Christmas can be a tricky affair for those of discerning taste. For most, the festive period is an excuse to indulge in as much kitsch as possible. But where does that leave the tinselphobic, who might still like to send a card or wrap a present? We’ve done a bit of research and hunted down some more tasteful options to see you through the festive period…
Advent calendar
If you can’t stomach cheap chocolate in the morning but still like to count down the days, Present & Correct have a crafty alternative.
Christmas cards
Where kitsch knows no bounds, help is at hand from Stefi Orazi, a graphic designer with a penchant for London’s Modernist architecture. She’s released a pack of six cards, showing her favourite icons in a flurry of snow.
2009 calendar
Margaret Howell, bastion of the British fashion scene, has a neat line in reissuing classic design pieces from her home shores too. Her 2009 calendar - a rundown of her favourite pieces of British design - is the only one we’ll have on our walls for a whole year.
Tree decorations
Trust the Nordic regions to have tree decorations down pat. Showroom Finland has a line in laser-cut Birch plywood motifs that make a sophisticated addition to a fir tree.
Christmas windows
Luxury brands don’t just pour polystyrene balls into their windows come Christmas. For them the festive shop front is an opportunity to flex their creative muscles a little more than usual. Here’s our pick of the best.
See our pick of the window displays
Wrapping paper
Taking our wrapping as seriously as our present buying, we favour the Japanese screen-printed, hand-stenciled variety over Santa and his reindeers. Chiyogami and Katazome-shi, available online from Shepherds, Sangorski & Sutcliffe, are two particular papers that employ techniques from 16th century Japanese kimono designs.
Fragrance
The incense, patchouli and cedarwood notes of Comme’s signature 2 fragrance make for a very festive olfactory experience. On cue they’ve released a limited edition Christmas version called Silver Words - a black lacquered bottle, inscribed with silver words of peace, freedom and love in a variety of languages.
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Fendi celebrates 100 years with all-out runway show at its new Milan HQIn the wake of Kim Jones’ departure, Silvia Venturini Fendi took the reins for a special co-ed A/W 2025 collection marking the house’s centenary, unveiling it as the first act of celebrations within Fendi’s expansive new headquarters in Milan
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‘Leigh Bowery!’ at Tate Modern: 1980s alt-glamour, club culture and rebellionThe new Leigh Bowery exhibition in London is a dazzling, sequin-drenched look back at the 1980s, through the life of one of its brightest stars
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Inside the unexpected collaboration between Marni’s Francesco Risso and artists Slawn and SoldierNew exhibition ‘The Pink Sun’ will take place at Francesco Risso’s palazzo in Milan in collaboration with Saatchi Yates, opening after the Marni show today, 26 February
