By our Creative Director, Jana

 

Before owning a store, I'd never done any sort of buying or merchandising. Sure, I worked in fashion, in both design and product development, so I knew how to put a collection together - I knew what I liked, but never had any formal training. And let's be honest - I am no master strategist, a lot of what I do is based on vibes (or let's call it gut instinct), whatever, the point is, I'm not sitting here obsessing over spreadsheets and buying plans. I probably should do that a little more, but the thing is, I have a very clear idea of what I like within an instant of seeing it. I give it at least a minute to make a final decision about whether a product is going to make it into store or not, but I really do have a very strong belief in every single thing I sell. So when people ask me about my process, or compliment me on the product selection, when I answer with 'I just buy what I like, this is my shopping addiction in store form', it's really the truth. It's an absolute joy when other people can enjoy all these things with me - feels like spreading a bit of happiness (cheesy, but in this dumpster fire world, it feels right to be cheesy at least once a day).

 

So, when people say to me 'your home must be so nice', I kind of answer with an 'mmmyeaaahhh sort of'. In all honestly, I need to do a massive clear out because I am a sentimental person who can't let things and old versions of myself go, so you know, it's not a perfectly curated house. BUT, many of the things we have, we had in our house before we had them in store, so that's what this gift guide is about. Kind of a 'what to buy for your person if your person was Etc.Store personified'. Or something like that.

 

1. Fredericks and Mae cutting boards - £40-£79.

Friends, I'm not lying when I tell you we own 3 of these babies. As of the time of writing, we are the only UK stockist of this brand (which is unbelievable for such a good product, but here we are). Our large cutting board we use every day, and unlike your typical wooden cutting board, it's not absorbent, which means you can easily rinse/wipe and go. When I'm in the kitchen, I love to tidy as I go, and this one is easy to wipe down so I don't have a worse mess to clean up the next day when I inevitably leave chopped tomato juice overnight (listen, never said I was a perfectly clean girly). The small one is good for things on the go/off to the side, and the big oval one we use as a cheese board. All 3 of these are perfect for displaying as well - on your sideboard as a tray/plate for your tchotchkes, or hanging up in the kitchen like ours are when not in use - they look a lot better than your regular cutting board, that's for sure.

 

2. Kitchen Cats Tea Towel - £15.

I promise the theme of this gift guide isn't 'elevated things for your kitchen' but I also promise that nice tea towels totally make you feel just a little more put together. Yes, you might leave dirty dishes overnight, but look how nice your tea towel is, etc, etc. I've loved these Wrap tea towels for ages, and if you're a dog person, don't worry there's a version for you, and if you don't really care for cats or dogs, there's other just really nice tea towels for you too.

 

3. Catnip Magazine - £23.

I also promise that the theme of this gift guide isn't 'cat things', but also, I know my people. A magazine all about cats that's so beautifully put together it's basically Vogue is what we all need right now. It's the number 1 selling item in our store for good reason, and I promise you'll be loved forever by any cat person you gift this to.

Oh, did I mention it has cat horoscopes? It has cat horoscopes.

 

4. Multitudes Pleated Totes Bag - £45.

We've all got a million cotton tote bags that are just a bit tatty but somehow we're super attached to, right? Help your person upgrade their tote game with the Multitudes totes - made in Italy, Japanese-feeling, they're just spectacular - you won't find anything else like it. It totally elevates the inevitable extra junk you carry around, and it'll make you want to throw away every last cotton tote you own.

 

5. Hansel from Basel socks - £13-£26.

I have never been a sock person, but all of a sudden in the last year I have gone sock crazy, and the Hansel from Basel socks are majorly scratching that itch for me. They just add that extra something to any outfit, and these beauties are made in Korea/Japan so you know they're good. Elevated checks and wavy lines? Yes please. A nice little add-on gift that might be loved even more than the main one.

 

6. Mar Mar Los Angeles Incense - £26.

I feel like incense is having a moment now, don't you? And no shade to the Nag Champa incense we all own a box of somewhere, she's a classic, but the Mar Mar incense is just next level. My personal favourite is the Mono No Aware scent, just because it's so unexpected - smoky, slightly sweet, and that something you just can't pick, make it intoxicating before you've even burned it (honestly, an open box of it sitting on the shelf smells unreal). But all their scents are outstanding, and if your person is an incense person, they'll appreciate this for sure.

