well-heeled city dwelling parents. It’s for good reason too. Folding down really small, and weighing just 6.2kg, the combination is hard to beat, and now the Yoyo2 is updated with individual wheel suspension on all four wheels and an improved buckle design. You can choose from 11 really nice colourways, and add a plethora of accessories including skis and parasols.

£430; babyzen.com

4. Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe Stroller

At 8.3kg it might not be the lightest option, however, it still folds down very compactly, and it’s loaded with features which, for some, will justify the extra weight. This updated model features a cup holder and support bar (which is able to remain in place when folding – with nearly all others it needs to be removed), and also an enlarged expandable storage basket. Very unusually for a travel buggy, it also has an adjustable handlebar making it a great choice for taller parents. For the child, the seat padding is very plush, and a generous leg rest and near flat recline make it really comfortable for them.

£319.90; ergobaby.co.uk

5. Bugaboo Butterfly

Setting this buggy apart is an impressive underseat basket capacity of 8kg, making it a highly versatile choice for running errands while with your little one. It features a really generous integrated leg rest – adjustable to five positions – for added comfort. At 7.3kg – around a kilo heavier than other options – it’s certainly not the lightest, but once collapsed, it’s back on a par with the other best options. Folding and unfolding mechanism is simple and done with one hand, then conveniently carried via the shoulder strap or integrated handle.

£419; bugaboo.com

1. Wilson Blade 98 v8

Wilson has put new Direct Connection technology into the butt cap and handle to make this superb racket even faster in action and more stable too. As a bonus, it’s a looker, with its olive green and copper frame. Weight: 305g; intermediate/advanced.

£255; wilson.com

2. Head Speed Team L

Novak Djokovic has put his name to this light racket which uses “Auxetic” materials to stiffen the frame and give more stability on groundstrokes. Weight: 265g; best for beginners/casual enthusiasts.

From £139; tennishq.co.uk

3. Tecnifibre T-Fight 305 Iso

This shines for direction, control and plough-through; and for an advanced racket it delivers surprisingly little shudder to the arm. Weight: 305g.

From £158; tennis-point.co.uk

4. Babolat Pure Aero

If you like to inject a bit of deadly spin, this 8th-gen Aero may be for you. Endorsed by Carlos Alcaraz, and aimed at players who can mix up their shots, it injects maximum sting when it comes to slice and top spin; it’s great on the serve; and it delivers real feedback. Weight: 300g; intermediate/advanced.

£245; prodirectsport.com

5. Yonex EZone 100

Backed by Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios, this lightweight tournament racket has an angular frame with a tapered design for softness. The EZone is more forgiving than Yonex’s VCore range. Weight: 300g; intermediate/advanced.

From £169.95; just-rackets.co.uk

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1. Matilde Mar Necklace

Named after Portugal’s golden coastline, Matilde’s Tróia collection is a celebration of organic shapes and scintillating seaside colours. The cobbled Mar necklace evokes the shape of rocks and undulating waves combining beads of sustainability-sourced gold, amazonite, azurite, turquoise and pearl. The little pendant, crafted from 100% recycled 14ct gold, is Matilde’s take on a traditional Viana heart, a lucky love charm known as “Coração De Viana” in Portuguese. Here the romantic symbol is embellished with a pretty lab-grown diamond and green sapphire.

£195; matildejewellery.com

2. Formentera by TBalance Crystals

Aptly launched to coincide with the summer solstice, these crystal bracelets and necklaces have a restorative purpose with different healing qualities. Inspired by the Balearic Isle, designs are svelte and beautifully assembled focusing on the gradient tones of each stone with six varieties to choose from. The “Sunrise” pieces are crafted from carnelian crystals to restore motivation and vitality, while the “Lunar” models string together milky moonstones intended to soothe stress. The “Gratitude” necklace and matching bracelet may just encourage that summer love bug. Pink tourmaline is considered an aphrodisiac in the world of mineral healing, known to attract peace and love.

From £125; tbalancecrystals.co.uk

3. By Alona summer collection

This cool London-based brand is big on bold statement pieces, including chunky chain necklaces, big pendants and organic pearls the size of Mentos mints. By Alona’s summer collection is distinctively mermaid-inspired with a large range of beach-themed treasures. Make a splash in these Gila gold-plated shell pieces or chill out in the oceanic tones of the Willow bracelet and necklace set, crafted from peridot stone beads and finished with a glorious Keshi pearl in the centre. The Gila earrings and necklace cost £135 and £169 respectively, and the Willow bracelet and necklace are £70 and £110.

byalona.com

4. Astrid & Miyu Treasure Beaded Anklet

The anklet is back and this London-based brand has gone to town with all sorts of summery permutations, from chunky silver designs to simple sold 9ct gold chains which can be worn in the sea. This beaded version has a base of recycled silver and features a mix of semi-precious stones including lavender quartz, dark pink chalcedony, blue agate and lemon jade, all smoothly rounded for a comfortable fit.

£75; astridandmiyu.com

5. Grainne Morton Cloud & Rain drop earrings

Specialising in independent designers – among them Alexis Bittar, Anna Sheffield and Polly Wales – London-based brand Tomfoolery is, as its name suggest, a whole lot of fun. Fine jewellery pieces range from the dainty and discreet to the fairy tale flamboyant. These “Cloud & Rain” drop earrings by Northern Irish designer Grainne Morton are a balance of both. Delicately handcrafted from ethically sourced 18k gold-plated silver, they combine chrysoprase, glass cabochon, moonstone, opal, peridot, tourmaline and turquoise. If the heavens do open up, this rainbow look is the perfect pick-me-up.

£620; tomfoolerylondon.co.uk

When shopping online, you may sometimes scroll through customer reviews to gauge how well an item has fared. Amazon pioneered the review program, but lots of fashion retailers have adopted this system, including H&M and Asos. However, when it comes to five-star customer feedback, you’d be hard pressed to find a small business with as many public posts as Edge of Ember, a sustainable fine jewellery brand that uses recycled silver and gold, as well as lab-grown diamonds. To date, you can read an impressive 3,761 positive reviews on the label’s website, a testament to the popularity of this young business launched by London-based, Singapore-born founder Lynette Ong, who previously worked in finance.

Ong’s former life in the City is important, because it gave her a natural affinity for risk taking and planning strategic opportunities. In 2014, she got itchy feet on the trading floor and turned her attention to jewellery design, inspired by the artisanal crafts of Singapore and its neighbouring countries. “I wanted to celebrate Asian craftsmanship, to bring this knowledge to the world stage,” she said. “In the West, there still exists the preconception that ‘made in Asia’ means cheaply and poorly produced, but the ateliers we use are masters of this art form. I saw an opportunity to elevate this area of metalwork.”

Her first designs made use of brass derived from abandoned land mines in Cambodia. “We now use more refined metals,” she added, “but we have maintained our commitment to a sustainable ethos, this means fair pay, good working conditions, social responsibility and environmental care.”

Edge of Ember’s designs are youthful and elegant. There are no big and mighty statement pieces, no trend-led collections and no fussy geometries or overcomplicated silhouettes. Its style pushes towards a dainty, feminine and timeless aesthetic that’s playful, though sophisticatedly so, rather than quirky or whimsical.

There are pretty birthstone and pearl drop necklaces, gold plated zodiac pendants, sterling silver hoop earrings, delicate gold plated anklets and a large number of affordable 14ct solid gold pieces. It is precisely this melange of silver, plated gold and solid gold, across similar designs that has been the secret to Ong’s success.

To illustrate, a plated twist chain necklace is £85 in plated gold. In silver it is £78, which allows customers to choose their metal according to what suits their style and skin, as opposed to what they can afford. The most expensive 14ct solid gold necklace is her triple initial diamond necklace at £745, but this pure metal category starts at £125 for a fine chain. “When I started Edge of Ember, I designed for myself,” Ong explained. “Modern but unfussy, designed to be worn everyday. I also love semi-precious gems because stone-setting is a speciality in our workshops in Thailand.”

One of these workshops, situated just outside Bangkok and helmed by a Belgian jeweller, is almost entirely powered by solar energy. “It’s so important for us to know that our suppliers are as green as can be with good waste management systems to minimise the use of harmful chemicals,” she said. “Also, a lot of suppliers did not want to work with lab-grown diamonds because they thought it might affect the mined diamond side of their business. We spent a lot of time looking for the right fit.”

The lockdown period was a prosperous time for Edge of Ember, fuelled by some lucky breaks. “You could say we had a few tailwinds,” Ong said. “Meghan Markle wore three of our pieces [including the brand’s best-selling Visionary charm pendant with its ‘evil eye’ detail, pictured above], and we partnered with influencer Victoria Magrath which boosted our visibility online.”

This latter tie-in was particularly smart from a marketing perspective given Magrath’s past partnerships with popular labels including L’Oréal Paris, Clarins, Valentino and Bulgari, creating an instant association with desirable luxury. “Social media is great but to me, customer service and customer experience are our key pillars,” said Ong. “It’s one thing looking good, but word of mouth from happy customers is what pushes a business forward.” This explains Edge of Ember’s effusive reviews page.

Ong works with a product developer on design, but she has her eye on all areas of the business. “I’m very hands-on, involved in every aspect of the brand,” she said. “I’m very particular about what goes out on social media because today, this window is as important as a commercial website. In fact, most of our sales are through mobile, so imagery on a small screen has to be impactful.”

There are areas of growth that have been surprising too, given the rise in the cost of living. “Demi-fine jewellery, that is to say plated jewellery, is still very popular, but over the past two few years, our fine jewellery category has been on the up and up,” Ong said. “We’ve seen our core demographic, aged between 25 and 45, really wanting to spend on investment pieces. For example, our solid gold initial necklace has been our out and out best-seller for three years.”

The other noticeable consumer change that Ong has noted is the growing desire for IRL (in real life) experiences. “We responded by launching a London pop-up recently, a ‘welding experience’ whereby customers can stop by and create a solid gold bracelet with two ends welded together, so a keepsake that can’t be broken.” Even with a £15 online deposit, the project has proved so popular that more DIY welding dates have been scheduled this summer. The jewellery line is also stocked at Selfridges in London.

“I like to wear jewellery all the time,” Ong said when asked about her favourite Edge of Ember pieces. “I have two kids, so I’m always on the go. I often wear the same pieces everyday. One thing I like jewellery to be is dependable and timeless. Something that makes me feel ‘put together’. In fact, that’s the whole premise of the brand. We make pieces that make you feel instantly chic without having to try too hard.”

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1. Pimlico Jazz lounge chair

Inspired by mid-century design, this low-slung chair is made from solid teak and zingy all-weather woven rope, so it can stay outdoors all year round. There’s a matching footstool (£230) available too.

Down to £440; indian-ocean.co.uk

2. Edwardian deckchair

A traditional deckchair with canopy and footstool made from A-grade teak. Available in a wide range of coloured canvas, and with or without a pompom fringe.

£275; thestripescompany.com

3. Old Rocker

Modelled on a 1930s swing seat and handmade in England to order, this swinging 3-seater sofa is plumply upholstered for supreme comfort. It can be left out all summer, thanks to its marine-grade canvas and rust-resistant steel frame.

From £4,190; oddlimited.com

4. Palissade low lounge chair

Made of powder-coated steel, this chair supports the lower back and neck, and its high armrests make it easy to get in to and out of.

Down to £398; skandium.com

5. Studio Job Industry garden chair

Crafted from cast aluminium, this chair is surprisingly lightweight and durable. There are matching armchairs and tables available in blue or black.

£151; nunido.co.uk

6. Tommy chair

This premium hardwood and canvas chair has five reclining positions and armrests, and it folds up into a backpack.

£225; daylesford.com

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1. Sony XG300 X-Series portable wireless speaker

The larger size of this speaker (at 31.8cm x 13.8cm) pays off, with top sound quality and a real punch, especially when using the Mega Bass feature. It’s rugged and blasts out a crisp sound for 25 hours on a charge.

