There’s no better time than the festive season to indulge your inner shopaholic – you are buying for others, after all. However, the quest of finding stylish, thoughtful tokens of affection for everyone in your life can easily overwhelm even the most discerning consumer. Behold, our expert-curated list of the top gifts – all of which have been personally vetted – that are sure to make every recipient on your list glow. Whether they’re a beauty junkie, a self-proclaimed chef or a cosy queen, we’ve got you (and them) covered. ‘Tis the season to be jolly – and generous!
For your caffeine-loving friends
Just your regular mugs? No way! Whether the coffee drinker in your life can’t start their day without a cup (or two) or they love to enjoy a cappuccino with dessert, they’ll cherish Mervyn Gers Glazed Stoneware Flare Mugs for years to come. These 350ml mugs are all about hands – handmade in Cape Town, with glossy ceramic bodies that allure your hands into holding them tight. Microwave and dishwasher safe, they’d be just as at home in a rustic cottage as in a modern apartment. There’s also a joy in mixing things up – choose a few colours, like Fynbos, Ostrich and Rockpool.
R279 each from Mervyn Gers Ceramics and Yuppiechef
For cooks and foodies
Food gifts are arguably the best gifts. For something that looks as good as it tastes, the new La Motte Estate Blend Olive Oil is one your culinary-inclined giftee will happily show off. Neutral in flavour with a light, peppery kick, this extra-virgin olive oil uses a mix of Frantoio, Coratina, FS 17 and Calamata olives harvested from the estate’s own groves. It pairs beautifully with overripe nectarines, alongside burrata and with a crusty baguette. Best of all, you can leave the dark-green glass bottle out to refill a dipping bowl or drizzle over a salad since it basically doubles as decor.
R350 from the La Motte Farm Shop
For the hostess with the mostest
The unofficial job of festive season hostess is one of the toughest out there. So, what do you get the woman who generously poured her time into making sure everyone has an unforgettable celebration? The Harck & Heart Christmas Collection Gift Jar will put an instant smile on her face – and secure you a second invitation. These gingerbread cookies – decorated with white royal icing and beautifully presented in a glass jar – are perfect for gift-giving, bringing to a Christmas cookie swap or serving at a holiday party. Guaranteed to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
R315 from Harck & Heart
For the high-end homebody
Of course, Terres d’Afrique makes sustainable, eco-friendly skincare. But if you’re looking to give a luxurious home fragrance gift that doubles as a chic conversation piece, the Terres d’Afrique Moroccan Gardens Reed Diffuser checks the box perfectly. Notes of cypress, bergamot, neroli and wild peppermint essential oils come together for a premium natural scent that’s invigorating, but also comforting. Another one of our favourites? The fresh green Fynbos Crush Home Spray. The amber glass bottle and rose gold top gorgeously decorate any sink.
R1,504 and R1,062 respectively from Terres d’Afrique
For those who consider “rosé all day” a way of life
Whether you’re shopping for your favourite “yes way, rosé”-er or a pink wine devotee yourself, this fun rosé is an essential at any summertime soirée. The Annabelle Cuvée Rosé Sparkling Wine is refreshingly effervescent with a zippy tang and fruit-forward sweetness. The blend of Muscat d’Alexandrie and Pinotage grapes has notes of tropical fruit and a hint of strawberry, raspberry, litchi and spice that beg to be sipped while taking in the summer breeze. We recommend pairing this full-flavoured fizz with smoked salmon blinis or breakfast in bed.
R99 from KWV, Checkers, Makro, Norman Goodfellows and Mothercity Liquor
For your travel-obsessed bestie
We all have that friend: The person who sneaks a lunch date in with you between trips to Dubai or Mykonos (was she hitting up the Seychelles this summer?). Give the globe-trotter in your life something to suit their wanderlust – enter these Thandana Travel Pods. It’s no surprise their packing cubes are highly rated (and also highly cute!). This set comes with six different sizes – some with mesh-view panels – and is available in 25 fun prints, so you get a lil spark of joy when you unzip your suitcase. The mesh also adds ventilation, which helps your clothes breathe.
