Ho Ho Ho ! Stylish Gifts For Gentlemen That Don't Break The Bank!

Ho Ho Ho ! Stylish Gifts For Gentlemen That Don't Break The Bank!  Christmas is still a very big holiday for us Brits and frankly we deserve it! We don't have the big summer holidays of other Europeans, we don't have Thanksgiving or all the Saint's Days and we work very hard so the protracted 2 weeks at the end of the year is most welcome!  I think that the trials and tribulations of modern life do impact our capacity to enjoy the festive season each year and when the going has been particularly tough it is harder to appreciate the benefits. But Christmas does bring so many wonderful things; a sense of history and tradition, the opportunity to bring joy to others and a chance to catch up with family and friends who we may have neglected due to a punishing work schedule or simply geography. This year I am really looking forward to the holiday which will be spent in London with my mother, sister and close friends  - we have booked Christmas lunch at an outstanding Indian restaurant and my mum will be dining on Turkey Tikka with roasted chestnuts and fig-stuffed butternut squash dumplings, so we are feeling very edgy and adventurous! I am also looking forward to helping our customers find the perfect gifts for their nearest and dearest and making the process exciting and rewarding rather than stressful. I love buying people presents as a little bit of thought goes a very long way and so this week I want to suggest a few very special products that will delight the recipient and, importantly, not break the bank. While it is no secret that I do love a little luxury this does not necessarily mean expensive and when we have multiple presents to purchase it is important to keep one's eyes on the purse strings and get creative!  So here are my top 10 gifts for him ( and next week for her) that are all under £30 - they are beautifully constructed, have interesting stories behind them and look a lot more costly than they are - a rare thing these days! Gifts For Gentlemen Shop Now - Lambswool Scarf - £28 1 . Green Check Lambswool Scarf - £28   Woven in Ireland on the banks of the river Moy at a mill established in 1892, this is a beautiful scarf that will work with grey and navy coats for work and with jeans and jumpers at the w/e. It also comes in a very smart box so it is easy to wrap and looks impressive! Shop Now - Card Holder - £13 2. Italian Nappa Leather Credit Card Holder - £13   As we move towards a cash-free society  - and I must say that I still marvel at simply waving a credit card at a machine! - I am trying to reduce the number of cards that I carry. A bulging wallet ruins the line of a good suit and is uncomfortable to sit on if housed in a back trouser pocket. The answer is to select just 7 cards, including driving licence, and carry them in this very smart, handcrafted, card case. It has one deep, bank note pocket for cash. Available in black with a silk lining and a dashing, red racing stripe, it also comes in a tissue wrapped gift box. Shop Now - Bamboo Socks - £9.95 3. Bamboo Socks - £9.95  Socks do not need to be dull and are an excellent present. These babies are knee-length (calf-length socks are now considered a little passé!), warm, good for the environment and a percentage of profits go to saving the giant panda so what's not to love? Invest in the spotted socks with contract heel and toe in either orange and navy or bergundy and blue. The colours work will with blue and grey trousers and jeans and the brights bits are hidden but he knows that they are there! Very stylish indeed and one size fits all. Shop Now - After Shave Balm - £15.95 4. Proraso Aftershave Balm in Azul Lime - £18.50 This lovely Italian Barbers was founded in 1908 and I adore their grooming products. Aftershave balm is essential for maintaining a healthy  complexion as it calms and moisturises after shaving. The zesty lime scent is an added bonus and the packaging is fantastic! If the gentleman is, like me, bearded, then they also have a Beard Oil to soften and condition the hair in the same fragrance for £12.50! Shop Now - Wool Fat Soap - £10 5. Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap -  £10 for three soaps boxed   Apparently sheep shearers never want for a date because they have the softest hands in the world! This is because of the lanolin that coats the sheep's fleece and here its tremendous skin-softening powers have been harnessed by a wonderful Yorkshire company that has been making this soap since the 1930's. It makes skin amazingly soft, has a lovely light fragrance and it is particularly soothing for sensitive skins. Shop Now - Architecte Wisky Glass - £11.50 for two 6. 'Architect' Whisky Glasses - £11.50 for two  These are sophisticated and modern and although created for Whiskey they will suit any of his favourite tipples.  The sculpted, architectural design is iconic and suitable for modern men with a taste for the finer things! There is a gorgeous Decanter and Ice Bucket to match so the set can be added to on his birthday! Shop Now - Long Strech Board - £30 7. Long Stretch Chopping Board in English Oak - £30  I am a big believer in second chances and therefore am pleased to have the opportunity to work with one of HM Prisons which offers educational courses in carpentry to those that have paid their debt and are about to re-enter society. We have invested in a collection of their wonderful chopping/carving boards and the money helps to fund the programme and pay the wages which in turn gives the men a sense of self-worth where perhaps it was lacking. The products have tongue-in-cheek names to make you smile with more than a hint of Ronnie Barker! Chunky and handsome this is the perfect gift for gentlemen that love to cook and also an opportunity to do something kind at Christmas. Shop Now - Agua de Colonia Concentrada - £25.00 8. Agua de Colonia Concentrada by Alveraz Gomez - £25  This is a classic cologne dating from 1912 and is still made by the same family in Madrid.  Agua de Colonia Concentrada is a clean and fresh fragrance, enhanced with carefully chosen essences of Mediterranean plants, flowers and fruit. An original combination of Spanish lavender, lemon, geranium, eucalyptus, and essential oils of rosemary, thyme, English lavender, and bergamot, Aqua de Colonia Concentrada by Alvarez Gomez is a delightful fragrance that is fresh and fun, yet full of tradition.  Shop Now - Hierbas De Ibiza - Luxury Bath Salts - £30 9. Hierbas de Ibiza Bath Salts - £30 Yes we like bath salts! These are fantastic, packaged in a very masculine bottle and Roullier White carry them exclusively in the UK!  The fragrance builds upon traditional citrus notes with a herbacious middle to create a unique accord that will be familiar to anyone who has ever walked in the hills of Ibiza during high summer. Orange, Lemon, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage and Geranium make a bath incredibly uplifting. Shop Now - Ceramic Mug - £16 10. Handmade, extrawide striped mug -  £16 I got this idea from a customer who wanted something for her husband to drink from at work that was his and his alone! I love this idea - most of us drink coffee and tea at work and it is nice to have something stylish to call one's own. These mugs are actually from the UK although I think that they look French. We have fantastic colours to choose from but my favourite is the grey which I think looks architectural. This is a nice gift as he will think of you every day when enjoying his coffee! There - I hope that I have inspired? I will bring you some great idea's for the women in your life next week and then it will be the infamous 'Priest's Hat's' the following week! The time flies - I cannot believe that it will be December then! I spent last night judging a photography competition and the winners will have their pictures adorning the lamposts of Lordship Lane next year. I was blown away by the talent of local people - their kindness and appreciation of their environment shone through and it was a real privilege to be involved. Maybe it's the season but I felt quite misty! Have a super w/e, Michaelx