£199; sony.co.uk

2. Polaroid P2 Bluetooth speaker

While Polaroid might be a surprising entrant into this arena, this is a great little speaker that delivers a strong sound at volume. It also has a music-responsive LED display.

From £90; polaroid.com

3. Nokia Portable Wireless Speaker 2

This Nokia model is perfect for those who want a really compact and rugged speaker to dangle from a backpack or bring out at impromptu gatherings. The exterior is 100% recycled, it has a 22-hour battery life, and the sound is very impressive for its size.

£50; nokia.com

4. Boompods Rhythm party speaker

Made from recycled plastic, this is a great durable little speaker, which can be submerged a metre under water for 30 minutes. It’s simple to use, and can be controlled via an app.

£40; boompods.com

5. Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker

The flat shape and weight of this Bose speaker make it better at staying put than most when, say, balanced on a rock. The sound quality is “incredible”, thanks to technology that optimises audio depending on the speaker’s position.

£129; ao.com

6. Kreafunk aGlow

A Bluetooth speaker, light and alarm clock, the aGlow can play music for up to 20 hours or shine for up to 20 hours. It neatly combines light and sound and its handle makes it easy to carry around.

£149.95; kreafunk.com

7. Roxel Retro D1

A retro-styled radio loaded with modern tech, including a DAB radio with 20 presets and a Bluetooth speaker. The built-in battery lasts up to 12 hours on a charge. The alarm can be set to come on daily, or for weekdays or weekends only, and there’s a snooze function.

£45; amazon.co.uk

8. Crosley Rondo Bluetooth speaker

Styled to look like a 1950s radio, this little speaker has Bluetooth, and USB and Mini SD ports. Available in a range of colours, the Rondo has 3.5 hours battery life and can be charged by connecting to a computer or a 5V USB power supply adapter.

£25; gear4music.com

9. Marshall Emberton

A delightful combination of style and sonic substance, the Marshall Emberton logo emblazoned on the speaker’s front grille immediately conjures up images of the guitar amps the company is famous for. But don’t be fooled: this is a speaker you can take anywhere. Build quality is not only eye-catching but rugged, too.

£136.49; amazon.co.uk

10. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3

With its stylish looks, various colours and most importantly, fantastic sound quality, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 does practically everything right. It’s a speaker that can also float, so ideal for the beach, or the bathroom.

£90; amazon.co.uk

11. B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)

The second generation Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1 model might look identical to its predecessor but a number of tweaks have been made under the hood. The result is that this brilliant Bluetooth speaker is now better than ever.

£234; amazon.co.uk

12. Tribit StormBox Pro

With a battery life of 24 hours’ listening time, a 2.1 subwoofer system and exclusive XBass® technology, this speaker really can boom. A durable handle and water resistant design makes the StormBox Pro ideal for the outdoors. Tribit also has a smaller StormBox Micro in its product range.

£130; amazon.co.uk

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1. Coleman Cortes Octagon 8 Tent

Tents

This roomy waterproof geodesic tent sleeps eight, but assuming you have some kit, it is better for six. It takes just 15 minutes to erect, and has a sewn-in groundsheet and a hinged doorway.

£220; outdoorworlddirect.co.uk

2. Oak Mini Deck Chair

Chairs

It’s not a typical design for camping, but this wooden chair is “incredibly comfortable” and it folds completely flat, so it can be easily carried and stored. It is made from solid oak with a polyester canvas, and measures 39.5cm x 75cm x 62.5cm.

£40; futoncompany.co.uk

3. Coleman Monstera XL Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags

This sleeping bag is extra spacious, for a comfy night. It has a soft cotton outer and a washable fleecy lining and comes with a carry bag. With double-layer insulation, it can be used from spring to autumn.

£101; leisuredepot.co.uk

4. Montane Trailblazer 25-litre Backpack

Bags

Montane’s lightweight (750g) day pack has a well-balanced back support system to keep it close to the body. It has extra-deep side pockets, adjustable chest straps and a breathable mesh finish.

£100; montane.com

5. NHOWIN Self-Inflating Camping Mat

Sleeping kit

Made from waterproof nylon, this 9cm-thick sleeping mat has an inbuilt air pump and takes just 45 seconds to inflate. It weighs less than a kilo, packs up incredibly small, and two can connect to make a double bed.

£31; amazon.co.uk

6. 66°North x Heimplanet The Cave

Tents

This advanced tent from Heimplanet inflates in less than a minute, and is robust enough to withstand the rigours of year-round camping in Iceland. The Cave is weatherproof, and can accommodate three people plus equipment.

£825; 66north.com

7. Quechua 2 Man Roof Tent

Tents

The Quechua Roof Tent MH500 is designed to fit easily to a roof rack, transforming your car into a camper van. It can be put up in less than five minutes, fits two people, and has a built-in mattress and blackout fabric.

£1,149.99; decathlon.co.uk

8. Cinch Hub

Tents

With more headspace than any other pop-up tent, the Hub can be erected by one person in under a minute, and sleeps four comfortably. Solar power packs can be bought to provide power through the USB outlet.

from £298; cinchpopuptents.com

9. Tentsile Stingray 3-Person Tree Tent

Tents

A tree house in a bag, this multiple-award-winning flagship model by British firm Tentsile has enough space to sleep three adults or a family of four, suspended off the ground, using three trees as anchor points.

£849; tentsile.com

10. Coleman OctaGo

Tents

This octagonal three-man tent has a robust steel frame, but weighs around 11kg so is best for car-camping or carrying on a festival trolley. Pitching takes between 10 and 20 minutes.

£169; attwoolls.co.uk

11. Boutique Camping Classic Bell Tent

Tents

Boutique Camping stocks a range of iconic bell tents in the usual sandstone colour. The Classic is available in various widths, and also comes in a choice of material so you can prioritise weight or durability.

From £239; boutiquecamping.com

12. Coleman Meadowood Air 4

Tents

For comfortable family camping, this four-man tent has a bright, airy living space, cosy blackout bedrooms and a spacious porch area. It has lots of clever features such as mesh doors for warmer evenings, plenty of pockets and step-free access and is also available as a larger six-person tent.

£400; amazon.co.uk

13. Lotus Belle Outdoor Deluxe

Tents

If you want to glamp in style, then Lotus Belle’s Outdoor Deluxe may be the tent for you. It resembles a kind of giant mushroom spaceship that has just landed on Earth. The Outdoor Deluxe has two doors and two windows with zip-open mesh layers for maximum airflow while keeping creepy-crawlies out. It is made of a waterproof, yet breathable, canvas to minimise condensation.

£2,990; lotusbelle.co.uk

14. Boutique Camping Luna Bell Tent

Tents

The Luna Bell Tent is a spacious tent for glampers that can be pitched quickly. Setting up the canvas and aluminium structure takes just a few minutes, and its innovative design allows it to be pitched as one. There’s lots of space inside which makes it ideal for families.

£409-£1,699; boutiquecamping.com

15. Coleman Tent Octagon

Tents

Ideal for family camping trips or festivals, the Coleman Tent Octagon can sleep six people and is sturdy and easy to pitch.

£252; amazon.co.uk

16. Mountain Warehouse Pop-Up Single Skin 2 Man Tent

Tents

If you’re looking for something smaller, cheaper and easier to assemble then a two-man pop-up tent from Mountain Warehouse may do the job.

£35; mountainwarehouse.com

17. Eurohike Pop 200

Tents

If you’re not a frequent camper and don’t need fancy gear, this great-value Eurohike Pop 200 two-person tent will serve you fine. It is waterproof, and has an easy pop-up design that takes seconds to set up.

£35; millets.co.uk

18. Summit 250 XL Winter Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags

This hollow­fibre sleeping bag will keep you warm in temperatures as low as -20ºC; and is mummy-shaped for extra cosiness.

£40; mountainwarehouse.com

19. The Fine Bedding Company Night Owl 3-in-1 Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags

Two-way zips mean this can be used as two singles or one huge sleeping bag. It is machine washable (it dries in around 90 minutes), and comes in its own duffle bag.

£100; johnlewis.com

20. The North Face Eco Trail 2C Synthetic Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags

Made from recycled fabric, this water-repellent bag comes in a longer length for taller campers, and has the option of left-side zips for left-handers.

£120.98-£124.85; amazon.co.uk

21. Berghaus Transition 300 Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags

Ideal for colder months, this has an integrated hood to keep draughts out, security pockets and a pillow.

£54; blacks.co.uk

22. Naturehike Mini Outdoor Ultralight Envelope Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags

This ultra-compact bag for warmer weather measures 190cm x 75cm.

£46.20; naturehikegearuk.com

23. Airbeds, mattresses and sleeping mats

Sleeping kit

You may choose to rough it in a sleeping bag on the tent groundsheet, but for those seeking a bit more comfort, an airbed might be needed. Trespass has a number of blow-up and inflatable air beds and mattresses.

trespass.com

24. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Regular Sleeping Mat

Sleeping kit

Therm-a-Rest’s NeoAir XLite Regular Sleeping Mat is extremely lightweight and fits into a tiny bag, but can still keep you well insulated from the cold. It makes for a supportive sleep surface, and comes in several sizes.

£205.28; amazon.co.uk

25. Kid-O-Bunk

Beds

The Kid-O-Bunk is an absolute must buy for families. It takes 10 or 15 minutes to put together and can be configured as bunk beds, single twin beds, and even a sofa. It packs back down into its own carry bag, and can double up as extra sleeping space at home for sleepovers or guests.

£298; kidobunk.com

26. BioLite Campstove 2+

Kitchen kit

This clever stove burns wood, twigs and pellets without creating smoke, and generates electricity to power devices via the USB port. There’s a portable grill, a KettlePot and CoffeePress, plus a FlexLight for cooking at night.

£250; gooutdoors.co.uk

27. Outwell Collaps Kettle

Kitchen kit

This 2.5-litre silicone and stainless-steel kettle collapses flat for storage when not in use. Break-resistant, it is easy to clean, has a wide stable base and is quick and easy to open and fold away.

£55; outwell.com

28. Collapsible Washing-Up Bowl

Kitchen kit

With strong handles, this durable 9-litre washing-up bowl also folds almost flat. It has a twist plug to keep the water in, and measures 20cm x 32cm x 31cm.

£6; dunelm.com

29. Kitchen Gadgets 5-Piece Set

Kitchen kit

Made from robust plastic, this stackable set is not designed specifically for camping, but would be useful. It has a peeler, mini grater, bottle opener, grinder and a pizza cutter.

£12.11; amazon.co.uk

30. Stainless-steel Camping Cook Set

Kitchen kit

Quechua’s tough, integrated cook set for two people features a saucepan that doubles as a measuring jug, a frying pan with strainer, 2 bowls, 2 cups and 2 sets of cutlery.

£30; decathlon.co.uk

31. Cool boxes and food storage

Kitchen kit

Unless you’re hunting or foraging for your dinner then it’s likely you’ll be taking some grub to cook on site. A decent cool box is essential for any camping trip. Winfields Outdoors stocks cool box brands such as Coleman, Igloo, Outwell and Kampa Dometic.

winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk

32. AeroPress Go travel coffee maker

Kitchen kit

Already beloved by coffee drinkers as an easy way to make an espresso in a minute, the Aeropress is now more portable than ever. The “Go” version comes with a lid and packs down into its own plastic mug.

£39.99; aeropress.co.uk

33. Ikea Fältmal wearable blanket

Blankets

Worried about committing to outdoor socialising in the cold? Ikea has you covered. The Fältmal is a cushion that unzips into a wearable sleeping bag-style blanket, with sleeves, and a kangaroo-style front pocket.

£25; ikea.com

34. Milestone Camping steel foldable chairs

Chairs

Perfect for sitting around the fire, for reading a book or just general relaxing, a decent camping chair is essential. These Milestone Camping steel foldable chairs are lightweight and comfortable.

