50 ways to please your loved ones

Still stuck for ideas on what to get that special someone this Christmas, or indeed what to ask for in return from your special someone? Here we present 50 top ideas to take the stress out of that Christmas shopping trip…

1 The Apple iPhone
It’s hard to believe after all the build-up that Apple’s first phone has finally landed. If the anti-Jobs backlash and the cynical technology hacks have made you think twice, wait until you see one under the tree on the big day. Maybe not a phone you’d rush to buy yourself, it’s the perfect present phone. One of those surefire gifts that can’t fail. www.apple.com/uk

2 Marcello de Cartier bag
A handbag is a very personal thing; buying for someone else can be tricky. But anyone would be delighted with the Marcello de Cartier bag, made by ultra-chic jewellery and watch-maker Cartier. You can also opt for a more personalised design if you visit a Cartier boutique, specifying your own design from different skins and colours. www.cartier.com

3 Jo Malone White Jasmine and Mint
Inspired by “a sun-drenched morning in an English country garden”, this is the latest fragrance from Jo Malone. Go on, take a risk and splash out on some new perfume. At £59 for 100ml or £30 for 30ml, it’s a risk you can afford to take.
www.jomalone.co.uk

4 Dualit DAB kitchen radio
Dualit is something of an unsung British success story. Long renowned for its fabulously expensive 1950s-style toasters (originally designed to sell to the coffee bars that appeared in London around that time), it’s premium range is still manufactured in the UK. It has now made the logical move into kitchen radios. Perhaps not one for hi-fi purists, but style junkies and those in love with their Dualit toaster will be happy to splash out £179 to keep the kitchen looking cool. www.dualit.com

5 Vertu Ascent Ti
With all the hallmarks of the best car interiors, Vertu remains the ultimate in mobile phones. Yes it comes with a concierge service, but it also looks and feels great. The Ascent Ti is the latest example. The Ti is made from high-grade titanium and, as if that weren’t enough, there’s also tanned cow-hide leather and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal face. And its 3G compatible. At £3,600, it’s almost a bargain. www.vertu.com

6 Urban Mover Electric, Mountain Bike
If getting down with kids on mountain bikes appeals to someone you know, but you can’t imagine them actually exercising, then Urban Mover has the answer. The UM36 Electric Mountain Bike is perfect for those wannabe mountain bikers without the puff they once had. For £750 you’ll be leader of the pack and not break a sweat. www.urbanmover.com

7 Diamond De Neige by Harry Winston
Inspired by falling snow, you can expect your stock to rise considerably, should a loved one unwrap one of these on Christmas day. With prices starting at £2,000, the gorgeous range includes pendants, rings, earrings and necklaces.
www.harrywinston.com

8 Yohji Yamamoto Stormy Weather for Mikimoto
Mikimoto, famous for its cultured pearls, has teamed up with Yohji Yamamoto to create its new Stormy Weather collection. Splash out on the £30,000 necklace made of 28 white gold discs, each one holding a pearl, representing the 28 phases of the moon.
www.mikimoto.co.uk

9 Yummy England Chocolate Buttons
For kids of whatever age who simply can’t imagine Christmas without chocolate, these festive flavour boxes are ideal. Each box is a snip at £7.50.
www.harveynichols.com

10 Space.NK
Whether you go for the own label range or something more fancy, it’s hard to go wrong.
www.spacenk.co.uk

11 Acqua di Parma
Forget the big-name revolutionary gels. There’s no smoother shave than the classic Acqua di Parma Collezione Barbiere shaving cream. www.acquadiparma.com

12 La Prairie Skin Caviar
For the ultimate in luxury skincare, try La Prairie’s caviar range. To celebrate 20 years in business, it has got Swarovski to create a limited-edition jewel-encrusted box. Yes, that’s £1,400 for a face cream. 
www.harrods.com

