TLC Christmas Gift Guide 2024

All She Wants For Christmas 2016

If like me, amidst the haze of festive celebrations and trying to finish off various work projects, you’ve left your present buying to the very last minute, fear not! We still have some time to place orders for our loved ones online, cuppa in hand, rather than having to brave the last minute high street dash on Christmas Eve!  Jingle Kells is back here with a little annual, last min giftspiration for the ladies in your life (*and for the men by the way, as I suggest you email this to them immediately!  Yup. You’re welcome...)

Hover and click on the items for their direct links.

Above:  There are Christmas hampers… And then there’s Not Another Bill’s Christmas Hamper. Curated by Justine Picardie, editor of Harper’s Bazaar, you couldn’t ask for a more unashamedly elegant treasure chest. The luckiest of ladies will be waking up on Christmas Day to a wooden crate at the end of their bed (stockings are sooo last year) which they will ply open with a 18ct gold-plated mini brass crowbar, to reveal eight of the most indulgent selection of pressies.  From a year’s subscription to Harpers Bazaar, to cashmere mittens, a ‘Feu De Bois’ Diptyque candle and P. Le Mount candy stripe dressing gown (worth £280.00 alone!) this is the ultimate in sophisticated, stylish spoiling. (RRP. £385.00)

Above:  'Buy to Give' this season by spoiling your loved one with jewellery that also directly helps fight against ivory poaching.  The Tembo Collection comprises seven Masai bead inspired bracelets which I designed with Auree Jewellery, and every purchase of a Satao, Pembe or Shina sees 100% of the profit go to For Rangers, a campaign in conjunction with Tusk that helps the heroes on the front line of conservation in their fight against elephant poaching across Africa.  A little fashion for good?  Now THAT's a feel good pressie.  (RRP. £50.00 - £140.00)

Above:  Customise your own (now iconic) L.K. Bennett cross-body Mariel Bag (RRP. £145.00) with pop-art inspired Printed Leather Alphabet Stickers (RRP. £19.00, below) by British artist Boyarde. I just LOVE mine.

Above:  I’ve never seen a disappointed response to someone receiving a ribboned box from Jo Malone.  Their luxurious products are sophisticated simplicity at its best, and these are some of my all time favourites. (RRP. From £14.00)

Above:  I’ve been pretty obsessed with Petalon's Instagram account for a while now (the flowers are super pretty, but MY GOD check out their dog Huxley!) and a flower subscription with them would be the bee’s knees.  Each hessian wrapped bouquet (delivered weekly, fortnightly or monthly) sees a donation of £1.00 per bunch donated to the Bee Collective, a non-profit that improves London’s landscapes for honey bees.  

Above:  Pens, make up brushes, carrots… If they fit, they’re going in one of these Pentreath Hall Alphabet Pots. Organisation just became really beautiful. How many is too many?! (RRP. £42.50)

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Above:  I display all my most colourful baskets around my flat like art (*and to also hide all the clutter), and this Aranaz Flamingo Pom Pom Bag from Beach Flamingo will be taking pride of Pom Pom place until dem'birdies and I fly south for Winter! #BeAFlamingoInAFlockOfPigeons

Above:  I am a big into pyjamas... But bigger into personalised pyjamas that are covered in pink pineapples and ethically made in Africa.  Tales of Thread pj's are hand printed by workers paid above the market wages in a safe, solar powered factory, and then air dried in the Ghanaian sunshine.  This Pineapple Ashanti Set makes the perfect attire for my ritual weekend CSI Miami Marathons... #IHeartHoratio. (RRP. £145.00)

Above: True Grace currently has a pop-up at Oxford Street’s John Lewis (until Dec 23rd) where you can have complimentary etching on the hand-blown glass holder of your candle. Inscribe the vessel of your heavenly scented candle (Amber is my favourite) with initials, a little message or a date, making this a truly bepoke and special pressie. EVERYONE loves a candle... Especially these ones! (RRP. From £28.00)

Above:  I don't know about you, but the Christmas holiday is a real opportunity for me to catch up on some much needed Zzzzzz (and not just in front of the TV with a tin of Quality Streets on my lap... Anyone else? Anyone?!)  Studio by Silent Night allows you to easily design your own bed online, choosing from an array of styles and storage options, different colour fabrics and mattress comfort, all making sure you have the most comfortable Christmas possible.  I was amazed at how easy the process was, choosing the above geometric style in a natural colour with four drawers, and the lovely delivery men set it all up for me, leaving me just to add cushions (by Elizabeth Scarlett, obviously!) Do Not Disturb... (RRP. From £499.00)

Float your collection of dreamy TINKALINK charms in their unique Locket Cases or just personalise your phone, diary, computer, etc, and make them all truly personal… I’m currently actually running out of places to stick them. The silver elephant and gold turtle are my favourites. (RRP. From £5.50)

All He Wants For Christmas 2016

Rather than resorting to making IOU voucher booklets (Ha! That ol'chestnut!) here is some TLC giftspiration which may make life a liiiittle easier over the the next few weeks... Hover over the items for direct links. 

