Fashion Done Your Own

With Halloween on its way out (which makes me extremely sad), there is the joy of the festive season just around the corner. Christmas lights, subtle festive songs and colder temperatures are already sneaking their way into our lives so we might as well embrace them. I have never been the queen of organisation however I am rather fond of the whole gift giving experience; especially when it involves my family and friends. You may have been very well prepared this year and selected all your gifts already, but if you’re a little bit more like me, I hope that we can sort through this together. It is very important for me to note that Christmas can be an extremely hard time for many people and this will be true for even more families and individuals as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. There is nothing more special, in my opinion, than quality time spent with those who you love. Whether you spend it playing monopoly with the family, cuddling your best mates or just having a nice dinner and a glass of wine on your own, it should be seen as a very special occasion. As the self- proclaimed queen of shopping (yet another attempt to shield one of my pricier habits), I felt that this month’s article should be our very own “Cardiff Times Gift Guide”. I typically read these a lot once the festivities begin and yet, usually I read them far too late to actually purchase the items mentioned. This year, we are being organised together and racking our brains for the best buys that won’t break the bank. It only makes sense that I categorise my gift guide so that it doesn’t become completely confusing. I have some wonderful friends who deserve the absolute world however I can’t quite achieve that just yet so my current ideas will have to suffice. Hampers are always a great idea, especially if you have a smaller budget. Now I’m not talking about a huge champagne and cashmere filled basket, but more of a personalised collection of your friends’ favourite things. Home Bargains provide the loveliest of baskets, from a subtle grey to a vibrant baby pink; the perfect base for your gift bundle. They sell for around £4.50 - £10 depending on your chosen size. For my girlfriends, I then tend to sprint to Primark to go and get the next items as you can really rely on them for affordable, fabulous products. My typical bundle tends to contain fluffy socks, false lashes (or nails, whichever they would wear more), Christmas pjs or a nice warm blanket and then their favourite chocolate. These can be as affordable or expensive as you like and you can mix and match any gift that you think your friend would love. After my Primark stop off, Boots is always my next point of call. I usually rummage around for some body lotion, body spray or even a body scrub to finish the hamper. Once again, you can choose whether to select branded or unbranded, or you could just miss this part altogether! A little finishing touch I like to add is a few hot chocolate sachets that just neatly slot in. You can recreate this for your boyfriend, girlfriend, boy besties and even family members.

by Molly Dutton

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Christmas guide without something for your mum and the ladies in your life. This can be quite a difficult one, particularly if you want to treat them but have a smaller budget. The good thing about the current high street is that you can harness luxury for half the price which makes it a lot easier to spoil those leading ladies. I always think a candle is a good way to start. Asda have a beautiful collection of candles in luxury black and white packaging; my mum loves the pomegranate or the vanilla scent. I also do love to buy something slightly quirky when I’m looking for presents.

One of my favourite ideas, inspired by the gorgeous Stacey Solomon, is the gonk. I know you’re probably either jumping for joy right now or thinking, what on earth is a gonk? A gonk is a funny looking bearded gnome that is usually rather cuddly and cute. You can purchase these in many garden centres and stand-alone shops, usually in different themed outfits of varying colours. Maisymoogifts.co.uk sell the loveliest collection, including little versions to hang on the tree. If you have a slightly larger budget, the jewellery company Coeur-de-Lion sell the most beautiful watches to gift to your loved ones. My very own watch contains gorgeous jewels in different colours, creating a rainbow across the hours. Prior to this purchase, I had never really owned my own watch but it feels so special and individual; a present that could be cherished for a long time. This wonderful brand also produce bracelets with the same colours as the watch, creating a delicate yet fascinating combination on your wrist.

For the younger siblings, cousins or any youngsters for that matter, cuddly animals are always the way to go. Crafty as Hook, an online crotchet company on Etsy, create the most perfect crotchet gifts that can be enjoyed by all ages alike. With a great selection of big, small and keyring sized items such as bees, ghosts, elephants and vegetables (yes, you heard right), the gifts are so personal. It really does make a difference that each item is made with so much love (and they’re super affordable too)!

A final note on my first festive article of the year, and an important one; gifts for the dads, grandads and any other man that means a lot to you. A beer pump is quite literally the coolest thing you can buy as a Christmas present. Whilst it does push the budget quite a bit, it is such a worthwhile gift and can be used so often. The Phillips Perfect Draft at home beer pump is unbelievably exciting. So, don the festive hats, get the Bublé on and let’s get Christmas shopping!