Saturday Shopping: Living South Resident's Christmas Gift Guide

Lawrence Roullier White was delighted to be asked to compile a Christmas Gift Guide based on our weekly local and independent shopping blog for Living South Resident. Following is an edited version of the three page article. 

Christmas shopping does not have to be stressful, in fact if you chose to shop locally from our plethora of independent, speciality shops it can be rather fun; explore your neighbourhood, have a gossip, pick up some tips along the way and do your bit to help the local economy. So rather than reaching for the mouse, have a go at leaving the house: you won’t have far to go; as Lawrence Roullier White discovers, it’s all on our doorstep.

Honor Oak, Forest Hill and Sydenham

Nilou and Terry’s Jumping Bean is packed with elegant interior additions that would not out of place in any home; all beautifully displayed in their uncluttered retail environment. A three pronged crystal candle holder, £32.50, is destined to become an heirloom piece, whilst I have seen paperweights similar to their bug one, £13.50, for 5 times the price in a London department store. I love the boho chic of the string of 20 LED Kasbah lights, £37.50, ideal for a modern tree or as a centrepiece in a glass vase or bowl.

Becca Leathlean imports an array of Andalucian products for her gorgeous little shop, Alhambra Home. Her stunning encaustic tiles can be bought by the square metre for stylish renovation projects, but starting at around £4.99 each they make rather smart trivets. Beautiful hand painted bowls by Matthew Weir, who also works out of Andalucía, start at £15.99.

Museum shops are always worth a visit and the shop at the Horniman is great for horticultural gifts. Snail traps at £9.50 will be gratefully received by all gardeners and seeds at £1.25 make splendid stocking-fillers. The rose arch, £150, will add grace to any garden.

Cyrus and Pascale’s Stag and Bow is one of my favourite shops, the uniquely inspired collection of practical haberdashery requisites, handmade craft items and found vintage things means you will always find something to delight. From framed Arthurian bookplates to crotcheted collars and jewellery by artisan makers, the stock is ever changing, which means more reason to go back!

Ayshin Demirci‘s Bunka is full of the fun and unexpected; a bowler hat salt and pepper set, £5.95, is perfect for a city slicker, a patriotic map-shaped Brit bowl, £24.95, will add dash to any drinks party and you can have fun spelling things out with mini-votive monogram candles, £6.95 each.

Dulwich

Karen Orchard’s Karavan Eco Home is a brilliant, well-stocked, one-stop-shop for stocking-fillers and secret Santa gifts. Adult bamboo socks are 3 for £10 (children’s 4 for £10), recycled tyre wallets are £10 and storage jars, to fill with treats, start at just £3. Gorgeous Syrian savon d’Alep guest soaps are £7.50 per box.

Forgo the flowers, for which the recipient has to find vase, or the wine, which your host might feel obliged to open and spoil a carefully paired menu, food items make great dinner party gifts. At Franklin’s Farm Shop Prestat chocolates start at £9.45, limoncello is £24.95 and pretty England Preserves are £3.75. At East Dulwich Deli Rosy Lee London tea is £5 per tin – try the Royal Mint – and local Dulwich honey is a must at just £4.50 a jar.

Buying jewellery can be a worry as it is so personal, but Nina Christie’s elegant and understated designs guarantee almost universal appeal. Prices start at around £20 for a pair of semi-precious sterling silver earrings, Nina is always on hand to offer expert advice and guidance.

Jane Newbery has a carefully curated collection of gift items. Perfect for Christmas; her Illumens’ clementine scented candle, £19.95, comes in a red flock box and the Bluebellgray willow pattern make-up bag, £42, would be gratefully received by any woman I know. 

The Dulwich Trader in West Dulwich, Tomlinson’s in Dulwich Village and Ed’s in East Dulwich are always worth a visit, this time of the year each is over-flowing with fantastic gift ideas and it would be a challenge to leave empty handed. Ed’s is modern and funky, Tomlinson’s has the urban country feel of a New England boutique whilst the Dulwich Trader is popular for it vintage inspired collections. The three shops are owned and run by locals Dan Rigby and Katharine Maclaverty; www.rigbyandmac.com

Browsing in a bookshop cannot be beaten, you are bound to stumble across titles of which you had never heard and subjects in which you never realised you were interested. Luckily we have many excellent ones. Village Books is particularly good for travel and biographies, Dulwich Books is great for science, political and economic reads, Chener Books is brilliant for local history and I always find truly wonderful coffee table books in Rye Books, where Alistair is expert in unearthing the unusual. I buy all my friends’ children vouchers for Rye Books each Christmas as I believe they should be encouraged to visit bookshops.

Herne Hill

Vicky Brown’s Just Williams Toys is a brilliant local resource. Priced from the pocket-money upwards it is Godsend at anytime of the year, particularly Christmas. I like their Buttonbag craft kits; £19.99 for a knitting set in a handy carry-case and Makedo imaginative play sets, £11.99 each.

White Feather is a fashionable clothing store which stocks a rather nice line of recycled jewellery by Twisted Vintage. Pieces are created from obsolete necklaces, bracelets and brooches by Caroline Clark & Brigitte Jones and mixed in with found items, such as antique buttons, to great and dramatic effect.

Gerty’s Gumballs is an old fashioned sweet shop, also selling sodas and ice creams. Bags of old-fashioned sweets are just £2 each whilst mini-jar versions are £5. Joe and Seph gourmet popcorn is £3.50 a bag. I am reminded of the American tradition of stringing threaded popcorn around the Christmas tree; a bit of a high risk strategy if you are using the delicious Joe and Seph variety.

The Society for the Protection of Unwanted Objects is the most lovely named shop on the planet (alongside a kiosk I saw on an Indian railway station which was grandly and oxymoronically monikered; The Departmental Stall), there is no point listing the ever changing second-hand items but it is heartening to know that the once loved can find love again.

I love; I Love Lowie, Bronwyn Lowenthal’s vintage inspired designs are what makes British fashion great; eccentric, fun, whimsical and wearable. Alongside the gorgeous garments sits a selection of accessories; purses made from vintage silk scarves, £18, earrings made from old buttons, £7, Turkish socks for lounging at home, £20, and own brand berets, £42, and gloves, from £38.

Do call into the award-winning children’s bookshop, Tales on Moon Lane, which has just reopened after the disastrous floods in August.