#TLCOMP: My Sparkling Wish with Swarovski

Supermodel Miranda Kerr has collaborated with Swarovski and created a spirited collection of jewellery, each piece infused with a beautiful meaning just in time to share ‘My Sparkling Wish’ for this Christmas.  

The symbols Miranda has designed are all extremely sweet and there is definitely something which will resonate with everyone in the collection.  For me, the rose toned wings caught my eye.  It made me think of strength, of guardian Angels and the quote, ‘Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly’ came to my mind.  Regardless of how stressful a time I am having, this necklace can serve as a constant reminder of how I can get through any tough situation with some deep ol’breathing and by remembering that maybe, hopefully, there is some sort of higher power at work who’s got my back!

My rose gold toned necklace has been easily incorporated into my my wardrobe, and given its versatile elegance, it takes me from day to night with real ease, allowing me to sparkle all day long with its layered, pretty wings, regardless what I'm wearing. 

Aside from jewellery, SWAROVSKI would love to hear your sparkling wish for a loved one.  Follow @SwarovskiUK on Twitter and tweet your Christmas wish for a loved one using the hashtag #MySparklingWish and tagging @SwarovskiUK, for a chance to win a SWAROVSKI Christmas Hamper, including baubles, shimmer tea lights and pieces from the Miranda Kerr collection.  T&C apply. Good Luck!!

View Miranda Kerr's entire collection designed with SWAROVSKI HERE.

Photography:  Ella Sadika

Created in collaboration with SWAROVSKI.

Getting Christmas Ready with River Island

Just imagine HOW excited I was to be asked by River Island to pop down to their giant flagship, Oxford Street store earlier this week to curate a look worthy of the fast approaching Christmas parties.  It really it already THAT time of year!  With all the Christmas lights already sparkling on Oxford Street, I was certainly in the mood and couldn't wait to get perusing.

Narrowing down my vast array of choices in their very sleek, newly installed Parkhouse Style Studio, with a lovely stylist and some much appreciated champagne on hand, was beyond fun, and if I behaved slightly like a kid in a candy store, welllll… #SorryNotSorry!

Despite being totally tempted by the multitude of sparkles on the rails, and a gorgeous, almost structured lace black dress and toe-less boots combo (left) it was a stunning emerald toned, silky limited edition, belted trench coat which caught my eye and stole my heart, and I quickly decided that this was my must have item for the festive season, and I would work the rest of the look around it.   

Striking, yet demure, I kept it fun and festive by adding some leopard print heels (you can take the girl outta Africa…) and some lace and tie up detailing peaking through with my top and Amelie jeans - black needn’t be boring after all.    

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Accompanied with my own Nathalie Trad clutch which is never far from my side after dark, I headed to the Mondrian London’s gorgeous Rumpus Room to give the look a little pre-Christmas test run.

What do you reckon? Mission 'Christmas Party' accomplished?!  Find me under the mistletoe... Or you, know, probably the bar.

Shop TLC's Look

Photographer:  Ella Sadika

Make Up:  Charlotte Cowen

Hair:  Clo and Flo

Dolce and Gabbana's Christmas Tree at Claridge's

London’s Christmas party season kicked off this year at Claridge's, where for the second year running, Dolce and Gabbana designed the hotel’s magical Christmas Tree, and I was invited to celebrate it’s grand unveiling – all eight sparkling metres of it!  Covered in 300 hand-painted baubles, gold ribbons, and a multitude of flags, the tree was inspired by childhood memories and was surrounded by an enchanted forest.

Wearing my new Ingenue London Megan Long Sleeve Jumpsuit in navy blue velvet (RRP. £103.00) it dawned upon me that I clearly had NOT got the D&G memo… The festivally decorated lobby seemed filled with equally festively decorated ladies, all in little red lace dresses.  Move over the LBD, it’s Christmas!

Above:  Best pressie ever?  I found this teeny-weeny-eenie Woodland Fairy (a.k.a my buddy, Anna Kendrick) wrapped up in Dolce & Gabbana underneath the tree. 

Above (L-R):  Martha Ward, Christy Osbourne, Emily Johnston, TLC, Amy Williams

Above:  "Well colour me happy, there's a sofa in here for twoooo!"

Above:  Heels off, robes on and Room Service... Anna and my after-party won! 

Above:  Featuring in Grazia magazine alongside Anna Kendrick