I often find this time of year a bit overwhelming with the rather heavy handed retail push to buy yourself the perfect Christmas with a great pile of gifts for you and yours. I like to buy a few presents for the special people in my life, and for my children (of course).  But I also try and NOT be any where near shops for the best part of December. It is all just too panicky and crazy, and for me just sucks all the fun out of any of the joy I get from giving gifts (and I do get alot of joy from it!). So there will be no posts this year trying to find interesting ways to part you from your money, I just thought I would not even pretend that the post is for anyone but me.  These are all the things I would LOVE to find in a large, black velvet  christmas stocking at the end of my bed on Christmas morning. There is no way I will get any of it, but a girl can hope…

My Husband and I have been together for 20 years.  It is my sincere hope that this engagement ring and accompanying stacker rings by Meadow Lark will be mine about the same time we celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. I am ever optimistic.  Part of the Ritual collection, the black diamonds are used on the Hex Engagement Ring, with the Fine Geometric Rings with Stones (Arc, Flat, Point).  Sigh. Find them at meadowlark

It may be a very obvious statement, but I am not the sort of Girl who camps.  I am just not.  I am not, equally, the sort of Girl that demands five star hotels (Have you seen the prices?). But having gone to a fair amount of festivals over the years, I am just a bit past the joys of an occassional shower, rain sodden bedding and being kept awake by other noisy festival goers.  I go to Parachute each year with the Daughter, who loves staying on site and so far I have resisted all attempts.  BUT finally there is a glamping option at Parachute, and also a glamping option at Rythym and Vines as well thanks to Wildernest.  With five metre bell tents, with beds, linen and ear plugs as some of the options, as well as dedicated showers and bathrooms, charging stations and covered communal lounges.  It all sounds like a bit of me basically.  Now all I have to do is convince Santa that it is the sort of luxury that is actually essential… photographs by Paul Hoelen

M.A.C. is definitely needed in my stocking this year.  With a release of gift sets out in time for Christmas, I just love this set from Stroke of Midnight collection, with the most gorgeous clutch, a lipstick in Dark Deed, Lip Glass in Art of Seduction and a lip pencil in Vino. All are finished in a matching design which I particulary like.  I have far too many M.A.C. lipsticks that all look alike – now I will be able to find Dark Deeds whenever I want… the set is available while stocks last from all M.A.C. stores and counters.  They usually sell out quickly, and this one is especially fab. It retails for $100.

Good design to me is both beautiful and practical in equal measure.  This Is Architecture have released the most beautful evening bag, just simply called that, Evening Bag. We will be looking at the full range in detail in the new year, but for now I just have to include this divine bag just in time for the festive season.  Available from The Department Store, and Black Box, it retails for $480 and to my mind, is pretty much perfect.

I have a bit of rule with Christmas grifts for children, that my fall back position is always books.  Even if they dont think they are that fabulous when they get them, somehow books are always something that keeps on giving… the same can be said for books for grown ups, but that usually we know exactly what we want and recognise it’s value the minute we see it.  100 Contemporary Fashion Designers by Terry Jones, is just such a collection of books. The founder and creative director of i-D magazine, Terry Jones knows his stuff.  After stints with Vanity Fair, and Vogue UK he has stayed in the fashion realm but from the writing and publishing side. With a range of books released through Taschen, this is a welcome addition.

With designers from Azzedine Alaia, Ann Demueulemeester through to Stella McCartney Versace, Martin Margiela, Alexander McQueen, Yohji Yamamoto the breadth of this book is superb. This will be required reading over the holidays I feel. 100 Contemporary Fashion Designers by Terry Jones. Published by Taschen, and distributed in New Zealand by New Holland, it retails for just $49.  That a lot of design for the price…

I know that I have only just included this shot and this beautiful candle from Curio Noir in a post recently, but it is just too gorgeous to not include in this post on all things luxury.  I have said before that one of the few things that influences the way I feel about a space is obviously colour, but secondly it is the scents in the room.  I think I could possibly have a scented candle in every space in the house. I know someone who does their dishes at night to the scent and glow of candle light.  Love that… Pictured is Curio Noir in Black Spice $135 from Miss Crabbe, Simon James Concept Store or Crane Brothers.

Masutti and Matussi have popped up in Auckland, with their gorgeous take on furniture, colour and textiles. Only open until friday 20th December, you need to get in quick is you are wanting to nab a piece of their one off pieces. I love this chair for $2200. I am hoping my stocking is big enough for it to fit… The store is at located at 453 Richmond Rd, Greylynn.  If you are from out of town, try looking at all their goodness online at masutti.co.nz.  As well as furniture, the pop up has bedding, cushions and rugs as well!

When your children are small, evening attire seems to consist of something cotton and easy to wash.  At some point that phase is over and there are other options, thank God. The most divine silk option would be the For Every Minute option, with sandwashed silk in blues, reds and greys.  Where are the black options you may ask? They will be coming this winter with both silk and merino robes being added to the growning collection of perfectly tailored sleepwear. The robes are $625, but for a more wallet friendly option, there are sleep masks beautifully packaged and boxed for $55.  Available from Kirks in Wellington and online at foreveryminute.com

Linda Farrow is now exclusively stocked at Zambesi, with the full collection in their Britomart ,Auckland store and Michelle and I went to the official launch recently. These people know about luxury, with the most beautiful eyewear, shoes, bags and accessories. Here are some of the shots (taken by Michelle of course) on the evening.  I dearly want the shoes.  If only I could actually walk in heels…