The Gift Station

It's the Slouching Towards Bethnal Green gift guide!

Hello, and welcome to The Gas Station The Gift Station. Here for one week only…

I’ve never done a gift guide before but I do love picking out gifts. First things first, we all know that the best presents are truly personalised and cannot be found on a list. Case in point: about a year before a friend of mine turned 40, we were sitting in a pub and he told me that he was obsessed with one of the paintings on the wall. I ended up going back to ask the pub owner who the artist was, getting in touch with them, and, even though the artist didn’t do prints he happily gave me an image that I could print off myself; he even gave me the details of his preferred east London printers. Months later at my friend’s 40th, I presented the framed picture to him and he was beside himself. You won’t find things like that in a gift guide - listen to your friend’s and family’s passions and weird little obsessions and make a note of them! I literally keep a Notes app for personalised gift ideas. But, failing that, here are a few surefire hits.

As a way of organising things, I’ve categorised gifts under the various subjects in my The Gas Station series: style, culture, beauty, life, and motherhood.

Incidentally, this week I donated to Family Action’s Christmas Toy Appeal, which provides toys to families in need around England and Wales. You can donate here.

Style

& Other Stories grey rib knit hood scarf (£67)

I might have already bought this for me too. Very cute and much needed since the weather has turned this week - brrr.

Monica Vinader gold and pearl huggie earrings (£105, currently £73.50)

These are simply lovely and Monica Vinader is running a huge sale until 3rd December.

Toteme wallet (£270)

So many women I know - myself included - have basically forgone wallets now we live in an increasingly cashless society but I always use a wallet when I’m travelling - whether around the UK by rail (great for keeping train tickets and cards together) or abroad where I’ll likely be using cash. This Toteme one is an absolute beaut.

Cos scarf (£85)

Gorgeous scarf and comes in a few colourways (also love the way they’ve styled it on their site).

La Ligne wool and cashmere blend red jumper (£305)

I love getting a new knit under the tree and this La Ligne one will provide someone with their requisite ‘pop of red’ all winter.

Staud knee high boots (£575)
A pair of new black boots under the tree is a perfect present and because knee highs are in this season, I’ve included these Staud ones, which are perfect.

Vintage Hermès scarf (From £120)
I think a vintage Hermès silk scarf makes for a lovely gift and Vestiaire has a great collection of ones in really good condition for under £150. Also good options: here, here, here and here.

Araks bra (£165) and knickers (£101)
Araks do the most gorgeous underwear, I’d happily take anything from them tbh. A real treat.

Culture

A first edition

For the book lover in your life, a first edition of their favourite book is a great gift. I mean, as long as their favourite book isn’t something like The Great Gatsby, which would cost a small fortune. Some first editions, especially of more obscure titles, can be quite reasonable. I bought my husband a first edition (he’s a bit of a collector) of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy for his birthday one year and he was blown away. Good sites are AbeBooks, Biblio and for the irl experience, Cecil Court in London is your best bet. Just go to Cecil Court anyway, it’s so fab there.

The Folio Society (from £55)

Still on books - The Folio Society specialises in beautiful, high quality editions, with a tightly curated selection, that have fantastic illustrators and great forewords. I love this copy of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery And Other Dark Tales (a personal fave), but they also do books by everyone from Cormac McCarthy to James Baldwin.

Leuchtturm1917 notebook (£20.50 for A5 size)

This is, quite simply, the best notebook. For all your 2026 goals, journalling, bad poetry and unfinished screenplay ideas.

Anterique ballpoint pen (£3.99)

That bad poetry won’t write itself. People in the know love these inexpensive Anterique pens; they’re great to use and don’t smudge. Plus they are much more elegant than a Bic.

Memberships

The Tate, the V&A, Curzon cinemas etc - give the gift of culture. (Special shout out for being a great option for the person who has everything). Also don’t sleep on a 12 month subscription to something. We once gifted my dad Sky Sports for a year and I don’t think we’d ever seen him happier.

Roberts Revival Petite radio (from £99)

I love our Roberts. The sound is brilliant, it’s portable, you can switch easily between the different radio stations or you can Bluetooth whatever you want on it from your phone or laptop. And it looks cute and retro. There are also bigger sizes available.

A vintage film poster

A bit risky, sure, but if there’s an old film you know someone loves and the poster is cool, then getting one framed makes for an excellent gift. This Bonjour Tristesse (1958) one is great and was designed by the legendary Saul Bass.