£12.49 each; amazon.co.uk

35. Trespass Inflatable Chair Floki

Chairs

If you’re seeking something softer than a folding item, then Trespass has an inflatable camping chair.

£29.99; trespass.com

36. Quechua Pressure Solar Camping Shower

Gadgets

Camping can be a dirty business. You are living in a field, after all. But if your campsite doesn’t have facilities of its own, or you don’t fancy trekking across the site to queue at the toilet block in the morning, don’t worry. Take along the Quechua solar shower. Its 10-litre water bag is heated by the sun and its pump system ensures there’s enough pressure to wash all the grime off.

£55; decathlon.com

37. ADDTOP Solar Charger

Gadgets

If your gadgets require charging then use the power of the sun. This waterproof ADDTOP Solar Charger is perfect for the outdoors.

£41.97; amazon.co.uk

38. 2XPLORE Emergency First Aid Kit

Essentials

Ideal for travel and camping, the 2XPLORE Emergency First Aid Kit can cover a wide range of minor injuries and comes with strong scissors, tweezers, sticking plasters, bandages, safety pins, first aid cleaning wipes, and medical tape.

£6.99; amazon.co.uk

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1. The Hummingbird Bakery’s Father’s Day collection

Sweet treats

Sweet-toothed father figures will enjoy tucking into The Hummingbird Bakery’s tasty collection. Options include the Father’s Day cupcake selection box (£19), the Father’s Day biscuit bar (£25), and the DAD Mile High cake (from £50) which has six layers of dark chocolate sponge layered with homemade salted caramel and covered with smooth chocolate buttercream.

hummingbirdbakery.com

2. SockShop gifts

Socks

There’s no doubt about it, socks are still a great dad gift. SockShop has lots of items in its Father’s Day store, including this “world’s strongest dad” gift box (£29), which includes three pairs of cotton socks. Other nifty items include Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel Comics, and Jeep socks.

sockshop.co.uk

3. Champagne Laurent-Perrier with personalised tin

Champagne

Champagne Laurent-Perrier’s Cuvée Rosé comes in a personalised tin that can be engraved with a message of your choice, with up to 25 characters.

£85; thechampagnecompany.com

4. Camden Town Brewery beer bundles

Beer

Camden Town Brewery has launched three exclusive beer bundles for Father’s Day. The Fresh Dad Beer Gift Box (£18) comes with two Hells Lager bottles, Jack Senior and Junior glasses (pint and half pint), and a Martyna Bar blade (bottle opener). The Arch 55 Craft Beer Gift Set (£25) has a 12-can mixed pack and Arch 55 socks. And the Cheers Dad! Gift Set (£39) has a 12-can mixed pack, a “Cheers” T-shirt, and a Jack pint glass.

camdentownbrewery.com

5. KEF LSX II Wireless

Tech

These compact speakers not only offer crisp, high-quality audio, but also look stylishly cool in any room of the house. Available in five different colours.

£1,199 for a pair; uk.kef.com

6. Riedel Superleggero Spirits glass

Barware

The Riedel Spirits glass is a stylish addition to your dad’s home bar. Its sleek design emphasises the bouquet of a spirit and the slim, flute-shaped bowl allows its contents a very small evaporation surface.

£47.50; riedel.com

7. The Montagu Arms luxury classic car break

Experiences

Treat your dad to a trip to The Montagu Arms, located in the heart of the New Forest and just a stone’s throw from the Beaulieu Motor Museum with its world-class collection of vintage cars. The classic car package includes an overnight stay in a stylish Courtyard Room – developed within the original 1920s chauffeur garages – breakfast, and a tasting menu experience at the award-winning Terrace Restaurant, as well as classic car hire, and tickets to Beaulieu Motor Museum.

From £500 per person; montaguarmshotel.co.uk

8. Trewithen Dairy Cornish lager and pasty hamper

Food

This hamper from Trewithen Dairy represents a true taste of Cornwall. It comes with two traditional Cornish pasties, two 500ml cans of Korev Lager from St Austell Brewery, and Cornish tea bags or Cornish ground coffee. There’s also strawberry jam, cornish clotted cream and a choice of scones (plain, fruit or gluten free).

From £29.49; trewithendairy.co.uk

9. Father’s Day Whisky Tasting set

Whisky

This pack features five different 30ml sample drams of delicious whisky from exceptional producers around the world, from richly sherried to coastal and smoky Scotch. It comes in a jazzy-looking box, so no need for wrapping.

£29.99; masterofmalt.com

10. Guitar Multitool

Gadgets

A finalist in the tech and gadget category at the 2022 Gift Of The Year awards, this useful Guitar Multitool can fit comfortably in your pocket. The tools include a bottle opener, knife, flathead screwdriver and a Phillips screwdriver.

£26; kikkerlandeu.com

11. Marvel Volvik golf balls

Golf

Give your dad some superhero powers on the golf course with these Marvel Volvik balls. The pack contains four officially licensed Marvel Merchandise Volvik Vivid golf balls and a magnetic hat-clip superhero ball marker. The Volvik Vivid golf ball is the world’s first ever matte finish golf ball and provides better visibility to help a player locate their golf ball with ease. Choose from six different collectable superhero boxes: Black Panther, Black Widow, Captain America, Hulk, Spiderman and Thor.

£24.99; americangolf.co.uk

12. El Camino travel bracelets and necklaces

Jewellery

Every El Camino bracelet and necklace is bespoke, so can tell the story of the places your father has been, or those he still dreams of going to around the world. Handmade in the UK and available in different colours, you can adorn them with cylindrical “Steps” that tell the tales of destinations visited. Bracelets start from £26.99, necklaces from £34.99, and Steps from £10.49.

elcaminobracelets.com

13. Salcombe Brewery Co. Pub in a Box

Beer

This “pub in a box” from Salcombe Brewery in Devon is a perfect gift for any beer fan and includes everything they need for a quiet night in. There are three different options in the range, including a gluten-free set, and each contains Salcombe beers, tasty snacks from the West Country, branded glasses, beer mats and bar towels.

£19.99; salcombebrewery.com

14. Afternoon Tea with Beer at Sopwell House

Experiences

A twist on the quintessentially British pastime at Sopwell House, a Georgian country house and hotel in Hertfordshire. Take time to unwind with an afternoon tea of all your favourite treats, expertly paired with local beers. Dine on a selection of savouries from Cotswold Legbar egg mayonnaise with mustard cress, to Mini Yorkshire pudding with roast beef, horseradish and Chantilly cream, followed by delicate pastries and freshly baked scones. In partnership with the award-winning Tring Brewery, tea will be paired with a selection of locally brewed ales, including a Ridgeway Bitter and Lunardi’s Pale Ale. Running on Sunday 18 June only.

£49 per person; sopwellhouse.co.uk

15. adidas City Tech Two watch

Watches

The adidas Gazelle is having a major fashion moment, but shoes can be tricky as a gift. Equally eye-popping, fun and sporty are the brand’s adidas Originals watches, and especially the vibrant chronograph editions, available in bright yellow, icy white and now zingy orange. Known as the “City Tech Two”, the timepiece features a countdown timer, stopwatch, world time, and a shock-resistant resin case. Perfect for the city or outdoorsy adventurer.

£100; adidas.co.uk

16. ‘A Spirited Evening’ at L’oscar London

Experiences

Luxury hotel L’oscar London is hosting a spirits masterclass from 5pm-7pm on Saturday 17 June (£69 per person). Held in collaboration with Bordeaux Distilling, the evening will see guests taste five different premium spirits from Bordeaux, each paired with canapes created by the hotel’s executive chef. For those who wish to continue the evening, guests are invited to enjoy a Côte de Boeuf and truffle fries, washed down with wine from Michel Reybier’s terroir (£90 for two guests).

loscarlondon.com

17. Dewar’s x All In A Box Father’s Day BBQ meal kit

Food

Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whisky has collaborated with bespoke meal kit makers All In A Box to create a limited-edition father’s day BBQ feast. There’s a main course of marinated gourmet chicken shawarma, smoked garlic butter flatbread, lemon labneh, pickled red cabbage, and coriander garnish. Sides include griddled tenderstem broccoli and punched potatoes with spring onion and garlic. Peach bombs with vanilla-infused creme fraiche and mint garnish is for dessert. To drink, you’ll find an exclusive Dewar’s Aromatic Highball in a can that mixes the classic Dewar’s 12 Year Old with sweet Martini Rosso red vermouth, Benedictine and soda. Pre-order for nationwide delivery from 2 June to ensure it arrives on time for 18 June.

£40-£60; allinabox.co.uk

18. Acqua di Parma Arancia la Spugnatura and Colonia C.L.U.B

Fragrances

If you’re shopping for a classicist with a penchant for woody fragrances, you can’t go wrong with Acqua di Parma’s Colonia C.L.U.B., which incorporates bergamot with zingy pepper for a fresh take on a traditional cologne. John Lewis has a special father’s day set (£128) which includes a 12ml travel spray to go with a full size 100ml bottle. For something more avant-garde, there is the new Arancia la Spugnatura limited edition (£157 for a 100ml bottle). La Spugnatura refers to the ancient technique of using sea sponges to soak up the essential oil of a particular fruit. In this case, it is the “vanilla orange” or Arancia Vaniglia from Ribera in Sicily, which is known for its wonderful and distinctive mix of tangy citrus notes laced with a deep exotic kick of sweetness.

acquadiparma.com

19. Bird & Blend Tea Co’s tea blends and gifts

Tea

Bird & Blend Tea Co. has more than 100 flavours of loose leaf tea blends to choose from, including some classics like Builder’s Breakfast, Great British Cuppa, Chocolate Digestives, and Whisktea. Its “for him” gift collection features a teapot with infuser (£34), craft beer gift box (£17.50) and a tea chest selection box (£35) with 30 individually wrapped plastic-free tea bags.

birdandblendtea.com

20. Daylesford Organic Cheese & Biscuit Box

Food

Daylesford’s favourite artisan cheeses are paired with savoury biscuits, chutney and a full-bodied red wine to provide everything you need for an excellent father’s day cheeseboard.

£60; daylesford.com

21. ‘Batman’ espresso cups

Homeware

These collectable espresso cups are decorated with Jean-Michel Basquiat’s famous “Batman” print and produced by Parisian-based company, Ligne Blanche, which specialises in homeware with an arty edge. As well as Basquiat, the company has established unique collaborations with artists and/or their estates which has allowed them exclusive rights to some of their most famous artworks, reimagined in the form of plates, candles, trinket trays and cups.

£158 for the pair; yoox.com

22. Lacoste x Netflix collection

Fashion

Lacoste’s new Netflix collaboration is a real delight. Making use of the brand’s iconic crocodile logo, polos now have “costumed” crocs dressed as a famous TV protagonist. For example, the “Emily in Paris” classic polo shirt features a beret wearing croc with a miniature camera, while the “Bridgerton” version sees him don a tiny blue wig. The “Stranger Things” polo (pictured) shows the croc snapping back as a Demogorgon. The polos are available in seven colours.

Polo £120; lacoste.com

23. Drinks Distilled glass and barware gift sets

Homeware

As well as a wide range of spirits, Drinks Distilled’s collection also includes glass and barware gift sets which will make an ideal addition to your dad’s home bar. Options include the Boston shaker cocktail gift set (£40), French shaker cocktail set (£47), mixing glass set (£48) and the rose gold Cobbler shaker cocktail set (£53).

drinksdistilled.co.uk

24. Theo Fennell Portrait Cufflinks

Jewellery

Theo Fennell’s portrait cufflink range is an eclectic selection of heroes and villains which come in silver or gold. Icons include Albert Einstein, Bob Marley and William Shakespeare.

