The Gift Guide You Didn't Ask For (But Secretly Want)

Let's strive for more than mugs and t-shirts this Xmas.
Published: 22 December 2024
Photo by Mario Amaral. UNSPLASH

We love Christmas—it's got great food, ambience, and even better movies. That is until the holiday crunch hits and you start panicking. Suddenly, you're that person—sweating in overcrowded malls, frantically scrolling online at midnight, contemplating whether your cousin really wants another scented candle. No one wants to go through that, and we don't want to see you go through that either. We're here to help. This is our curation of carefully selected presents—thoughtful without trying too hard, luxe without breaking the bank—that's guaranteed to earn you serious style points. This is Esquire Singapore's ultimate gift cheat sheet.

For Him

LAMY Studio Fountain Pen

(FP Studio)

When it comes to fountain pens, there are luxury writing instruments in the market that are at the forefront but when you're shopping for a whole village, dropping a band on a single gift just isn't practical. Enter the LAMY Studio Fountain Pen, a mid-range luxury alternative that imposes modern aesthetics like its matte finishing and propeller-shaped twisted clip onto the classic writing instrument. Its smooth nib glides effortlessly across the page, making journaling, note-taking, or correspondence a luxurious experience. Good for the discerning writer, creative, or someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship.

LAMY Studio

SKIMS Boxers

(SKIMS)

Boxers? Yeah... they might sound "boring" but let's face it—they're very, very essential. However, who says essentials can't be stylish? SKIMS Stretch Boxer Briefs has been designed to move with you, these aren't your average boxers—they're lightweight, breathable and crafted from soft stretch fabric that feels like second skin. Available in three neutral shades, they're effortlessly chic and far more refined than those loud, bright red alternatives. Trust us, these are the upgrade his wardrobe didn't know it needed.

SKIMS Stretch Boxer Briefs (Pack of 3)

For Her

Almora Botanica Christmas Set

(Almora Botanica)

Don't be overwhelmed by the sheer number of skincare brands that exist in the market, or fall into the folly of buying her something she already has. Keep it simple with natural solutions that Almora Botanica presents. Named after a remarkably biodiverse region in the Himalayan mountains, the brand harnesses its adaptogenic ingredients for their resilient properties. Not only are formulations devoid of synthetic additives and harmful chemicals, products are COSMOS-certified. This official standard is only achieved by adhering to strict environmental and ethical guidelines; where all claims are rigorously assessed from sourcing, production, packaging to fairtrade practices. The flagship SAPTA complex is a blend of seven natural cold-pressed oils; prepped for lighter and faster absorption. It's the ultimate Clean Girl Aesthetic.

Almora Botanica

Charlotte Tilbury Gift Sets

(Charlotte Tilbury)

What's more challenging than guessing if she's had her hair cut? Buying beauty products for her. (And let's not even get into the shade, tone, or personal preferences—its complicated alright.) But the Charlotte Tilbury Iconic Hollywood Lip Trio Gift Set is here to save the day. With three luxurious lippies, it's designed to suit every woman's style. I'll spare you the names of the shades, but trust me, they're perfect for every occasion—date nights, casual days, and those fun night outs.

Charlotte's Iconic Hollywood Lip Trio Gift Set

(Charlotte Tilbury)

If you're still contemplating whether she'll like the shade, don't stress—because the secret to flawless makeup lies in the prep. Charlotte's Magic Water Cream Set, a product that sold out within hours of its launch and earned the title of 'Queen of Glowing Skin’. It moisturises and preps the skin for that perfect, radiant glow. And when she asks how you managed to find this gem, try not to look too smug.

Charlotte's Magic Water Cream Set

For All

DORS' Wicked Diffuser

(DORS)

We all have that one friend who's been unhealthily obsessing over Wicked lately—this one's for them. You can now bring the magic of Emerald City into their home with the OZ Diffuser by DORS. With enchanting notes of refreshing citrus, jasmine, tonka bean and woods, it's ideal for creating a sophisticated, inviting atmosphere. But let's be real—this could smell like algae and damp wood, and your friend would still love it.

DORS

Clipper Tea Blend

(The 1872 Clipper Tea Co.)

Gifting someone tea is always a safe bet. The 1872 Clipper Tea Co. Holiday Collection offers thoughtfully crafted blends to get you in the festive mood. There for Me warms the soul with black Ceylon tea and festive spices like cinnamon and cardamom. Creature Comforts soothes with a caffeine-free infusion of chamomile, passionflower, and rose petals. Love Letter delights with the sweet notes of strawberry, hibiscus, and creamy milk oolong.

1872 Clipper Tea Co.

Dropout Subscription

We raved about the Dropout née CollegeHumor. It's a subscription-based streaming service that survived bankruptcy and a pandemic, offering a range of shows, sketches, and unscripted series. Moving away from its scripted content, most of their content are improvised. Popular Dropout programmes include Dimension 20, a tabletop RPG series led by Brennan Lee Mulligan and Game Changer, where each episode is a different game. We particularly are sweet on Dropout's latest series, Smartypants, where comics make their case via a powerpoint presentation. (In this video preview, Paul Robalino, presents how to improve the human body and it gets increasingly unhinged.) Dropout's subscription is cheaper than your other conventional streaming services and for that kind of price for that kind of quality comedy, it almost feel like you're stealing.

Dropout

Brass Lion Gin Baubles

(Brass Lion Distillery)

If you're planning on visiting a friend's house for the holidays, here's one way you can make the visit more spirited—literally. Designed to hang as ornaments on Christmas trees, the Brass Lion Gin Baubles come filled with one of three signature gins: Singapore Dry Gin, Butterfly Pea Gin, or Pahit Pink Gin. Perfect for the gin lover, jokester, or anyone who believes Christmas decorations should be drinkable.

Brass Lion Distillery

Apple Vision Pro

(Apple)

There are a few bangers from Apple that we wanted to recommend (AirPods Pro 2; iPad Pro 4) but rules are rules. We'll gonnna go with the Apple Vision Pro. It's way ahead in its cutting-edge spatial computing tech and looks like something from the future. The intuitive user experience (eye-tracking and hand-gesture controls) distracts from the weight and with the recent VisionOS update, it allows for spatial photography and with Apple's commitment to immersive films and TV shows, movie night will never be the same again.

Apple

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