13 Marco Pierre White for Russell Hobbs
It’s hard to turn on the TV these days without a celebrity chef swearing at you. Some may not want reminding of this when they enter their own kitchen, but for those who want more, this range of gadgets developed for Russell Hobbs with Hell’s Kitchen’s Marco Pierre White features some decent kit, including a 3-in-1 hand blender for under £50. There is also a full set of pans available.
www.russellhobbs.co.uk

15 Care by Stella McCartney
Show the woman you love that you also love the world, with the help of Stella McCartney’s new organic skincare range, Care. Billed as offering “everything your skin needs and nothing it doesn’t”, the range includes moisturising creams, cleansing tonics and a collection of elixirs. It may not make you any younger, but it will make you feel good.
www.stellamccartneycare.com/uk

16 Halo 3 for X-Box
One of the most hotly anticipated video games for some time. Get your hands on a copy of this game for the X-Box 360 and it will keep the kids in your house—both young and old—quiet for most of the Christmas break. What do mean you want to go out for a walk? www.halo3.com

17 Bald Guyz grooming range
Not everyone will thank you for reminding them that their hairline has seen better days, but this specially formulated range of grooming products for bald heads (or headz) includes moisturisers, shaving gel, quick-drying suncream and head wipes.
www.baldguyz.com

18 Paul Smith socks
Along with handkerchiefs and aftershave, socks are the sort of gift that gave Christmas morning a bad name. Dads across the land would prepare their fixed “surprised and delighted” grins as they got ready to open another unimaginative display from their kids. Now, thanks to the likes of Sir Paul Smith and his stripy or flowery delights, it’s no longer a sin to buy socks. With prices from £14 a pair, it’s an affordable luxury.
www.paulsmith.co.uk

19 Auto Union Grand Prix Pedal Car
With all the fuss about cars and climate change, here’s a car that will keep car enthusiasts and eco-warriors happy. OK, so this Auto Union Grand Prix car is a pedal car, but it’s the ideal gift for the boy racer under five foot tall. With only 999 being made, it will be a Christmas gift to remember for years. Orders through your local Audi dealership.  www.audi.co.uk

20 Pure EcoPlus DAB Radios
While Pure has long had a firm grasp on the UK’s DAB radio market, making several of the most respected radios in all classes, this year it has also cast an eye to the environment, with most of its products re-engineered to use less energy and packaging. Look out for the eye-catching tree motif and EcoPlus logo. Saving the planet has never sounded so good.
www.pure.com/ecoplus

21 Cardboard furniture by Giles Miller
If you’re buying for an environmental warrior with a sense of high style, then young designer Giles Miller may have just the thing. Already known as the “King of Cardboard”, Miller’s stunning sculptural cardboard designs—he designs and makes everything from handbags to stools and chairs—make a statement and global sense, too. Check out his Flute Side Table for evidence. www.farmdesigns.co.uk

22 Eva Solo oil and vinegar carafes
No foodie’s kitchen is complete without something decent with which to dress a salad. These solid and stylish designs from Danish duo Henrik Holbaek and Claus Jensen operating under under the Eva Solo brand, allow you to drizzle and pour drip-free to your heart’s content. Better still, fill them with homemade flavoured oils.  www.evasolo.com

23 An orchid
There’s something delicate, exquisite and exotic about an orchid. It’s the perfect metaphor for love. So why not send that message with a pre-potted orchid, such as a Miltonia or the Slipper orchid? Time it right and the plant will just be ready to bloom. Better still, follow the care instructions and it will keep flowering.
www.orchid.org.uk

24 Foyle’s Philavery
Christmas is the natural time to bury yourself in a book. It’s also become the season of quirky reference books. This year’s is a collection of unusual words put together by Christopher Foyle, chairman of the eponymous bookshop. An essential for Scrabble fans.