£495; theofennell.com

25. Sandford Orchards Pub in a Box

Cider

Another pub in a box gift from Devon, this time featuring ciders from Sandford Orchards. The hamper contains a 500ml bottle of Devon Mist, Shaky Bridge and Fanny’s Bramble plus a 440ml can of Devon Red, a packet of Burts Crisps and Burts Popcorn, pork scratchings, a Sandford Orchards pint glass, some beer mats and either a bottle opener or sunglasses.

£22; sandfordorchards.co.uk

26. Whitebox Cocktails gift boxes

Cocktails

Whitebox Cocktails has a range of ready-to-serve cocktails which come in beautifully designed 100ml cans and available in six-can gift boxes. A personalised gift card and message can be added to every order. The gift pack range includes Chipper’s Old Fashioned (£39), Pocket Negroni (£32), and Freezer Martini (£34). The Classic Cocktail Gift Pack (£34) contains one can each of the Pocket Negroni, Prêt à Boire Boulevardier, Classic Cosmo, Freezer Martini, Chipper’s Old Fashioned and Squeezy’s Margarita.

whiteboxcocktails.com

27. Golf Flask

Golf

This 6oz flask would make the perfect gift for any spirit-loving golf enthusiast. Made from stainless steel it comes with an elastic strap that stores a divot tool and two golf tees.

£25; kikkerlandeu.com

28. Duvel Discovery Box

Beer

This gift set features two of the most popular and refreshing beers from the Belgian brand’s portfolio: Duvel Original and Duvel Tripel Hop Citra. A Duvel signature glass is also included.

£7; asda.com

29. Aberfeldy Single Malt Whisky Miniature Gift Set

Whisky

This 3x50ml miniature tasting set features golden drams from Aberfeldy Highland Single Malt’s core range: 12 Year Old, 16 Year Old and 21 Year Old.

£24.25; thewhiskyexchange.com

30. Grind monthly coffee subscription

Coffee

This monthly subscription is a great idea for dads who can’t function without their early caffeine shot. The tin is a suitably cool shade of pink and you can choose between compostable Nespresso pods or ground coffee. The blends are also switchable with nine varieties to choose from depending on how rich and punchy you like your brew. Founded in Shoreditch, London, Grind has been flying the sustainable flag for more than 11 years with pods that decompose faster than a banana peel and ethically-sourced beans certified organic by the Soil Association.

From £9.95 per month; grind.co.uk

31. Lind & Lime Gin Distillery tour

Experiences

Perfect for gin-loving dads, the Lind & Lime Distillery in Leith, Edinburgh, offers a 75-minute tour, tasting and cocktail-making experience. The tour includes a signature gin and tonic on arrival; insight into the origins of Lind & Lime; the opportunity to fill and label your very own 5cl bottle of Lind & Lime; a masterclass in mixing a gimlet cocktail; and the chance to taste some more delights in the gift shop. Tours are available Thursday to Sunday.

£25; lindandlime.com

32. Prestige Eco Non-Stick Saucepan & Frying Pan Set

Homeware

Made from 75% recycled aluminium, the five pans in this set (three saucepans, two frying pans) have a plant-based, palm oil-free non-stick coating. Oven-safe to 150°C, they are best washed by hand.

£132.79; prestige.co.uk

33. Niwaki Hori Hori Trowels

Gardening

A traditional Japanese gardening trowel with a 17cm carbon steel blade that can be used for digging, planting, chopping and weeding. It has a birch handle and comes with a canvas sheath for storage.

£32; twentytwentyone.com

34. Kamado Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker

Food tech

Dads are the BBQ kings – or at least they think they are. If your father fancies himself as a top chef then get him Kamado Joe’s new Konnected Joe grill and smoker.

This digitally connected ceramic grill combines all the benefits of traditional ceramic cooking with modern technology, offering a solution for easy fire-lighting and effortless temperature control. The digital controls and app-enabled features help grillers experience the benefits of ceramic grill cooking.

£1,999; kamadojoe.com

35. Vilebrequin swimwear

Fashion

Luxury swimwear company Vilebrequin is exploring new territory with a wave of new talents and projects. Not only has the brand launched a beach club in Cannes for the summer season, it has rekindled its collaborative streak thanks to the second instalment of a creative partnership with contemporary art publisher JRP|Editions. Volume one was a capsule beachwear collection featuring prints by the American pop-surrealist Kenny Scharf and Swiss multidisciplinary artists John M Armleder and Sylvie Fleury. Volume two is similarly dynamic: it’s a collection of vibrant trunks, one piece swimsuits, sarongs and tunics, embellished with a pattern devised by Deux Femmes Noires, otherwise known as superstar artist Mickalene Thomas and collector/curator Racquel Chevremont.

Men’s trunks £230; vilebrequin.com

36. Rocksete Mechanical Keyboard

Gadgets

Combining a classic typewriter with built-in surround sound JBL speakers, the Rocksete Mechanical Keyboard makes for a unique workstation. The carrying handle doubles as a stand for a tablet or phone and a laptop stand is included. It can pair with up to three devices at the same time.

£250; andana.shop

37. +Audio The +Record Player

Home tech

At more than £1,700, the +Record Player from +Audio is on the “pricey” side, said James Barber on TechHive. But it delivers “superb audio” and the “results are fantastic”. The all-in-one phono system features a built-in, high-performance stereo speaker system.

£1,740; plusaudio.com

38. Kokoon Nightbuds sleep headphones

Tech

Kokoon’s earphones are designed to be worn at night, with soft earbuds for side sleepers. Connected to an app that plays relaxing sounds, they can identify when you’re drifting off and fade the audio or replace it with white noise.

£240.99; uk.kokoon.io

39. Igloo Trailmate EcoCool cool box

Food tech

The rugged Igloo Trailmate EcoCool cool box is great for camping trips and festivals. Made from recycled plastic, it can hold 66 litres (equivalent to 144 12oz cans) and keep things cool for four days.

£439.95; igloocoolers.co.uk

40. Roxel Retro D1

Home tech

A retro-styled radio loaded with modern tech, including a DAB radio with 20 presets and a Bluetooth speaker. The built-in battery lasts up to 12 hours on a charge. The alarm can be set to come on daily, or for weekdays or weekends only, and there’s a snooze function.

£45; amazon.co.uk

41. Sage SES878BTR Barista Pro

Home tech

The king of home coffee machines, the Sage is simple to use, with an inbuilt burr grinder and bean hopper, and an easy-to-use LCD display. It heats up in three seconds, creating consistently good espresso or cappuccino in five minutes.

£649.95; johnlewis.com

42. Apple AirPods Max

Tech

Apple’s first over-ear headphones warrant the hefty price tag. Among the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones on the market, they have stunning audio and are available in a range of colours.

£549; apple.com

43. Groov-e Retro Cassette Player

Gadgets

Does your dad have a collection of old cassette tapes? Then this is the perfect nostalgic Father’s Day gift for them. Enjoy classic music tapes or listen to the radio through this personal cassette player from Groov-e. Play them loud through the external speaker or listen privately through earphones.

£20.95; amazon.co.uk

44. Gozney Roccbox portable pizza oven

Food tech

Send your dad to Italy in just 60 seconds with a Gozney Roccbox, the portable garden pizza oven. Designed to make wood-fired cooking effortless, the Roccbox is extremely simple to use and its in-built thermometer means there’s no risk of burning. The oven can also be used for wood-roasting steak, fish or vegetables.

£399; gozney.com

45. The Glenlivet Distillery Reserve Collection

Whisky

Speyside single malt whisky The Glenlivet has released four iconic whiskies in its Distillery Reserve Collection. The 10, 14, 20 and 22 Year Old single cask editions showcase the finest Scotch craftsmanship mastered over decades. Ranging from £70-£175, the 500ml bottle can be engraved to make your present extra special.

theglenlivet.com

46. NIO Letterbox Cocktails

Cocktails

NIO Cocktails’s customisable letterbox gift comes with the choice of award-winning classic and signature drinks to create a personalised set of three (£19.50 plus £3 delivery), six (£39) or nine cocktails (£55).

niococktails.co.uk

47. Steambox The Self-Heating Lunchbox

Food tech

Steambox’s self-heating lunchbox is designed in The Netherlands and made for food lovers all across the globe. Heat up food in minutes through its autonomous steaming technology. Use the Steambox app to unlock its full potential.

£225; steam-box.com

48. Bobbie’s Brownies

Food

Bobbie’s Brownies, the London-based start-up, delivers gigantic, indulgent and freshly-made brownies to doorsteps across the UK. The sweet treats are made from sustainable and ethical ingredients and, for every brownie bought, Bobbie’s provides a meal for a child in education across the globe.

£28.99 for six; bobbiesbrownies.com

49. Outdoor Revolution Twin Burner Gas Stove & Grill

Food tech

Great for dads who love cooking outdoors. A versatile stove option, the Outdoor Revolution Twin Burner Gas Stove & Grill from Outdoor World Direct is a compact gas stove that is compatible with small, screw-fitting gas cartridges, meaning you don't have to use large, heavy gas canisters. It features two burners and a grill, everything you need to rustle up a delicious campsite meal for the family. It also has a windshield, protecting it from the elements while cooking. The cookers packs away into a self contained carry case too, for portability.

£120; outdoorworlddirect.co.uk

50. Boutique-y Gin Company retro gin fridge

Gin

That Boutique-y Gin Company’s retro gin fridge is a perfect gift for a G&T-loving dad. Inside the retro-inspired “fridge tin” (which is not actually a fridge, but just looks like one) are eight 50ml bottles of some of the most interesting and delicious gins, including Spit-Roasted Pineapple Gin and Rhubarb Triangle Gin.

£49.95; masterofmalt.com

51. The Car by Bryan Appleyard

Books

In this “entertainingly forthright history”, Bryan Appleyard sets out to document a way of life that he believes is vanishing, said Andrew Anthony in The Observer. “Within a few years,” he writes, “owning a car might seem as eccentric as owning a train or a bus. Or perhaps it will simply be illegal.” Yet his book is no lament or eulogy. Instead, it’s an “acknowledgement of the extraordinary cultural and environmental impact the car has had on this planet in the last 135-plus years”.

£17.99; The Week Bookshop

52. Petoi Bittle robotic dog

Gadgets

One for dog-loving nerdy dads. Small but agile, Bittle is a powerful robot that can be programmed to walk, do tricks and roll around just like a real dog. Designed for coding and fun, Bittle operates on OpenCat, an open-source quadrupled robot platform that offers endless programming and customisation possibilities. Opt for the construction kit version for an extra challenge or pre-assembled if you think dad would rather just get stuck into the programming aspect.

£299; amazon.co.uk

53. Thermos King Food Flask

Food tech

This 470ml Thermos has vacuum insulation that will keep food hot for nine hours and cold for 14. It is made from durable stainless steel, has an insulated lid that doubles as a bowl, and comes with a stainless-steel folding spoon that slots into the cap

£25; johnlewis.com

54. Town7 XL Adult Scooter

Scooters

Designed for short distances (up to 2km), the Town7 XL is smooth over bumps and easy to steer, with a practical handlebar brake. It’s quick and easy to fold.

£110; DECATHLON.CO.UK

55. Bowflex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell

Fitness

If your dad likes to exercise at home then the Bowflex SelectTech 840 adjustable Kettlebell could make a generous (and useful!) gift. Perfect for all fitness levels, this kit can take you from beginner to expert with six incremental weights ranging from 3.5-18kg. There are a selection of trainer-led accompanying videos on the Bowflex YouTube channel.

£149.99; fitness-superstore.co.uk

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1. Smeg Mini Kettle

If space is at a premium, this stylish kettle fits the bill. It holds 800ml (enough for three cups) and is quite fast despite only having a relatively low 1,400 wattage. Available in seven colours, with anti-slip feet.

£120; shop.smeguk.com

2. Bosch Styline

With 3,000W of power, this 1.5-litre kettle is seriously quick to boil. It has four different temperature settings for the perfect cuppa depending on the tea, plus a handy “keep warm function” and boil-dry protection.

