Jess Cartner-Morley’s Christmas gift guide: 31 ideas, chosen by our fashion expert

Angelina Jolie once bought Brad Pitt a California waterfall for Christmas. Another time, she got him a 200-year-old olive tree for their estate in Provence as a Valentine’s gift. I guess she set the bar pretty high when she bought him Ernest Hemingway’s actual typewriter as a wedding gift.

Anecdotally, this does not suggest that gift-giving is a guarantee of a happy marriage, so maybe don’t sweat your beloved’s pressie too much. However, I do love the treasure hunt of Christmas shopping, and a wrapping session with a good podcast or two. Here’s what I’ve got my sights on this year …

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Jess Cartner-Morley’s favourite Christmas presents for 2025

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Miraculous makeup

Miracle Blur

£28 at Trinny London £28 at John Lewis

Pass on a beauty secret for Christmas. This little pop of Miracle Blur from Trinny London fills in lines to smooth skin under makeup.

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On the button

Embellished V-neck cardigan

£46 at M&S

I’ve had my eye on this for a while. Glam, useful and could pass for Very Posh Indeed.

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Making it personal

Personalised notecards, set of 10

£17.85 at Papier

A set of notecards with your friend’s name and address on is a gift that says: you are a classy person. This simple wavy trim works for any kind of message.

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Ear and now

Egg ear cuffs

£42 at Helena Rohner

I happen to know that the Guardian’s fashion editor Morwenna Ferrier has these on her wishlist. Chic, minimal ear cuffs are hard to find.

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Take a bow

Embroidered napkins

£12.99 at H&M

Unless you are certain they’ll love it, don’t give a home gift they need to rearrange their mantelpiece around. Napkins are a classy gift and can be tucked in a drawer.

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Tree’s company

Croissant Christmas tree bauble

£16 at Ustudio

I love a gift that can go from under the tree to on it. A personal bauble is sweet: maybe a croissant from Vondels for the friend you holidayed in France with?

For more, read our guide to this year’s best Christmas baubles

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Heart to heart

Marbled resin earrings

£65 at Octobre Editions £65 at Sézane

I’m a sucker for anything heart-shaped, and these earrings, which also come in gold, are a joy.

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Leave sleeves behind

Chunky-knit waistcoat

£24 at Next £35.99 at Mango

A knit waistcoat is cosy, great for layering without sleeve bulk, and makes every outfit look modern. I love the colour and the buttons.

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Lip service

Gisou honey-infused lip oil

£24 at Gisou £24 at Selfridges

Cult in-the-know lip oil that teens and grownups alike will love.

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Bottle it

Lamb’s wool hot-water bottle cover

£46 at Glassette

There’s nothing comforting about a ratty, old hot-water bottle. Just because no one else sees it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a nice thing.

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Ts me

Aries temple T-shirt

£80 at Aries

The most IYKYK T-shirt on planet fashion. Buy to impress the coolest person on your list.

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Just their type

Penguin clothbound classics

£15.29 at the Guardian Bookshop From £9.99 at Waterstones

These beautiful hardbacks make a gorgeous gift for godchildren. Buy a classic for every Christmas and birthday and build them a little library.

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Pooch attire

Bella Freud dog jumper

£25 at M&S

Everyone deserves a Bella Freud slogan knit, including your canine bestie.

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Tray good

Star ice cube tray

£2 at Dunelm

Perfect for a Baileys on ice.

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Track trend

Adidas Classics track top

£65 at Adidas £65 at Next

Iconic. Everyone should have one.

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A glass act

Chanel compact mirror

£35 at Harvey Nichols

Who wouldn’t be thrilled with a gift from Chanel? A regular mirror, and a magnifying one.

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Hole lotta love

Love heart colander

£12.95 at Vierra Living Co £14.95 at Amazon

Again, I can’t resist a heart. This colander is a useful gift that will make the cook smile as they’re draining pasta.

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Fortunate hair

Tarot card hair clip

€37.97 (about £33.16) at Solar Eclipse

For the gen Z-er in your life, because they love anything a bit woo-woo and they love a claw clip. Hand-painted in biodegradable cellulose acetate.

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Tap into this

Ceramic reusable bottle

£34.99 at Frank Green £34.99 at Amazon

Melanie Wilkinson, our stylist supremo, who is very up on hydration chic, recommends this. You can mix and match the lid and bottle colours, which is fun.

For more, read our guide to the best water bottles

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Green with envy

Pistachio panettone

£28.95 at Lina Stores

I love panettone and I love pistachio, so this one is a win-win. And the pretty packaging is its own festive wrapping.

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Fashion desk-approved hoops

Chunky hoop earrings

£25 at Arket

No one knows their way around a gold hoop better than our very own Lauren Cochrane, who recommends these.

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Every second counts

Gold Casio analogue watch

£65 at House of Fraser £64 at Amazon

We all want to look at our phones less, right? V chic to wear a watch. I bought my son one of these, and it looks so great on him.

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Spectacular show

Corduroy glasses case

£22 at Oliver Bonas

Nice versions of the things you handle all the time – glasses case, keyring, wallet – are life’s real luxury. This case is delightful.

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Winter in warmth

Barn jacket

£149 at Barbour

This season’s must-have is a barn jacket, and Barbour still does them best.

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The prettiest knickers

High-waist knickers

£36 at Dora Larsen

Lovely knickers are a nice treaty gift for a friend. Dora Larsen underwear is my favourite because it comes in the most delicious colours.

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Dessert life

Sundae cup

£5.62 at Nisbets £5.51 at Amazon

Deputy fashion editor Chloe Mac Donnell reports that these metal coupes, filled with ice-cream – or whipped butter, for extra points – are at all the cool fashion parties right now.

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Pop ya collar

Merino knit polo shirt

£34.90 at Uniqlo

Knitted polo shirts are big news at Dior and Prada this season, but this budget-friendly version is pretty much perfect. I like the men’s one for women, too.

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Heaven scent

Luxury bath salts

£7 at Ortigia Sicilia

Ortigia Sicilia has the most heavenly packaging. A travel-size envelope of delicious-smelling bath salts is such a perfect little treat.

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Bathroom bliss

Tiger hand towel

£18 at Anthropologie

A snazzy hand towel is a welcome instant bathroom upgrade, especially at the time of year when you’re most likely to have guests.

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Diamonds are forever

Diamond-knit belted cardigan

£35.99 at Zara

Just preppy enough to be perfect. This one is on my personal wishlist.

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Waffle on

Men’s pyjama bottoms

£35 at Chelsea Peers £35 at Next

Lots of men don’t wear pyjama sets, but they do wear pyjama bottoms. These waffle cotton ones are a really nice upgrade.

For more:
• The best Christmas gifts for 2025
• The best 90s Christmas gifts
• The best home gifts: inspiring ideas for Christmas and beyond

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Christmas shopping can be tough – so we spent months finding the perfect presents for everyone on your list. We selected the best products from our testing; enlisted babies, kids and teenagers to find out what they really wanted; and sniffed, tasted and tested the good, the bad and the ugly to bring you 305 genuinely brilliant gifts.

Explore Christmas gifts