Whether you’re ready or not, the most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start thinking about your Christmas gifts. If you’re the type to leave it all to the last minute, snatching perfume box-sets from the shelves in a panic on Christmas Eve, I have some sage advice for you. The best presents are rarely those impulse-bought at the eleventh hour, so this year it’s time to get organised. After all, your loved ones deserve the very best.
Below, see my top tips for total gifting success come December 25, then go forth and shop like a true expert. (And remember, if all else fails, a scented candle is guaranteed to please anyone.)
Make Your List (And Check It Twice)
The number-one rule of Christmas shopping is to write your list. Unleashing yourself into the stores without a game plan only ever ends one way: with an armful of ill-advised impulse purchases. Knowing who you’re shopping for and, ideally, what you’d like to give them, is the route to shopping success. Write it down or save it on your phone, just remember to bring it with you.
Know Where To Go
Every single year, when it’s time to do some serious shopping, I make the same pilgrimage to Bicester Village. If you’ve somehow not yet been, know that you’re in for a real treat. With over 150 luxury designer boutiques, from Margiela and Vivienne Westwood to Ganni, Aesop and Le Creuset, there is truly something for everyone (including yourself: you deserve it). Of course, with so many boutiques to get swept up in, you’re going to need to make a full day of it, and happily, Bicester Village now boasts a food scene that’s almost as exciting as its shopping proposition. I always fuel up with a coffee from the Fortnum & Mason Kiosk, then reward myself for all my excellent shopping decisions with a bowl of pasta at Cecconi’s.
Think Outside The Box
A common gifting trap is to give people things that are similar to something they already own. Another pair of gold earrings for your friend to add to her collection might be a safe gift, but it’s likely not one that’ll truly excite her. Instead, give her something outside of her usual go-to’s – perhaps a personalised piece from Monica Vinader, who offers engraving in its Bicester Village boutique. You may just introduce her to a new everyday favourite.
Go Luxe
A sure-fire route to gifting success is to take something you know your recipient loves and give them the most luxurious iteration. For example, if your mother-in-law loves a long soak, treat her to a bottle of the very best bubble bath (which, if you ask me, is Neom’s Real Luxury Bath Foam). Your colleague who always makes the tea? A posh mug from Emma Bridgewater is the perfect way to thank her.
Make It Easy
Oh, and my last word of advice? Be sure to utilise the hands-free shopping service, where the Bicester Village elves will wrap all your purchases while you shop, ready for you to pick up at the end of the day. Without endless bags weighing you down, the whole experience becomes truly seamless. And definitely become a Bicester Village member, as there are lots of different rewards you can access. There really is no better way to celebrate the season.
Visit Bicester Village for more.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. She has more than 15 years of experience in the luxury sector, spanning personal shopping, editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including WGSN, Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