£80; bosch-home.co.uk

3. Russell Hobbs Quiet Boil Kettle

This unflashy 1.7-litre kettle claims to be 75% quieter than average. Compact and simple to use, it has a perfect pour spout and boils one cup in 45 seconds.

£45; uk.russellhobbs.com

4. Kenwood Elegancy Earl Grey Kettle

You can boil enough water for two cups of tea in just 30 seconds with this 3,000W, 1.7-litre kettle. The base is a bit flimsy, but the kettle has a wide spout, and there’s a matching toaster.

£38; kenwoodworld.com

5. Philips Eco Conscious Collection HD9365 Kettle

Made from 100% bio-based plastics to reduce its carbon footprint, this 1.7-litre capacity kettle has 2,200W of power. It’s easy to lift even when full, and has an unusually clear water-level gauge.

£50; currys.co.uk

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1. Bama Poker Bin Plus Set

Each bin in this versatile modular four-pack holds 27 litres and measures 30cm x 40cm x 37cm. The cubes can be stacked in a square shape or a tower, or a pair can fit under a sink.

From £40; amazon.co.uk

2. Joseph Joseph Totem Waste Bin

This functional, stylish bin has two 30-litre compartments for waste and recycling stacked vertically, plus a three-litre removable food waste caddy. It also has a replaceable activated carbon filter to keep unpleasant odours under control.

From £199; josephjoseph.com

3. Brabantia Bo Hi

This stainless-steel 60-litre touch-top bin has twin compartments for sorting rubbish and recycling. It has a soft-touch closure and very stable, non-skid legs.

£256.29; wayfair.co.uk

4. Dunelm 30/30L Recycling Bin

Available in a choice of colours, this bin has two 30-litre inner buckets, each with its own pedal and soft-closing lid.

£70; dunelm.com

5. Simplehuman extra large dual compartment bin

This 58-litre pedal bin has two buckets with handles, a built-in pocket for liners, and a smooth, silent close mechanism.

£199.95; simplehuman.co.uk

Audemars Piguet’s new code 11.59 Starwheel watch has papal provenance. The movement is a modern interpretation of a wandering hours complication first devised for Pope Alexander VII in the 17th century by Giuseppe, Pietro Tomasso and Matteo Campani – otherwise known as the Campani Brothers – who were the clockmaking maestros of the Renaissance.

For the record, Pope Alexander VII was not a power thirsty character, but he was a big spender, especially when it came to his passion for art and architecture. During his 12-year rule, the pontiff struck up a close friendship with the Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, becoming one of his greatest patrons. He commissioned the artist to design The Throne of Saint Peter in St Peter’s Basilica and to enclose St Peter’s Square with its majestic colonnade.

At the age of 80, Bernini also designed the tomb of Pope Alexander VII in St Peter’s, which shows him peacefully absorbed in prayer. In truth, the pope was often deeply preoccupied by Rome’s political upheavals, not least because he and King Louis XIV of France were often at odds with each other, with the latter often undermining his authority. This couldn’t have helped his chronic insomnia, which he claimed was exacerbated by the incessant ticking of a clock in his room.

With a taste for luxury, a love of craftsmanship and a longing for some decent shut-eye, he requested that the Campani Brothers create a new clock for him with a silent escapement and a display that could be read at night. They came up with the goods in the form of a mechanism that used two apertures (one for odd numbers, the other for even numbers) over a moving disc that took two hours to fully rotate. This quiet and continual movement allowed one numeral to appear every hour, with the passage of time marking itself across a top arc, which was also decorated with the quarter hours and lit by an oil lamp.

Today, the pope’s ornately decorated Campani clock, inscribed with the date 1683, is on display at the British Museum along with a slightly later model from 1700 by John Bushman decorated with a portrait of King William III in gold repoussé.

A sleek, astronomical look

So where does Audemars Piguet fit into this story? The answer is much earlier than you may think, since an ultra-precise wandering hours system was reintroduced by Audemars Piguet in 1991 after one of the marque’s expert technicians read about the 400-year-old mechanism in the Journal Suisse D’horlogerie.

As such, around 30 Starwheel models were produced by the manufacturer between 1991 and 2003 in several different collections, and each one has become highly collectible, with many fetching more than double their reserve price at auction. Indeed, a millennium steel model, made to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Audemars Piguet, sold for more than £36,000 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Important Watches sale in 2021, trebling its asking price.

This year, the Starwheel is back, boasting a sleek, almost astronomical look as part of the watchmaker’s elegant Code 11.59 collection which made its debut in 2019. But why explore such a novel complication now, 20 years on from its last iteration? According to Sébastian Vivas, head of heritage and museum director at Audemars Piguet, the complexity of the display required a strong geometrical reframing. “The shape and structure of the 11.59 lends itself perfectly to this very complex system,” he said. “Architecturally speaking, the starwheel needs space, which it gets from this design’s multiple geometries, and particularly its uniquely shaped octagonal middle case. In fact, when we first launched the 11.59, many watch lovers and experts anticipated this release. We received many requests for it”

Presenting time as a kind of theatre

Certainly, it has gone down well in watch circles and is just the kind of release to boost Audemars Piguet’s allure, which in turn adds prestige to all existing collections. Is the Code 11.59 Starwheel “the future of AP” beyond the iconic Royal Oak timepiece, asked Mark Kauzlarich on Hodinkee. “Of course not, nor does it claim to be. But if AP is to find such a future, it’s not going to be in superheroes or soundboards. It’ll be in the type of watchmaking that the Starwheel represents.”

Die hard Royal Oak fans may be happily surprised by this complicated newcomer, said Zach Kazan on Worn & Wound. “If you appreciate the complex geometry of a Royal Oak, there’s an awful lot of that to be found in the Code as well.”

Vivas has his own reasons for loving the new Code 11.59 Starwheel which he describes as “retro-futuristic”. It has to do with the way that it presents time as a kind of theatre. “It’s so very well-balanced. For the first time, the dial has a central seconds hand which gives the timepiece a sense of dynamism as it sweeps across the dial,” he said. “A sense of movement and depth is accentuated by the contrasting colours of the black middle case, inner bezel and the little spheres against the shimmering blue of a blue aventurine backdrop. Of course, it is a very technical time-telling device, but to me the dial is like a vision of the cosmos set against a star-studded sky. C’est de la magie, as they say in French.”

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1. Clifton Expandable Cabin

Antler’s compact case fits in overhead compartments and is the acceptable size as carry-on luggage for most airlines (56 x 35 x 23cm). It has a hard polycarbonate shell, TSA lock, 360° wheels and handy compartments.

£175; antler.co.uk

2. The Bigger Carry-On

Cabin-approved by most airlines (58 x 37 x 24cm), this 47.9l bag has a durable (but scuffable) polycarbonate shell and is packed with features including a water-resistant laundry bag and a compression system.

From £265; awaytravel.com

3. Bellagio

Bric’s Bellagio range is made from durable scuff-resistant polycarbonate with leather trims, water-resistant zips and smooth swivel wheels.

From £465; brics.it/uk

4. Holiday 6

Tripp is one of the best budget luggage brands. Its Holiday 6 bag comes in three sizes – cabin, medium and large – and a range of colours. Lightweight but tough, it has a hard polypropylene shell and four wheels for 360° movement. There are no inner pockets, just the spacious main compartment.

From £60; tripp.co.uk

5. Herschel Novel Duffle

An ideal weekend bag, this 42.5l duffle is available in a variety of colours and has a shoe compartment, reinforced handles and a removable shoulder strap.

£90; herschelsupplyco.co.uk

6. Anode 30l Underseat Case

Easyjet and Ryanair charge for cabin bags, but those that fit under the seat in front, such as this hard wheelie case, are still free. It weighs only 2.2kg, but is just about big enough for a short break, and has packing straps and a zipped divider.

£47; cabinmax.com

7. Airwheel SE3 Mini Smart Riding Suitcase

You can ride at up to 8km/hr on this motor-powered suitcase. It fits as hand luggage and has a removable power bank. Airwheel also makes the SR5, a robotic suitcase that can follow you.

£459; amazon.co.uk

8. The Carry-on Pro

With an expandable zipless design, this hard-shell case has an integrated battery to charge your devices and a silent set of 360° spinner wheels.

£385; carlfriedrik.co

9. XD Design Bobby Anti-Theft Backpack

The XD Design Bobby Anti-Theft Backpack fits under a plane seat, and has a USB port with a power bank inside. It is cut-resistant and has hidden zips and pockets.

£100; amazon.co.uk

10. Kono Cabin Case

Weighing just 2.5kg, the Kono has an impressive 38-litre capacity, and a built-in USB charging port, telescopic handle, TSA locks and four 360° wheels.

£75; amazon.co.uk

11. Horizn H5

This vegan cabin bag has two USB charging ports and an integrated removable power bank. It comes in 13 colours, and has a compression pad to maximise capacity.

£370; horizn-studios.co.uk

12. The Away Carry-On

This lightweight case has a durable polycarbonate shell, an interior compression system and a water-resistant laundry bag. It fits in most overhead lockers, has 360° wheels and a built-in USB.

£245; awaytravel.com

Via a video call from Paris, Alexandre Arnault details how stages of life are marked by select objects. Often, these objects seem to be jewellery. Arnault had been a “watch guy” for some time when he first added a gold ring – a wedding band, following his and Géraldine Guyot’s 2021 nuptials – and then later a bracelet. On my laptop screen, that bracelet is partially coming into view now: it’s the Tiffany Lock. Cast from white, yellow or rose gold, at times dusted with diamonds, the bracelet made its original debut last summer with a design and construction that ennobles everyday padlocks. On Arnault’s wrist, it’s also a glowing nod to recent developments: in January 2021, he joined Tiffany & Co. as the luxury brand’s executive vice president of product and communications.

But back to life phases and their tokens. “We call that rites of passage, right?” says Arnault, among other waymarks referencing birthdays, sweet sixteens and weddings. All can, and often do, include something wrapped in a Tiffany box, its trademarked blue – a medium robin egg tone – a welcome hint of small treasures to be discovered. “We are able to be present in peoples’ lives from very early on,” he says. “Sometimes even from birth. I just had a baby and I received a lot of Tiffany birth presents. So, that’s amazing. We are one of the few brands, if not the only brand, that is able to do that.”

Tiffany & Co. has a presence in many lives in other ways, too. Since Charles Lewis Tiffany, in partnership with his school friend John B. Young, first set up the business in 1837, the company has peerlessly asserted itself within both design history and popular culture. In the past, the brand has made headlines for stand-out purchases, such as its 1887 acquisition of almost one-third of the French Crown Jewels or, most notably, the 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond, in company hands since 1879. Then, there are its partnerships with leading tastemakers, from virtuoso jewellery designer and artist Jean Schlumberger – author of the brand’s winged mascot, the “Bird on a Rock” – to fashion designer Paloma Picasso and important architect Frank Gehry. Or how about Tiffany’s line of silver charms, trinkets and keyrings, all inscribed with its hometown, Manhattan, and all bestselling? Used in engagement rings and first introduced in 1886, the Tiffany Setting, which uses just six prongs for maximum brilliance, has captured imaginations, too.

‘Only one brand that comes to mind’

Aside from jewellery, there are Tiffany’s other product categories – among them, homeware and fragrance – and, most importantly, its credits in film, music, sports and literature. In the role of Holly Golightly, actor Audrey Hepburn had Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961. And the interlocking “NY” logo of the New York Yankees was designed by Tiffany. “When you think about luxury in America, there is only one brand that comes to mind,” says Arnault. “I was always attracted to Tiffany. I was always excited about what the brand was doing and excited about the potential to develop it further and follow a vision that I could have to steer it.”