26 Patek Philippe Chronograph with Perpetual Calendar
If you believe the ads, he’s keeping it for the next generation, so it’s fitting that Patek’s stunning new grand complication is such a classic, with heirloom appeal written all over it.
www.patek.com

27 Penfolds Icon and Luxury Gift Box
How long will it be before the collective “new world” wine-makers outside of Europe win equal billing with their European rivals? Doing its bit to hasten that day is Aussie wine maker Penfolds, whose premium wines are as highly sought after as the best of Bordeaux. This gift set brings together six Penfold classics in a two-tier gift set. From the Grange Shiraz 1997 to Magill Estate Shiraz 2003, everyone is a cracker and it’s well worth the £450.
www.waitrosewine.com

28 Denon AH-D5000 Heaphones
It may not be the most sociable of pastimes, but is there anything more relaxing than listening to music you love through a decent stereo on a great pair of headphones in your favourite comfy chair? While Japanese firm Denon is more widely known for providing the stereo, these gorgeous looking and great sounding headphones will make any music buff smile.
www.denon.co.uk

29 A trip on the Orient Express
The autumn’s Marks & Spencer womenswear advertising campaign features the company’s models on a girl’s trip onboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. It is a timely reminder that this long-established and stately mode of transport is still running and is as much fun as ever. Why not whisk someone special off early in spring 2008?
www.orient-express.com

30 Caudalie Vinothérapie
Ever wondered what it would be like to bathe in wine? It may sound a little extreme, but this wonderful range of grape-based cosmetics shows it is possible. From a Merlot shower gel to a Cabernet scrub, it’s always a good year. 
www.spacenk.co.uk

31 Disgo Video
Are you keeping up with the YouTube generation? Or are you looking to buy for a Web 2.0 junkie? Either way, this slim, low-cost digital camcorder (it’s under £40) is the perfect way to record special occasions and then get them onto the World Wide Web for everyone to see within minutes.
www.mydisgo.com

32 Panasonic Strada portable navigation system 
Yes, it’s “satnav” to you or me. But Panasonic is determined to emphasise the portability of the lightweight Strada CN-GP50N. The first of a range of “portable navigation devices” due for launch in the UK, this one fits easily in your pocket, so you need never be lost, whether you’re driving or on foot.
www.panasonic.co.uk

33 The Macallan in Lalique Natural Decanter
For many people, whisky is an integral part of the Christmas tradition. And sales of the UK’s biggest selling spirit soar at this time of year. Some whisky demands the attention of a connoisseur. This one is the result of a partnership between The Macallan and Lalique (famous for its beautiful glassware) and has resulted in this unusual and striking decanter.
www.themacallan.com

34 Lyric—the boardgame
If Christmas Day is about anything other than eating and drinking too much, it is about families gathered round boardgames arguing. Before you reach for the old faves, why not try out Lyric? Featuring lyrics from well known songs, it’s a sort of karaoke Trivial Pursuits. Available in all good toy shops.

35 Harvey Nichols Hamper 
Hampers can be a disappointing collection of random and obscure items relegated to the back of the cupboard. One way round that is to throw money at your hamper. A top of the range Harvey Nichols number, for example, costs £1,500, but then it’s an entire Christmas in one go. It includes nine bottles of wine, an El Bulli cookbook, a knife block and a set of seven Wüsthof knives.
www.harveynichols.com

36 Epson Stylus Photo R1900
For the amateur photographer, there’s nothing quite like seeing a picture in a large format. This Epson is just the job. It’s able to handle a wide range of media up to A3 size and has Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss2 ink technology. All for under £400.
www.epson.co.uk

37 Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac
For the cognac connoisseur, few experiences match the silky joy of Rémy Martin’s most famous Louis XIII, except perhaps a bottle of the limited edition Louis XIII Black Pearl, with an even more refined flavour.
www.remy.com

38 Champagne
There’s nothing like bubbles in a glass to set off a celebration. If you’re looking for one to drink, then try Champagne Vilmart Rosé (www.oliverandbird.co.uk). If it’s a gift to impress someone special, then it’s worth going for Laurent Perrier’s Grand Siecle gift set. With ice bucket and two Laurent-Perrier glasses, it costs £148. www.fortnumand mason.com

