By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
For many years, my Grandmother has refreshed an annual subscription to my favourite print magazine for Christmas. Not only is it a generous and thoughtful gesture, but I look forward to sitting down with a coffee each month and leafing through the carefully curated pages, taking the time to read and enjoy great writing and beautiful photographs. Something about the little lift it brings has inspired me to approach gifting in a similar fashion this year. From magazines to gift boxes, pre-purchased monthly joy-bringing parcels offer year-round excitement for your loved ones as they anticipate the next delivery.
So, this month, I have rounded up some of the giftable subscription options that have caught my eye. While I’ve purchased a few of these packages for loved ones, if I’m on your Christmas list this year, take the below as a heavy-handed hint!
For Eco-Warriors
Discovering the latest and greatest ethical snacks, eco-cleaning products and household goodies is both a fun hobby and an honourable pastime. For the eco-conscious friends and family in your life, why not lend a helping hand with a subscription box of lean, green goodies? Authentic House, an online shop and subscription box service is a great place to start. The boxes are customisable, containing all manner of beautifully presented and completely plastic-free gifts from candles to shampoos. Boxes start at £27.50 and as a member of 1% for the Planet, Authentic House donates 1% of its sales to environmental non-profits.
Shop: www.authentichouse.co.uk
For Beauty Buffs
There is no end to the number of delightful beauty boxes available for skincare savants or make-up mavens. However, The Vegan Kind’s Beauty Box ensures that none of the products your loved ones receive have been tested on animals. The Beauty Box subscription box arrives every other month with a no-repeat guarantee on the products included. Boxes start at £16.40 and include products worth over £50.
Shop: www.thevegankind.com
For Literature Lovers
If you’re anything like me, Christmastime at home with the extended family is spent either peeling potatoes or curling up in a cosy corner with a paperback. For bookish beloveds, the gift that keeps on giving is a literary subscription box. There are a fair few to choose from, including options for young readers, and quirkier boxes that serve to combine tastes for wine, tea or chocolate with the very latest in fiction. Tea Time Bookshop is a particularly brilliant place for customisable subscription boxes, and, as the name suggests, delivers notable literary works to your door with ethically sourced tea and coffee. For example, its Vintage Book Box gift subscription includes one or two good-condition vintage books, a drink of choice, biscuits, a bookmark and a literary postcard. Boxes start from £11.99.
Shop: www.teatimebookshop.co.uk
Other great options for well-read relatives come from Bookishly, a similar service, but one that breaks down boxes into themes and authors including Ian Fleming and Agatha Christie. Its Classics Revisited subscription offers giftees a monthly modern book based on or inspired by one of the great literary classics per month, along with a bar of artisan, handmade chocolate. This particular subscription starts at £18.
Shop: www.bookishly.co.uk
Coffee Connoisseurs
Elevating everyday rituals is a great way to bring joy into the lives of your loved ones. If there’s one thing most of my friends and family do every day, it’s making themselves a delicious cup of coffee, so coffee subscription boxes with bespoke options prove perfect gifts for almost everyone. With Kiss the Hippo at Home, the subscription service offered by the cult, carbon-negative coffee company of the same name, you can choose between pods, whole beans or variations on ground beans. Boxes start from £36.
Shop: www.kissthehippo.com
A favourite coffee spot of mine in London is WatchHouse in Tower Bridge, although there are outposts of the chain all over the city. The minimalist product design and delicious blends make going into the cafes a pleasure, and enjoying a classic WatchHouse coffee at home is the next best thing. Subscription boxes of its 1829 Espresso start from £10.80 with notes of blackberry, Nutella and cranberry. Make mine a double!
Shop: www.watchouse.com
Where to Source One of a Kind Gifts
By Amira Hashish
It’s that time of year when the last minute dash to find a thoughtful gift kicks in. Trawling through shopping sites with thousands of products sounds about as appealing as department store queues but thankfully a new wave of online marketplaces dedicated to curating pieces that feel truly unique make the shopping experience seamless and joyful.
From rare jewellery items to beautifully crafted homeware or guilt-free fashion finds, these platforms will put a special spin on your present hunt in the festive season and beyond. Each is tightly edited to cut out the time-wasting and tells the story behind its treasures. Let the wishlist commence…
Glassette
Laura Jackson and Daniel Crow launched this homewares marketplace with the aim of putting the UK’s best homeware brands in the spotlight. They have done a grand job of curating and championing independent makers with an eye for thoughtful design. From soft furnishings to affordably priced art, every piece that makes the cut has been lovingly selected.
Pick of the bunch: Casa Celva Murano Tumbler, £22.50
Start shopping: glassette.com
Collagerie
Life through a long-term Vogue icon’s lens makes for an impeccable edit on Collagerie. The fashion, accessories, beauty and lifestyle hub is a labour of love by Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood. As Fashion Director of British Vogue for 25 years, Lucinda has extensive experience directing fashion’s most memorable shoots. Meanwhile, former Executive Fashion Director at British Vogue, Serena has written countless style and fashion edits. Together they have curated a platform that feels fashion forward but attainable.
Pick of the bunch: Jigsaw x Collagerie Liner Coat, £400
Start shopping: collagerie.com
La Romaine Editions
Founded by Parisian fashion buyer Pauline Vincent, La Romaine Editions is the epitome of her quest for simple and spontaneous beauty in everyday life. She recalls the artisans’ workshops visited with her decorator aunt and grandmother, and the museums where she accompanied her curator mother. Browsing her site feels like being given the key to a dreamy home in the French countryside and unlocking all its secrets.
Pick of the bunch: The Flower and Checkboard Cushion, €60
Start shopping: laromaine-editions.com
TAT London
There is something extra special about finding a storied vintage treasure but how do you know you’re selecting a quality piece? Charlie Porter does the legwork and sources a joyful collection of discoveries for her online jumble shop. With new stock being added to the site frequently you never know what you may stumble upon.
