I struggle to remember the last time I truly appreciated a packaged gift, one that someone else had carefully thought about, selected and wrapped for me on a special occasion such as my birthday or Christmas. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. It’s just that as a grown adult, I have everything I need, and when I don’t then I have the means to buy it myself.
Like most children, I loved the idea of presents when I was under the age of, say, 16. At that point in life, you have no control. You have to wait to get the things that you want, be it a new toy or a trip to a theme park. Then, when you get to hold your own money, things change. You’re in charge. You eye up a new record (as I did circa 1999) and know that with a little budgeting, it’s yours in a matter of weeks. No need to wait for mummy to dangle it over you if you behave. Of course, there are things I cannot afford that if someone were to gift them to me I would absolutely lose my mind.
A sports car perhaps, parked outside my flat with a bow on it. Realistically, that isn’t going to happen. I’m not from a pedigree of folks who hand out gifts of that value, and if I were, I’d prefer to choose the vehicle myself. Nobody knows exactly what trim and upholstery you’re going to want inside.
What I want, what I really, really want, is time with the gift giver, assuming they’re an important part of my life. I want to go Japanese whiskey tasting with them, go to an immersive theatre show, or as a grad gesture, take a trip together. It’s how I divvy gifts myself too.
My mum is retired, and she’s someone who has given me gifts in some form all my life. In the last two decades, I’ve slowly weaned her off doing so. She used to be horrified, saying things like “I can’t NOT get you a 30th birthday present?”, but now she’s come to understand. Sure, for “good luck” on my 40th she gave me a small hongbao, but I ended up spending the money on her anyway. We went out for afternoon tea. When it comes to me buying gifts for her, I do what I can to spoil her but only by way of experiences. She has enough clutter in the house as it is. Due to age, she’s not so good at travelling, so a Virgin Voyage cruise around Europe is the easiest thing to do together next year. It’s something she’ll look forward to for many months, relish while on board, and the memories afterwards will live on and on. The same can’t be said for a handbag… and besides, she’s got plenty of those.
With long-time friends, we had fun exchanging gifts back at university, but 20-odd years on, we’ve run out of ideas. Rather than keep on at it we choose celebration over obligation. Shopping and gifting something the other person may not like is a waste of time. I’d rather we followed Michelle Yeoh to the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park for some life-changing omakase (because anything Michelle does is cool). In our busy lives, it’s an excuse to do something special together instead of a quick gift exchange session during an office lunch break. The experience is the gift, so effort has to be exercised, and late-night Izakayas like The Aubery always lead to stories because, well, Japanese highballs…
In the post-pandemic era, we’re focusing on connection. TikTok’s #underconsumption movement boasted over 39 million views worldwide. Perhaps we’ve had enough of stuff. Those things were not enough for us while we were locked up. Given the rising cost of living and the close proximity of Chinese New Year to Christmas (next year it falls on January 29th), I won’t be surprised if spending on gifts sees another decline in 2024.
Don’t get me wrong, I do have things; nice things. I just bought them myself over the years, and often during a sale. My Lavazza coffee machine. My Sustainable Rituals electric toothbrush. My Gentle Monster sunglasses (OK, they’re fakes from Kuala Lumpur, because I don’t trust myself with expensive sunnies). Yes, I sound like an old Beyoncé record, but it’s true and I don’t need someone else to get me these (somewhat luxury) essentials. I try not to purchase things I don’t need, and the things I do need are bought to my exact specifications because only I know exactly what I want.
For instance, there’s a store near me called Runners Need which puts customers on their treadmill to get their gait analysed and thus, have them fitted with the perfect pair of running shoes. Now, how is anyone going to surprise me with something that fits better than that? I was never gifted an item of clothing I truly loved and felt comfortable in.
If you’re seeing sense in what I’m saying, then consider switching things up next Christmas, Lunar New Year, or an upcoming birthday. How about skipping the store-bought items between us salaried adults, and doing something with the giver or receiver that you’ll all remember for years, possibly decades, to come? It could be a family holiday abroad, filled with adventure and new challenges. Or for the boys who have everything, how about getting together and donating your valuable time to helping a cause that matters to the group? Less shiny toys will be wasted in the process, and your hearts will be full. I couldn’t think of a better way to do December.
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.
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.
(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)
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.
(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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.