Beauty

Chanel nail polish (£30) and lipstick (£42)

Everyone loves to open a little Chanel on Christmas day. If you’re unsure about someone’s favourite makeup brands, you can never go wrong with Chanel. Classic red for Christmas (shade of polish is Pirate and lipstick is Amour).

Odacité Crystal Contour Gua Sha (£40)

I love a gua sha, which increases blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, helping to firm, sculpt and smooth. This one’s pretty.

Officine Universelle Buly baume des muses (£40)

The chicest lip balm you can gift. Get it monogrammed with the recipient’s initials.

Aesop hand cream (£27)

Not exactly reinventing the wheel here but this is my favourite hand cream, it smells absolutely sensational, and everyone loves a bit of Aesop.

Mango tortoiseshell headband (£15.99)

For the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy style aficionado in your life.

Anya Hindmarch makeup bag (£135)

A new makeup case is always a thoughtful gift and I love this playful Anya Hindmarch one which says “Girlie Stuff”.

MALIN+GOETZ bergamot body wash (£38 for 473ml)

Taking a shower using this shower gel is a total treat - it smells unreal and is so luxuriating. You can’t go wrong.

Life

Zara Home branch and pear motif tablecloth (this one is £79.99 but there are cheaper options available)

I love tablecloths (I came away from Provence this summer with two new ones to add to my collection) and Zara Home has a fab range.

Le Creuset salt pig (£44)

A salt pig is one of those kitchen things that lots of people don’t have but is, in fact, extremely handy.

Aarke sparkling water maker (£180)

If someone in your life likes sparkling water, this gadget will change their life. We love ours and it looks nice on the kitchen counter.

Ginori 1735 porcelain coffee mug (£168)

The chicest way to start the day. I’d rapturously receive this fancy pants mug.

Laetitia Rouget porcelain ashtray (£90)

Something fun for the smoker in your life. This one is great.

HAY chopsticks (set of four) (£39)

So much nicer than using the disposable ones you get with takeaway that have been at the back of a kitchen drawer for months.

The Ginger Pig butchery class voucher (£195 to £225)

My favourite butcher does one-off classes in beef, steak, poultry, lamb, pork and sausage making in London. A bit off-piste perhaps but I actually know quite a few people who would be really into this. This one is unique in that it is the sole thing in this gift guide that I don’t actually want myself (in fact, I’d hate it, don’t give it to me). But I do think it makes an excellent - and unique - gift for the right person!

AIRE Ancient Baths voucher (from £125)

This place is out-of-this-world sensational and you can gift a general admission ticket or a specialised experience. Total relaxation awaits.

Motherhood

Ed note: my plan to organise gifts into my Gas Station categories was going well until now. So here are some nice, cosy gifts that tired mothers would appreciate (or anyone really).

Stripe & Stare pyjamas (£95)

I was recently gifted some Stripe & Stare pyjamas and, like everything else of theirs, they are insanely comfortable. There are lots of nice designs: these blue ones are also good, as are these candy stripe ones for those who prefer something a little more girlie. The reviews on these speak for themselves. Total comfort.

Santa Maria Novella Rosa Gardenia Bath Gel (£31.50)

Most of my friends would be happy to receive anything from Santa Maria Novella (it’s pretty much my go-to if I find myself out of ideas) but this bath gel is particularly luxe, mainly because the idea of baths in general are luxe for mums.

Drowsy sleep mask (£69)

Despite being exhausted most of the time, I don’t sleep all that well, and when I’m visited by my toddler in the middle of the night (frequently) I struggle to get back to sleep. That’s when I call on this mask, which is an incredible way to shut everything out, and it really helps me nod off again. This thing has literally won awards.

Graham & Green antiqued floral block printed quilt (£185)

A new quilt is always a great gift and I’m rather taken with these ones.

Trudon Odalisque scented candle (£95)

Gift a candle from Trudon, the world’s oldest candlemaker, and the recipient will likely purr with happiness.

Perrier-Jouët Champagne (£50, currently £40 at Waitrose)

Because we deserve it! This is my absolute favourite champagne and - psst - Waitrose always offer a discount in the lead up to Christmas (I know this because I stock up every year). If you’re ever stuck with what to get me, a bottle of this and you’re golden. Every time.

Happy gifting!

Gillian

Please note that some of the products listed have affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you.