39 Triumph motorbike prints
Created by artist Andreas Williams and signed by him and Triumph’s owner, John Bloor, these limited edition (500) pop-art style prints are the perfect gift for the bike lover in your life. Based on two of Triumph’s most iconic models, the Rocket III and the Speed Triple, they are available now for just £200 from Triumph dealers.
www.triumph.co.uk

40 Watering Can Design Garden Radio
The perfect way to keep the gardener in the family entertained as they prune and weed.
www.greenfingers.com

41 A balloon trip
Sir Richard Branson may have put some people off the idea of ballooning for life, but you don’t need to race around the world to enjoy a balloon trip. A gentle morning or evening flight over the English countryside—or better still, the Serengeti—is the sort of experience people remember for a lifetime. www.virginballoonflights.co.uk

42 Want Les Essentiels de la Vie De Gaulle Bag
You may feel that the special one in your life already has an unhealthily close relationship with their laptop, but if it’s inevitable that the two must be joined at the hip, they may as well look stylish. This gorgeous laptop carrier in “burnt henna” brown leather will make them the envy of the boardroom and executive jet set. www.wantessentials.com

43 Flying Lessons
Somewhere deep in most men (and many women) of a certain age lurks a desire to don helmet and goggles and take to the skies. Unleash your inner pilot—but first, take some lessons. www.cabair.com

44 BFI membership
Was there a golden age of British film? What is the best film ever made? Are actors today better than they used to be? If you know someone who loves film-making from Kurosawa to Kubrick, then membership to the British Film Institute is a must. Gift membership starts at £20 and provides movie buffs with exclusive discounts and early access to festivals and screenings.
www.bfi.org.uk

45 C5 Malvern Aviator by Christopher Ward
At last there’s someone who understands that the desire for a well made, mechanical watch is not always matched by bottomless funds. Christopher Ward makes great quality watches, but by limiting distribution to those prepared to buy through his own website, Ward has dispensed with many of the traditional distribution and marketing costs associated with the bigger brands. Hence this lovely, limited edition automatic watch is just £175.
www.christopherward.co.uk

46 Emeyu White Tea Library
For tea snobs, a selection of fine white teas is the perfect little luxury. This “tea library” includes four carefully chosen blends of white tea (Organic Pai Mu Tan, Xue Long, Flying Crane and Leaping Tiger). Beautifully presented in a specially designed gift box, this will get the tea fans running for the kettle. £45.
www.harveynichols.com

47 Screwpull LM400
There’s nothing that beats a good gadget, except perhaps a well designed gadget that makes opening wine bottles easier and quicker. The LM400 from Screwpull is the perfect opener for the gadget-lover. Best of all it’s guaranteed to open all those synthetic and plastic “corks” as well as the real things.
www.screwpull.co.uk

48 Leica C-Lux 2
There’s just something about the name Leica that gets photography fans drooling. While the serious photographers will be interested in more heavyweight kit, sometimes a quick snap is all you need. And they don’t get much better than this one. From it’s smart, leather case to the quality of the lens, the 7.2 megapixel C-Lux 2 just smacks of quality and at just £420, it won’t break the bank.
www.leica.co.uk
 
49 Tannoy i30 iPod docking station
This may not be the most feature-laden of iPod docks, but its simplicity is its strength. It does everything we’ve come to expect of a dock (charging the iPod while it’s playing, allowing you to watch videos through a TV screen and synchronising with your iTunes library). But most important of all, thanks to high-quality Tannoy build, it offers great sound for just £250.
www.tannoy-speakers.com

50 A visit to a spa
Is there anyone who doesn’t like to be pampered? Whether it’s high-style hydrotherapy in Miami or Ayurvedic pampering in the Maldives, there’s no better gift for a sybarite than a voucher from Spa Finder, which lists details of spas and their treatments globally. Valid at almost 4,000 spas around the world, whoever you give it to will be spoiled for choice, if nothing else.
www.spafinder.com