Before his Tiffany appointment, Arnault, a graduate of the École Télécom ParisTech and the École Polytechnique, had been successfully reframing Rimowa. He had joined the German heritage maker in October 2016, which had until then been run by the same family for about 119 years, and had been pivotal in the brand’s acquisition by LVMH, the group of 75 luxury brands (among them Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Krug champagne and Guerlain) that Arnault’s father Bernard is founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of. His mother is Hélène Mercier, a concert pianist, and Arnault is one of five children, all of whom today work within the group.

At Rimowa, which is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, Arnault put the concern’s production know-how centre front, now redressed through creative collaborations – Rimowa suitcases as viewed by collaborative brands Fendi and Supreme, for example, or by creative forces such as the late Virgil Abloh – and offered via a fine-tuned retail strategy. It was a success.

In a deal that made history, LVMH completed its acquisition of Tiffany and Co. in January 2021, for the sum of $15.8bn. Arnault’s role was announced as part of a new leadership team that also counts Anthony Ledru as chief executive officer. The team worked swiftly and to acclaim: recent projects and developments have included artistic collaborations and a coterie of brand ambassadors. Last November, 99 iterations of the Tiffany Lock bracelet came in white gold and finessed with diamonds and tsavorites – a bright green gemstone Tiffany first introduced in 1974 – and boxed in padlock-motif eroded bronze sculptures created at the New York studio of contemporary artist Daniel Arsham.

In the meantime, the house welcomed Hailey Bieber, Gal Gadot, Zoë Kravitz and Pharrell Williams. Also, a blockbuster campaign: photographed against Equals Pi, a 1982 work by New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, are Jay-Z and Beyoncé, the latter wearing the yellow Tiffany Diamond. Titled About Love, the campaign includes a corresponding short film, scored to Beyoncé’s rendition of Moon River.

The ‘pure definition’ of Tiffany

The yellow Tiffany Diamond, and much else, will now be on view in Manhattan, New York City, at The Landmark, as the brand has christened its renovated flagship at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. The building, a limestone, marble and granite creation by architectural firm Cross & Cross, has been home to Tiffany since 1940. How important is the location to the brand, which at the time of writing operates 300 retail sites worldwide, today? “It doesn’t get better than this,” says Arnault. “It’s one of the most, if not the most iconic corners of the luxury world, or the world in general. It has been for a long time and I think it will be forever. It’s the pure definition of Tiffany.”

The doors reopened in April, following nearly four years of renovations, a process during which the famous address had remained cloaked in scaffolding. “I think it’s really a new era for us,” says Arnault.

The Landmark now collates Tiffany’s rich tapestry of product lines, projects and initiatives across ten floors. The site will house the largest collection of Tiffany high jewellery in the world and a museum and exhibition space is arranged across the eighth and ninth floors. French chef Daniel Boulud, who currently runs seven restaurants across the city and has been the recipient of Michelin stars, is behind The Blue Box Café. And there is fine art to see, too: Landmark is the setting to 40 artworks, some commissioned expressively for the site. There are pieces by Julian Schnabel, Anna Weyant, Richard Prince, and Jenny Holzer.

Clever remix of past, present and future

The renovation, which also saw the addition of a three-storey high space, replacing former offices first built in 1980, is the work of Peter Marino, who was charged with the interiors, and architecture firm OMA New York, under architect Shohei Shigematsu. Leaving the building’s façade untouched, once indoors the team gave new expression to what a luxury brand flagship – and in particular one whose repute is anchored in jewellery, a sector often governed by tradition – could look like today.

It’s a clever remix of past, present and future. On the ground floor, expansive video walls show views of Central Park or the Manhattan skyline; switched off, they become mirrors. On the ground, wood parquet flooring, devised to a 1940 design. A sculptural spiral staircase connects floor three through to floor eight and is detailed with rock crystal accents, a nod to the visual vocabulary of legendary Tiffany designer Elsa Peretti. “Ten floors, ten thousand square metres. The scale of it is very important,” says Arnault. “I think to me also, it’s more than a jewellery store. It’s a real hub of culture. It’s the showcase of architecture, cutting-edge art, cutting-edge design. The attention to detail is huge: every wall is textured; every carpet is made to measure.”

Still in situ: the famous Atlas Clock. The Ancient Greek Titan, condemned to hold up the heavens – or, in this case, an outsized timepiece – has long been part of New York City iconography. “I don’t know if you know, but that store before it closed was in the top five of the most visited places in New York,” Arnault says of The Landmark. “It was along the lines of the Empire State Building and Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. It’s really a place that people go to, to see it, to bring a souvenir back. We wish to continue that.”

Philippe Delhotal, the creative director of Hermès’s watchmaking division, has been good for the brand. Very good indeed. In 2015, he created a game charger for the luxury maison: the Slim d’Hermès, a sleek dress watch with, for the first time, mechanical components made entirely in-house. The watch was an instant hit and it gave the brand’s horological department a major boost, so much so that Hermès watches have once again become emblematic of the company’s talent for creating wearable icons that react to the zeitgeist yet harness a timeless craft that speaks of quality and impeccable style. If you think back, this is exactly what Martin Margiela did in the late 1990s with the “double tour” (twice looping) Cape Cod watch, which pretty much put Hermès timepieces on the fashion map.

Indeed, according to an article in The New York Times in 2017, Delhotal has an intuitive way of knowing where opportunity knocks, reporting that, “after less than two years, the Slim line accounts for 10% of Hermès’s entire watch business”. Since then, Delhotal has been thriving at the top, conceiving the design of some spectacular timepieces, including the Arceau Le temps voyageur, the first worldtime iteration of this model, released in April 2022 and noted for its charming local time subdial that glides around a map of the world like a satellite, illustrating a second time zone as it slowly shifts in a circle.

This was a highly complicated release, but Hermès matched it with a chic sporty sellout in the form of Delhotal’s H08 watch, characterised by its robust, industrial looking cushion case and “woven” rubber strap, designed to “embody a harmonious blend of strict discipline and innovation”, according to Calibre magazine.

A balance of softness – see its rounded edges and shadowy tonal contrasts – and machine-like strength given its sturdy blockish structure, the H08 encapsulates a certain audacity and daring that is indelibly linked to the French maison, best demonstrated by its low-profile ultra-luxe “sur-mesure” workshop which makes extraordinary made-to-measure wonders – everything from leather-clad jukeboxes and boxing gloves to custom interiors for classic cars. You could say that Delhotal has captured this branch of luxury that demonstrates a passion and curiosity for objects, allowing serious product design to harness a playful edge.

Material innovation

At the 2023 Watches & Wonders exhibition in Geneva, Hermès made a statement about success with the release of a new H08 mono-pusher chronograph which has a slightly larger 41x41mm case, crafted from carbon fibre composite coated with graphene powder. Moody and seductive, its blackened gold dial decorated with classic orange accents, is complimented by a sunburst satin-brushed ceramic bezel with mirror-polished chamfers. Visually, there’s a “neatener” that completes this streamlined horological composition, in the form of a single button on the black PVD-coated crown that serves to activate the chronograph’s start, stop and reset functions by successive presses. Like a true Hermès classic-in-the-making, the chronograph comes dressed to impress with an orange rubber strap featuring a structure reminiscent of Hermès weaves.

Continuing this fresh and sporty directive are four new “colour pop” versions of the self-winding 39x39mm models with straps available in bright blue, green, orange or yellow. One major difference is that the concrete grey dial now has a brand new contour: a black ceramic bezel and a case hewn from a lightweight composite made of braided and aluminised glass fibre and slate powder, which lends this model a more layered and reflective look.

Watch lovers have noted this further gear shift towards material innovation. As A Blog To Watch said, Hermès has “adopted not only an attractive type of composite material but, for now, one that is also unique to its products”.

The statement intimates that there could soon be more to come in the way of composite cases, and while watch aficionados are wondering when 3D printed profiles might properly catch on, it’s unlikely that Delhotal will take this route given his love of the hand-drafted and handcrafted. “We are known for craftsmanship and creativity,” he told Robb Report in 2016. He’s certainly upheld this belief, and with gusto.

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1. Ergo Deadheader

This ergonomic deadheader nestles neatly in the palm and has an index-finger loop for stability. It features high-quality scissor-action blades and comes with a ten-year guarantee.

£12; burgonandball.com

2. Sarah Raven Suede Apron

Sturdy but stylish, this dark-brown suede gardening apron is ideal for holding heavy tools. Handmade in the UK, it is 47cm wide and 34cm high and has an adjustable 92cm waist strap so one size fits all.

£80; sarahraven.com

3. Felco Model 2 Original Secateurs

Recommended by professionals, these well-balanced pruning secateurs have strong aluminium alloy handles, Swiss precision-made replaceable steel blades, and a rubber cushion shock absorber.

£59.73; worldoffelco.co.uk

4. Kew Compact Topiary Shears

With 107mm high-carbon steel blades for precision cutting and non-slip PVC grips, these compact shears are good for topiary and bonsai trees.

£20; shop.kew.org

5. Kneeler

This waterproof padded kneeler is handmade in Britain using waxed cotton and real leather, and has a handle for easy carrying and storage.

£70; sarahraven.com

6. Niwaki Hori Hori Trowels

A traditional Japanese trowel with a 17cm carbon steel blade that can be used for digging, planting, chopping and weeding. It has a birch handle and comes with a canvas sheath for storage.

£32; twentytwentyone.com

1. Compact umbrella

London Undercover’s 100% recycled compact foldable umbrellas come in a range of designs, including this zebra print. They weigh just 400g and are 30.5cm long when folded, opening to 96cm diameter, with an automatic open and close button.

£32.50; londonundercover.co.uk

2. L’Hood Ritza

The rain bonnet has been given a makeover by L’Hood, inspired by Cristóbal Balenciaga’s wedding hat. Made of 100% cotton with a waterproof membrane, this unisex rain hat can be rolled up into a wrist strap when not in use, and can be worn unclipped or clipped around the neck.

£50; l-hood.com

3. Stockholm raincoat

Swedish label Stutterheim’s Stockholm raincoat is available for men and women. Made from sturdy, hard-wearing rubberised PVC, it has welded seams, a drawstring hood and comes in a range of colours.

£220; stutterheim.com

4. Box Bag Large

Rains says it has a “neo-Scandinavian aesthetic”, and is well regarded for its quality rainwear. This bag is made from its signature waterproof PU fabric, which is engineered for strength and durability. It has internal and external pockets and an adjustable webbing strap. Also available in black.

£95; uk.rains.com

5. Crocs Crush Boot

Crocs may not be to everyone’s taste, but these waterproof boots are easy to clean and made from Croslite™, which makes them light, flexible and very comfortable. Available in a range of colours for men and women, they can be customised at the collar with Jibbitz™ charms.

£65; crocs.co.uk

1. Philips 3000 Series Handheld Steamer

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Clothes steamers are a shortcut to ironing, taking out creases quickly without the need for an ironing board. This compact steamer, weighing 1.1kg, is perfect for holidays. It’s good for delicates; the 100ml water tank gives five minutes of steam, but no continuous steam mode.

£49.99; philips.co.uk

2. Cadrim Clothes Steamer

This 1,500-watt, 1.1kg steamer heats up in just 20 seconds, and has a brush head and a lint remover too. It has a large 280ml water tank, which makes it bigger than most and best for home use, but it can last for more than 20 minutes using the trigger, or about ten minutes in continuous mode.

£36; amazon.co.uk

3. Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer

Scandi brand Steamery has a range of pricey but good-quality products designed to help clothes last longer. Simple to use, with just two buttons, this heats up in 30 seconds. The 90ml water tank fits into the bottom of the ergonomic handle, and it weighs 860g.

£150; the-dressingroom.com

4. Russell Hobbs 28370 Steam Genie

Super-powerful at 1,700 watts, this works as both a steamer and an iron. It heats up quickly and produces lots of steam, but the water tank holds just 150ml. It weighs 1.21kg, with most of the weight at the top, which makes it a bit heavy on the wrist.