R879 from Thandana Bags
For the beauty buff who’s tried it all
Your mind might immediately jump to makeup products and fragrance sets, but lately, exciting new hair-care releases have become more and more enticing. Harnessing the power of fermented pink camellia oil, the salon-worthy NUXE Hair Prodigieux Intensive Repair Hair Mask and Detangling Leave-In Hair Milk are crucial essentials for amazing hair. This rich mask is designed to act as a repairing treatment to rehydrate and replenish dry, brittle and broken manes. The lightweight spray detangles, provides hydration and protects against heat up to 230°C.
R865 and 575 respectively from Orleans Cosmetics, Woolworths, Foschini, Truworths and Superbalist
For fur babies
There’s nothing quite like purchasing something joy-inducing for a furry friend. We love this Chommies Adjustable Dog Collar that both pup and parent can enjoy. Each colourway comes in vibrant hues that will stand out against any dog’s fur. (All the better for the inevitable Instagrams that will follow.) Made in Cape Town, Chommies’ dedication to quality makes them the ultimate stylish brand for your precious pooch. The leather and rope collars are available in sizes from small to extra-large, while the wider dog accessories range also includes leads and harnesses.
R1,270 from Chommies
For people who love (or need more) sleep
In an ideal world, every day ends with a long, luxurious night’s rest. And yet, for most, that’s more of a dream than a reality. If you have a sleep lover in your life, or you know someone who finds sleep elusive, the Sloom Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow can be both thoughtful and good for their health. Filled with premium memory foam chips, it can be tailored to just the right height while keeping its shape as you sleep, helping you rest in the best position for your spine. Better yet, it shows up in a neat little box and inflates in seconds – sleepyheads will never see it coming.
R700 from Sloom
For the sultry scent seeker
Recently launched, the new Roberto Cavalli Serpentine Eau de Parfum is maximalist and heady in the best ways – and always game to make an impression. A luxurious blend of soft spices, warm woods and gourmand undertones (think pink pepper, jasmine sambac and Madagascar vanilla), it’s as intoxicating as they come, smelling especially good on hot evenings out. The finishing touch? The gold snake coiled around the 100ml bottle slips off to become a statement bracelet – a wearable piece of Cavalli glamour that turns fragrance into fashion.
R2,499 for 100ml from Edgars, Bash, Foschini, Truworths and Dis-Chem
For the style icon in your group chat
Good things really do come in small packages – especially when we’re talking mood-boosting summer jewellery trends. Everyone can appreciate a pair of The Created Cherry Studs: Delicate, delicious and ready to sweeten up your stack. Available in both gold and silver styles, this affordable pick can be worn all holiday season long – and beyond. For those whose most peaceful place is among the lapping waves and clink of beach club cocktails, consider the Sea Star Necklace. Ideal for beach days and summer nights, it’s a warm-weather must-have.
R249 and R279 respectively from The Created
For your radiant role model
Moms deserve the best – and the best is Institut Esthederm. She’ll swoon over the Institut Esthederm Intensive Hyaluronic Serum and Cellular Water Mist. Truly, these products need no introduction, but here’s a primer anyway. The Intensive Hyaluronic Serum provides a burst of hydration via hyaluronic acid. Its gel-like formula has a dewy feel that’ll make your skin glow like it’s just gulped a tall glass of water. The result? Younger-looking skin. As for the Cellular Water Mist, it’s the end-all-be-all face mist. Perfect for a refreshing, skin-loving boost, especially in summer.
R1,400 and R750 respectively from Bash, Cosmetology, SkinMiles and Superbalist
For women worth investing in
Watches are many things to many people: Status symbols, jewellery, fashion statements, and to some, even just timekeepers. Besides exquisite clothing, fashion houses create excellent timepieces. This Karl Lagerfeld Round Essentials Women’s Watch strikes the perfect balance between elegance and ‘everyday’. It showcases a silver sunray dial that complements the stainless steel bracelet perfectly, accented with a crystal-embellished bezel and a date window. Silver is no longer second-best, according to those in the know. Now, to add a matching bag.
R3,999 from Superbalist