 

7. Gentle Habits Perfume Oil - £32.

It's taken me 2 years, but I've finally got an Aussie brand in store (if you don't count mine, which was born in London anyway, so she's kind of a hybrid). We just love Gentle Habits - their perfume oils are all natural, unisex, and being oils, they last longer on your skin. They're in perfectly compact bottles (about the size of a nail varnish bottle) which makes them perfect for carrying around for freshening up on the go (I'm never without mine), and even better for travel (when are they dropping those liquid restrictions?) I'm torn between Bondi Beach and Yamba as my faves - Bondi Beach makes me feel like I've just completed a really zen yoga class, and Yamba is just a great every day option - the kind of scent that people stop to ask about for sure.

 

8. Chunks Clips - £9 - £28.

We're big Chunks fans over here - I honestly wasn't even a clip girl, but somehow I have a whole collection now, because they're just that pretty. I'm personally a fan of the Nimbus Claw, which I already own in Kelly, but I'm going to buy in Malachite Butterfly (green obsessed? Me?) These clips and claws are kind of like the socks I mentioned earlier - a perfect little stocking filler or add-on gift that is practical and good looking, and might just be loved more than a main gift. These hair accessories just add a little sparkle to any outfit, and we all love that.

 

9. &Klevering Whip Mirror - £50.

I've been searching for a new makeup mirror for forever, and this is the one (finally!) It comes in pink and green, and looks like a little bit of cream or toothpaste at the bottom. It's sturdy and just really, really good looking (and honestly, won't keep swinging up to face the ceiling like my old one does - infuriating). If you're looking to gift something that will elevate the daily rituals we all have, this is perfect - the kind of gift you don't know you need until you get it.

 

10. Le Puzz Puzzles - £35-£40, and Piecework Puzzles £40.

I never really got on the puzzle train during lockdown, but last Christmas it just occurred to me that it might be nice to turn off the TV, put on some records, mix some negronis and do a puzzle. Now, I am totally delulu and was sure I would smash out a 1000 piece puzzle in a couple of hours, having not done one since childhood. Obviously, that didn't happen, in fact, I completed about 10% of it and then it sat on my living room floor for 3 months before I gave up. But I am totally planning to try again this Christmas, with a little more time up my sleeve. I have a Cat Person puzzle that I'm determined to finish, and then get framed. It'll totally happen, right? Anyway, it seems like loads of you are thinking a Christmas puzzle is the thing this year, and I'm totally on board. Dogs, cats, candles, matches, sandwiches, butter, tomatoes, we've got them all.

 

11. Sowvital Hand Creams - £22.

Everyone loves a hand cream, especially when it's cold. These ones from Sowvital smell like an absolute dream, and the only reason why I haven't actually bought one yet is because I just cannot decide between the 3 scents. They're all so good. Again - this one's a good stocking filler add-on gift that'll be appreciated by anyone who receives it. Seriously though - orange blossom, tomato leaf or fig - how can I possibly choose and should I just buy all 3??

 

12. Carolyn Suzuki Smoky Lips Bag Charm - £20.

I am not, and have never been a smoker, so why do I love this bag charm so much? I don't know, but I just do, okay. I love a lips motif, the cigarette feels a bit forbidden (and who's even smoking anymore anyway) so maybe that's it, but if you feel like this isn't for your person, there's other just as good options like the Chill Pill and the Anchovy and Olive. Look, I actually want all of these so you'd better buy them before I do. And oh yeah, they can totally be keyrings too.

 

13. Roen Mexico Candles - £36.

Roen is one of the very first brands I bought into the store, and I have been obsessed for years. Their scents are unreal, and I am a huge fan of their Mexico range because they're essentially a double gift. And look, so are most candles - you can easily clean out wax and reuse almost all candle vessels, but these ones are just so special with their coloured glass and contrast painted rim. If you're gifting for someone you don't know suuuuper well, this is an excellent choice because a double gift looks like you put double thought into it. You can thank me later. 

 

14. Home Studyo Emily Jugs - £80.

Let's keep this one short, because they speak for themselves - they look like blow up pool floaties, but they're ceramic jugs. They're genius, they come in matte and gloss finishes (and I can never decide which one looks more 'real') and you've never seen anything like them. The big box stores could never.

 

15. &Klevering Mug Set - £26, and Flowerhead Tea - £15.

If you're just not really sure, this could be the perfect option. Who doesn't love some lovely mugs to spruce up the kitchen (bonus, they come packed in a lovely matching box). And why not test them out with some fancy tea? F**k the Grind? Mrs. Rooiboson? Double Rose Mint? You choose - these all sound pretty darn good to me, and so here I am, ending this list on some options I would personally love to receive (hint hint).

 

I don't want this to turn into a thesis about shopping, so I'll call it quits here. 

 

Merry Christmas, etc etc, 

Jana