£54; argos.co.uk

5. Beldray Handheld Garment Steamer

This 600-watt, cheap and cheerful budget option is simple to use, and takes around a minute to heat up – you can see when it is ready as the water in the 100ml tank starts to bubble. It produces a continuous stream of steam for about seven minutes, and at 620g is easily portable.

£19; beldray.com

Based in Santa Monica, California, mother-and-daughter team Jenny and Lily Monbouquette share a love of modern and contemporary art, affordable luxury and natty product design. Using these principles to guide their business model, they launched their own eponymous jewellery brand, Monbouquette, three years ago. There is, based on this simple formula, an ease to their USP which belies the technical know-how that goes into their small but intricate collections, all of which are sustainably made and playfully interactive or adaptable.

This jewellery brand is “like nothing we have seen before”, said Charlotte Diamond on Vogue. Not only does Monbouquette have patents for the functional invention of its designs, but it also has a “personal mission” to be a business that is as ethical and sustainable as possible. Indeed, most pieces can be worn two or more ways, thanks to patented mechanisms and silhouettes inspired by their love of modern art. First, of course, there is the painstaking work of prototyping, as they reshape forms until their versatile pieces seamlessly pop, drop, snap, hook and loop as they are supposed to, depending on how the wearer chooses to model them.

For example, the label’s new 1300 Reversible Snapback Necklace, inspired by an ancient treasure found last year during an archaeological dig in Northamptonshire, can be worn fully “green” with its bright, wasabi coloured enamel charms and emerald coloured lab-grown stones on show. Or it can be flipped around, so that the charms become gold coins and the pendant “turns” blue, painted with royal blue enamel and punctuated by an aquamarine stone.

Similarly, Monbouquette’s dinky gold-plated Bubble Hatch earrings can be worn short or extended: you simply open the bottom half of the ball and out tumbles a white freshwater pearl suspended between six delicate chains. KJ Moody, Beyonce’s creative manager and stylist, featured these earrings in an editorial shoot only to discover much later on, that they were indeed transformable. He posted the discovery on Instagram which predictably got all the right people looking.

Since then, Monbouquette designs have appeared in shoots for Vogue, Rolling Stone and Goop. British actress Rebecca Hall wore the brand’s Cucumber Drop earrings on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival last year, and Gwen Stefani chose this same style for an episode of The Voice. Both women wore one earring long and the other short, for an edgy asymmetrical style.

The element of surprise

A few years ago, Jenny, who studied art and art history at Berkeley university – she still manages a sizeable collection of rare artworks by Andy Warhol, Helen Frankenthaler and Jennifer Bartlett among others – decided to enrol in a lost wax jewellery course in Los Angeles. “I needed a creative outlet since I had so many ideas percolating in my head,” she said. “I made all these pieces and I covered my friends, Lily and her friends, in my designs.”

Lily, meanwhile, was studying Liberal Arts in New York and interning with Rodarte, focusing on menswear fashion. “Experiencing Fashion Week [in New York] and seeing how designers build upon a vision… the way they actualise it into this beautiful and magical piece of art, that was something I wanted to do,” she explained. Lily and her mother share a close bond, and would talk daily over the phone, exchanging ideas about jewellery, fashion and the wider world of creativity. “We’d chat about this, that and everything, though I remember telling her about why I loved menswear so much. In many ways, it’s often more technically focused than womenswear. There would always be some innovative fabric chosen for its texture or performance qualities, or a hidden pocket sewn into a design to enhance its shape and functionality. It seemed to me that there was more going on, more playfulness and scope for experimentation.”

Soon after, mother and daughter began to collaborate on jewellery that could be transitional, interactive and changeable. “The concept of ‘day-to-night’ dressing is something you hear all the time in fashion, but less so in the world of jewellery – and this is something we decided to explore,” Lily said. “Plus, we love the element of surprise,” Jenny added. “Intrigue, understanding the layers of something and engaging with them, is what makes a great artwork, so why not try and capture this sentiment in jewellery? It’s just fun. Growing up I just loved things that were reversible and multi-functional. Even my current swimsuit is reversible.”

“Adaptable” is a term often used in the world of jewellery, but all too often, it simply means adding elements to an existing design, requiring a higher spend. Typical examples are stacking rings or charm bracelets, investments that require the consumer to “build” on, rather than a product that does all the work for you. In high jewellery, French maison Van Cleef & Arpels is a pioneer in the field of fully-convertible jewellery pieces. Its iconic Zip necklace, famously worn by the Duchess of Windsor, is a case in point: it can be worn round the neck or around the wrist as a chunky bracelet, and both versions look so seamless on, it’s impossible to know which design came first.

Similarly, Van Cleef’s gem-set pendant necklaces can become brooches and even earrings. Sometimes a bejewelled necklace can morph into an entire jewellery suite, thanks to the house’s specialised craftsmanship and enduring savoir-faire.

The power of social

In the world of fine jewellery, this is harder to achieve because of cost and time restrictions. Monbouquette, therefore, is a brave venture, because it’s putting the work in, and passionately so, with affordable designs that are tactile, versatile and striking, many inspired by the duo’s love of abstract paintings and modernist sculptures. In fact, the Snapback Collection – little gem-set enamel squares that swivel to reveal a different colour combination on rings, earrings and necklaces – look like miniature canvases and highlight their enduring dedication to the world of art. Indeed, the pair cite seminal female creatives including Fujio Yoshida, Hilma af Klint, Yayoi Kusama, Judy Chicago and Bridget Riley as direct influences.

Monbouquette pieces are all crafted in the USA, using 100% recycled sterling silver or brass with ethically mined 24-karat gold premium plating. Everything is well thought out, right down to the packaging which is plastic-free, using recycled and reusable cardboard.

Launching a great idea is one thing, but increasing turnover, productivity, and efficiency is an altogether different kettle of fish. Luckily, Lily is the driving force behind the Monbouquette financial and marketing management. “Honestly, what excites me is the business aspect,” she said. “We’ve been recently doing a lot of trunk shows which has helped us enormously to gain business and visibility. Everyone who sees our jewellery says they have never seen anything like it before, and that is key. To do something different is easy, but to recognise you’ve harnessed something that was otherwise missing is what you run with.”

And so they have. While the business has professional PR support, Lily also said that Instagram has also been invaluable as a marketing tool. “It’s amazing to see where social media can go. We connected with make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes [1.6M likes on TikTok and counting] and thanks to her support, wearing our designs, we got so many new followers and crucially, lots of orders.”

So, what’s next on the Monbouquette bucket list? A partnership with cool New York fashion brand La Ligne is in the pipeline, as well as more trunk shows around the US, plus a few “surprises”, according to Jenny.

Mother and daughter’s most recent trunk visit was to Austin, Texas, where they took time out to visit the Blanton Museum of Art noted for its famous “Austin” building by American artist Ellsworth Kelly. Perhaps one such “surprise” might be a necklace inspired by the structure’s luminous coloured glass windows, miniaturised into tiny lozenges to echo Kelly’s design? Only the Monbouquette wearable version would definitely have a few arty extras, like a flippable pendant function and reversible enamel parts. Watch this space.

In 1931, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched its famous Reverso watch with a swivelling case – a sleek and streamlined emblem of Art Deco style, originally conceived for polo-playing British Army officers in India who wished to protect the glass of their timepieces from stray mallet swings and polo balls. The watch’s classic and refined style made it popular beyond the playing field, and the timepiece swiftly became an object of desire, embodying contemporary culture and the geometric principles of the new machine age. For more than 90 years, the Reverso has retained its status as an icon of elegance, one which has enriched the history of 20th century horology by conveying a joyous synergy between aesthetics and functionality.

More than just a square-faced horological icon, the Reverso is an immaculately proportioned design breakthrough that adheres to the strict principles of the “golden ratio”. It is no coincidence that it was released the same year as Romanian novelist, publisher and mathematician Matila Ghyka’s masterwork entitled The Golden Number, which sought to explain the wonders of sacred geometry in nature and all the hidden harmonies that go with it..

Hidden harmonies have been the driving force of the Reverso ever since, so much so that the manufacturer has endowed this watch design near magical powers. For example, the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque, released in 2021, took six years to conceive and boasts 11 mind-blowing complications and four functioning display faces, which can predict astronomical events such as supermoons and eclipses.

Seamless workmanship

This year, the Swiss watchmaker has released another marvel, the Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface which ingeniously introduces a flying tourbillon to a dual-functioning flippable face, one with a sunburst silver dial, the other with a black dial that also displays a second time zone and a day-night indicator. The tourbillon, which is visible from both sides, had to be radically resigned to fit neatly into the micro machine, a calibre which is only 3.9mm thick.

Instead of the upper and lower bridges that would support it, experts conceived a compact new ball bearing system along with a new patented S-shaped hairspring, allowing the spring and balance wheel to be fixed at the centre of the tourbillon, reducing weight and volume – in fact this whizzing wonder weighs less than a single gram. Seamless workmanship is everywhere, even in the fractional spaces that are imperceptible to the naked eye. For example, the guilloché “clous de Paris” pattern that you see on the gold bridges is made up of 232 hand-engraved lines, each one repeated six times to fully achieve this light-reflecting textural effect. Indeed, there are 254 components in this watch, so assembling each part is an act of almost preternatural precision.

Speaking about the tourbillon at the Watches & Wonders fair in Geneva in March, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s CEO Catherine Rénier said: “This is one of the most highly sophisticated timepieces of the Reverso collection, a fusion of technical prowess and aesthetic mastery.” A statement that surely explains why this model is part of an ultra limited run of just 50 pieces.

Feat of engineering

Jaeger-LeCoultre has also released the Reverso Tribute Chronograph, which is powered by the new in-house 860 calibre. Here, the restrictions faced by the workshop were to do with fitting this round stop-start complication into a square case. The solution was to add the retrograde counter at the bottom of the dial with extra long levers to span the full height of the calibre helped along by slimline clutch to ensure the smooth and precise function of the stopwatch mechanism. To show off this feat of engineering, the back case is completely open-worked, and of course, the wearer can decide which side to show off by simply sliding the face.

Jewellery lovers will be delighted to hear that the Reverso has also had a category boost as a “secret” necklace, directly inspired by gem-set models of the 1930s. The 55cm-long necklace is set with more than 3,000 diamonds and features a suspended dial that acts as a pendant. Swivel it around and time is revealed on a beautiful black enamel, diamond-set dial that oozes Art Deco elegance.

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1. Coronation ½ pint mug

The still entirely UK-based Emma Bridgewater has produced this large coronation mug.

£23; emmabridgewater.co.uk

2. Coronation Blue Tea Towel

A limited-edition tea towel printed on organic cotton.

£18; beanandbemble.com

3. King & Queen Royal Stafford Side Plate Set

Cath Kidston has matching plates featuring Elizabeth II and Charles III.

£21; cathkidston.com

4. Tin Tea Caddy

Part of Emma Bridgewater’s 3 Cheers for King Charles III range, this tea tin is 15cm tall.

£10; emmabridgewater.co.uk

5. Fortnum’s Musical Coronation Biscuit Tin

This keepsake tin plays God Save the King as it spins, and contains biscuits with flavours of the Commonwealth.

£35; fortnumandmason.com

6. King’s Coronation Bunting

This polyester bunting has 20 flags per 6m length, and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

£10.50; flagandbuntingstore.co.uk

7. Crown fabric hanging decoration

This 11cm decoration is handmade from velour embroidered with beads and crystals in the zardozi technique.

£35; historicroyalpalaces.com

8. Coronation Light-Up Cushion

A 45cm x 45cm embroidered cotton cushion with beading and lights.

£25; marksandspencer.com

9. Coronation Teapot

Spode’s King Charles III teapot is made at its factory in Stoke-on-Trent; there is a matching sugar bowl and jug.

£75; spode.co.uk

10. Talking Tables Honeycomb Paper Crown

Measuring 28cm x 18cm, this fold-out card crown could be used as a table centrepiece.