Pick of the bunch: Framed Oil On Board, By Stig Norberg, £188
Start shopping: tat-london.co.uk
Reluxe
Seeking a guilt-free way to invest in a statement fashion piece? Enter Reluxe. Founded by stylist and tastemaker Clare Richardson, who counts Hermes, Balenciaga and Calvin Klein amongst clients and collaborators, this is a destination for fashion resale through an insider’s eye. Working with independent sellers, as well as Relove brands, Reluxe authenticates every item. A great way to do good by the environment whilst sourcing a dream piece.
Pick of the bunch: Black and White Braided Quilted Lambskin Preowned Saddle Flap Bag, £3,300
Start shopping: reluxefashion.com
ABASK
Shining a light on craftsmanship and design, ABASK is the latest kid on the block for collectible and unique objects with a focus on luxury. From sharing the skills of fourth-generation artisans and contemporary craftspeople to telling the stories behind pieces that are sourced globally, there is a considered approach.
Pick of the bunch: William & Son Snakes and Ladders & Ludo Games Compendium, £1,795
Start shopping: abask.com
Z.d.G
Z.d.G (aka Zoë de Givenchy) seeks out the finest European craftsmanship and artisanal techniques with a focus on the dining table. The weavers, potters and painters who are championed share a passion for heritage, family and the preservation of ancient decorative arts. Every item presented on this platform feels like a treat.
Pick of the bunch: Banyan Box Wood Hand Stamped Cutlery, €239,00
Start shopping: zdgofficial.com
Trouva
A shop window into some of the UK and Europe’s best independent boutiques and brands, Trouva has it all. From baubles and books to clothing and jewellery there really is someone for everyone here…and the best news is you are supporting small businesses.
Pick of the bunch Woodland Journal, £29.99
Start shopping: trouva.com
1st Dibs
From furniture to watches and everything in between, 1st Dibs sets the bar high for extraordinary gifts. A worldwide network of trusted sellers, each of whom is thoroughly vetted by in-house experts, guarantees best-in-class items. You can buy directly, negotiate a price or bid on items at auction.
Pick of the bunch: Heart Ruby Signet Ring in 14ct Yellow Gold, £975
Start shopping: 1stdibs.com
The Gift Consultancy
What do you gift the person who has it all? The Gift Consultancy founder Hetty Lintell provides a discreet, bespoke service sourcing the finest presents from her coveted contacts book. Be it an unusual present or an experience like no other, Hetty has you covered. Working via private referral only, gifting needs for the whole year, a one-off or project-by-project can be requested.
Start shopping: thegiftconsultancy.co.uk
Inspiration for an Active January and Beyond
By Tim Colston – Tenth Avenue Leisure
It’s common for people to let their fitness routines slip during the holiday season, with all the additional stress, social obligations, and tempting treats that come with it. However, it’s important to remember that maintaining a good level of physical fitness can have numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. Here are some tips for an active January and beyond…
- Set achievable goals: it’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve in terms of your fitness routine. Consider setting achievable goals such as walking for 30 minutes a day or doing a short home workout twice a week.
- Stay active: even if you can’t make it to the gym, there are plenty of ways to stay active. Consider going for a walk or a hike, participating in a fun outdoor activity or doing a workout at home using bodyweight exercises or home gym equipment.
- Incorporate physical activity into your plans. For example, you could go for a walk or bike ride with family or friends, or plan an active outing such as skiing or snowboarding.
- Don’t overdo it: it’s important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard. If you’re feeling particularly stressed or tired, it’s okay to take a break and rest.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices: in addition to staying active, it’s important to make healthy lifestyle choices to support your overall fitness and well-being. This can include eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and managing stress through techniques such as relaxation or mindfulness.
- Stay motivated: it can be easy to lose motivation in the cold and dreary winter months. To stay motivated, try to find activities that you enjoy, set small, achievable goals, and track your progress. You could also consider enlisting the help of a friend or family member to hold you accountable and provide support.
Remember, the most important thing is to find an approach to fitness that works for you and that you can maintain over the long term. It’s more than okay to have a few indulgences, but by prioritising your health and well-being, you’ll be able to enjoy those treats while still maintaining your fitness.
So here are a few fitness products, innovative and traditional that can help you in 2023
Tech
Myzone is an accurate fitness tracker and online social platform that rewards effort for all physical activity, helping more people around the world to feel good about exercise.
Myzone – https://www.myzone.org
Weights
No Cost Option
Exercising doesn’t need to be expensive! Body weight exercises such as press ups, pull-ups and squats are the quickest and easiest exercises to perform. You don’t need a gym just the floor you are standing on.
Low Cost Option £200 – £500
A pair of trainers, TRX and some adjustable dumbbells
Mid-Range Option £2000
Electromagnetic weights are the products for 2023 and Vitruvian is leading the way. On one compact platform, you can perform all the weight exercises you need to.
It’s a real gym, generating resistance from 0-440lb (200kg) of digital weight. How? The platform uses artificial intelligence to adjust the weight to you in real-time, giving you the optimal workout.
Vitruvian – https://vitruvianform.com/en-gb
Top-End Option £10,000
EMS. EMS stands for Electric Muscle Stimulation and it has been widely used in physiotherapy for decades with great results. Its rapidly expanding use as a Whole Body Training method provides the perfect combination of highly effective strength and cardio training.
The user puts on a suit (shorts and vest) and works alongside a personal trainer for a short 20-minute workout. The suit enhances the workout by stimulating the muscles. Boutique studios are opening up in the UK but it is a product that can also be used at home.
EMS – www.xbodyworld.com
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