£15; johnlewis.com

11. Buckingham Palace Coronation Navy Rum

Buckingham Palace has commissioned this specially blended, navy style rum which features rums sourced from traditional distilleries in the Caribbean.

£39.99; thewineflyer.co.uk

12. Buckingham Palace Coronation Dry Gin

Buckingham Palace’s gin is distilled in England in small batches. Using traditional techniques, every batch contains botanicals which have been hand-picked from the palace gardens including lemon verbena and hawthorn berries.

£39.99; thewineflyer.co.uk

13. The Hummingbird Bakery coronation collection

Available for delivery in London until 8 May, The Hummingbird Bakery’s coronation collection includes a red velvet stamp cake (from £37.95), Union Jack cupcake selection boxes (£21.95) and coronation cupcake selection boxes (£21.95).

hummingbirdbakery.com

14. Chapel Down Coronation Edition 2016

Chapel Down has released a limited-edition English sparkling wine to commemorate the coronation. Just 2,000 bottles of the 2016 vintage are available and all profits are being donated to the Royal British Legion.

£65; chapeldown.com

15. Crown Jewel Celebration Pork Pie

Melton Mowbray-based Dickinson & Morris has teamed up with “The Pie King”, Calum Franklin, to create this coronation pork pie. Filled with pork, pheasant, chestnut and Madeira jelly, it’s finished by hand with intricate, royal-themed pastry. Serving eight people, the pie can be pre-ordered for delivery between 3-5 May.

£30; porkpie.co.uk

16. Patisserie Valerie coronation cakes

Patisserie Valerie’s royal menu includes the King’s Coronation Cake (£45.95), Coronation Mini Cake Box (£36.95) and the Crème Brûlée Cake (from £42.95).

patisserie-valerie.co.uk

17. Elgood’s Brewery Coronation Ale

This premium ale from Elgood’s Brewery in Cambridgshire is a blend of Maris Otter Pale Ale, Crystal and Amber malts, and hopped with British Sovereign, Challenger, Goldings and US Mosaic.

£2.75 a bottle; elgoods-brewery.co.uk

18. Flapjackery coronation flapjacks

Flapjackery’s handmade coronation flapjacks come beautifully inscribed with a white chocolate crown. Six half pieces cost £14 or 12 half pieces for £24.

flapjackery.co.uk

19. Hattingley Valley ‘Kings’ English sparkling wines

Raise a toast to Charles III with Hattingley Valley’s limited-edition English sparkling wines. The Hampshire-based winemaker has released two editions: Kings Cuvée 2015 (£85) and Kings Cuvée Rosé 2015 (£95).

hattingleyvalley.com

20. Nyetimber Classic Cuvee ‘Coronation Edition’ NV

Nyetimber has created a limited-edition cuvee to celebrate the coronation. This wine is made from a blend of classic champagne varietals of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.

£39.99; thewineflyer.co.uk

21. Silent Pool Coronation Gin

Silent Pool’s limited-edition coronation gin has been created using infusions of King Charles’s favourite Surrey botanicals, plants and flowers.

£45; silentpooldistillers.com

Ormonde Jayne’s bijou London store is situated in the Victorian Royal Arcade just off Old Bond Street. You can’t miss it, because the perfume house has sweeping orange curtains that appear to start somewhere near the clouds and an angular-shaped wooden island that looks like it was fashioned by a modernist artist. This central display is lit by an equally sculptural light which casts a warm glow over elegant scent bottles and candles, each formulated from rare and elusive ingredients from around the world, enveloping the wooden-clad interior in a rich and seductive smell that transports you to exotic idylls.

Ormonde Jayne was founded in 2000 by perfumer and expert nose, Linda Pilkington, who has so far created 50 luxury scents through a craft process that maintains the poetry of olfactory’s golden past by using rare oils and absolutes that are not only hard to find, but incredibly complex to make, mature and mix.

Remarkably, Pilkington is the only British female perfumer to have kept her house privately owned. Her luxury brand now has more than 400 international points of sale, from Mumbai to Melbourne. In the UK, these inducing Fenwick, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Her perfumes are sold in places as far afield as Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – countries of the Silk Road whose past is intrinsically linked to the art of perfume making. In fact, Omonde Jayne’s latest collection, “La Route de La Soie”, was directly inspired by the cultural and olfactory heritage of this ancient trade route.

Pilkington has travelled far and wide for her craft, sleuthing out elusive ingredients that few perfume houses have explored or employed in their bottles. For the eau de parfum, Ta’if, part of Ormonde Jayne’s signature collection, she visited the town of Ta’if in Saudi Arabia to meet plantation growers who cultivate the famous Ta’if rose which can withstand tremendous temperatures. The scent was the first ever to use this special rose attar in a formulation, which also counts notes of saffron and date oil, for a deep and sensuous aroma.

To celebrate Ormonde Jayne’s delicate new fragrance release, Sakura Eau de Parfum – inspired by hanami, the symbolic Japanese tradition of welcoming spring – we spoke to Pilkington about her enduring passion for perfume making and how she has navigated a male-dominated environment to enjoy the sweet smell of success.

What makes an Ormonde Jayne scent?

A distinctive house style, instantly recognisable was a priority early on. The accord that we chose early on, is present in all our fragrances, with one exception, Tolu. Among perfumers, this accord is synonymous with Ormonde Jayne; just as you can always identify a Chanel or Guerlain perfume, you also know an Ormonde Jayne perfume at first sniff. Without giving too much away about the ingredients, it does include hedione, freesia and baie rose (also known as pink pepper) which is one of my favourite. The accord has an effervescent quality, so all our perfumes sing, sparkle and shine.

You have kept a tight rein on your business for 22 years. Have you ever been tempted to sell it?

Perfumery was still very much a male-dominated industry. Until the early 21st century fine fragrances were exclusively made by a handful of family-owned perfume houses. The role of perfumer was typically passed down from father to son or nephew. Infinite obstacles prevented independent perfumers from obtaining ingredients and creating fine fragrances. When the internet became widely available, so too did ingredients from around the world as suppliers could advertise, and perfumers like me who did not come from a long line of perfumers, could buy these rare oils. It was especially beneficial for women and today, perfumery is egalitarian and balanced; it’s no longer a traditional man’s world.

Being able to react with agility to any situation independently is imperative to the way I run Ormonde Jayne. For example, in 2005, while the luxury world was still divided into His and Hers, the time-honoured division for scent no longer made any sense. I decided to make our entire collection gender free and remove all mention of male or female. Our website reflected those changes and the categories had been removed. At that time, friends in the industry thought it was a terrible mistake, and had there been a board of investors, I’m sure it would have been vetoed. Today, that move is still seen as pivotal. Ormonde Jayne is ultimately my own responsibility, but the crucial difference is that I have an amazing team, that I can trust to support and advise who understand how to maintain the fine line between growth and staying niche. But the real reason is, after 23 years, I still enjoy it and absolutely adore coming into work every day, every Monday morning. I’m not ready to hand over the reins just yet.

Are there any restrictions that exist in perfume making?

The restrictions in the perfume industry today are publicised a couple of years in advance, so one is able to take that on board before creating any new perfume to make sure you are compliant, therefore I don’t find it a problem. If one of your chosen ingredients is on the banned list, you simply don’t go there.

What makes Ormonde Jayne a luxury product?

It all goes back to our ingredients as the oils are an exceptionally high grade, rigorously tested for purity and strength independently. With certain oils like Cambodian Oudh, it is a long and costly process, but the result is a perfume of unmistakable quality. Other ingredients that are exceptionally rare are oils like gardenia, where the flowers are grown to order and a small quantity of the absolute can take at least three years to produce.

It takes an enormous quantity of flowers to produce 500ml of an absolute, and sometimes plantations can be wiped out by adverse weather conditions beyond our control. Negative connotations exist in the luxury world: some people equate synthetic with fake. But some of our most rare and precious ingredients in our library are synthetic. It’s a word that isn’t often used in luxury, but in fine fragrance, synthetics are revered and some of the most expensive ingredients. Like a marriage, the synthetic molecules animate the natural ingredients, lifting the formula, making the perfume’s composition shine and sparkle.

The other aspect to using synthetics is environmental. Ingredients like vanilla which is also widely used in food flavouring, has created “boom and bust” economic cycles in farming communities such as those in Madagascar, exacerbated by climate change. It is all unsustainable for our long-term future. One of the positive aspects of my independent perfume house is that after two decades I understand every aspect of perfume from the growers, who I know personally, everyone from the glassblower to the independent boutique owners. I have a close relationship with everyone in the industry and I find this very rewarding. It means we know the provenance of every aspect of every perfume, and that is passed on to our customers. There is a luxury in that knowledge.

Can you describe the bottling process?

Everything has always been manufactured here in Britain throughout Ormonde Jayne’s history. Our studio space has grown throughout the 20 years and we moved into our latest space last summer, hopefully the last for a while. It’s half the size of a football pitch, with enormously high racking and a forklift truck. With more than 30 employees, the planning was done carefully with their wellbeing and requests taken into consideration. For example, the packing stations are handmade and with ergonomically adjustable tables so that the team don’t have to bend their backs while packing. We have fireproof rooms, where perfumes are left to mature and all pouring takes place in a white sterilised room. In addition, we have independent auditors who check every single aspect of our practice rigorously, our staff have to work to very specific regulations, especially when they are pouring the oils. Equally, it was just as important to make sure they have pleasant areas to relax in as well, so a lot of attention was put into that too.

Do you have a favourite scent from your own collections?

Impossible to choose just one, as I tend to choose my perfume according to my mood when I wake up. There are six on my dressing table at the moment. In 2019, London Craft Week asked a few local perfumers to create a bespoke scent for their theme of Rebels and Rogues. The Great Gatsby is one of my favourites since it channels Jay Gatsby’s obsession with power, along with his immaculate dress sense with vetiver, pink pepper and Sicilian lime. The scent also says “party time”, evoking fabulous elegant parties, sharp suited men and stylish flapper girls in backless dresses dancing to jazz. Although there were only a handful of Gatsby [scents] poured, it had some tenacious admirers asking for more. Last year, Gatsby22 launched into The Signature Collection where it’s been very well received, especially in America.

Can you reveal a few of your famous customers?

Courtney Love, Emma Thompson, Goldie Hawn, Bryan Ferry, Sophie Dahl and Yasmin Le Bon are regular customers.

Would you say you have a love of exploration and travel, as well as perfumery?

Growing up in a small village in Cheshire is a recipe for chronic wanderlust. After finishing school, I lived and worked in many different countries spanning South America, southern Africa, the Middle East and across Europe – and that period is still a big influence. Travel is the heart of our fragrance repertoire, and great epic voyages provide endless inspiration in all collections which are The Signature Collection, the Four Corners of the Earth, and La Route de la Soie. Our fragrance formulas are also very relevant and cohesive, blending flowers with their native environment. Champaca is a tiny orange flower from India, and our perfume uses tea notes and basmati rice, as this beautiful welcoming aroma greets you everywhere in India. London is at the heart of our fragrance collections, and its immense diversity on our doorstep. You hear and see endless languages and cultures from every corner of the planet in our capital, it’s a hub of creativity with travel at its core.

Why did you open a shop where you did, in London's oldest arcade?

After registering Ormonde Jayne at Companies House in 2001, orders to create bespoke candles flooded in through word of mouth very quickly from Burberry, The Conran Shop and Blakes Hotel. It was like going from zero to 60mph in a few seconds, but it also took a huge amount of organisation and time. Walking through The Royal Arcade on my way to deliver some candles to Chanel one day, I spied a new “for rent” sign at Number 12. It was a lightbulb moment. The tenant was keen to move as quickly as possible, and I opened the doors to the public just six weeks after spotting the sign. The prestigious location and being able to continue manufacturing independently motivated my very steep learning curve in all matters retail.