Essential Holiday Gift Guide

Whether you're celebrating Christmas or cannot help but fall victim to the joys of capitalism, the holidays are the perfect opportunity to spread love through the exchange of refundable gifts (better keep that receipt, Karen).

I'm here to make sure the presents you've purchased with your hard earned money do not find themselves at the back of a closet gathering dust. The people in our lives are important and as such it is essential that you express your appreciation with thoughtful material items. How else would they know that you care? If you wish to gain the affection of your friends and family or that someone special, carry on reading.

It's okay if that someone is yourself.

Given that this is predominantly a fashion "blog", I will be listing items which stay true to the subject matter around which I'd like to assume I am fairly knowledgeable. As much as I believe in broadening your horizons, the rabbit hole that is kitchen appliances and general household accessories such as designer kettles and $500 coffee machines is not one which I would like to descend into at this moment.

Now that's out of the way, let's proceed.

1) Mom

I'm not saying you will stumble upon a designer kettle anywhere on this list but if you did it would probably be about now. Mothers love being the envy of their friends while simultaneously remaining practical which is exactly why homeware brands such as Gaggenau and La Cornue exist. It is for this reason that you should buy her something practical which can be shown off both inside and outside the house. A simple yet beautiful shoulder accessory should do the trick.

Handbags are being crafted from all kinds of exotic materials and while the faux crocodile skin bowling bag from Zara gives the self-indulgent look for less, I could not be so cruel as to hide from you this absolute showstopper from Givenchy. Descending from the Hermès heavens prior to landing on the lap of pre-determined clients makes the Birkin impossible to obtain but laying your eyes on this exquisite rendition with palladium hardware will have you appreciating the opportunity to purchase second-hand.

2) Dad

Lucky for us majority of fathers in the world are less concerned with brand names and the high fashion world in general. While this may be music to the ears of your credit card, it does not leave us with many options. The obvious go to could be a more luxurious shirt like this staple from Ermenegildo Zegna or a textured silk necktie from Isaia.

My suggestion would be to opt for a genuine leather wallet or cardholder capable of standing the test of time. Diesel provides soft to the touch lambskin offerings while the unique pieces presented by Alexander McQueen are perfectly suited to dads who are slightly cooler than the rest.

3) Sister

We're going to continue by assuming that your sister is anywhere from age 17 upward.

I have never had an interest in childrenswear and it's not going to develop today.

At this stage in her life it is safe to assume that she has already developed a style of her own. What I am trying to say is, any clothing purchased without prior approval are destined to find their lives in her closet short-lived. You can avoid having your gift turn up at the nearest Goodwill by instead picking out a pair of summer essential sunglasses.

These diamond frames from Saint Laurent are every trend setter's dream. If she has more of a laid back style then perhaps Celine could be the perfect fit or maybe a pair of cult classic clubmaster's from Ray-Ban.

4) Brother

You can put down the Axe body spray and no, being part of a gift set does not make it any better. The good news is that you do not have to stray far from your original plan although the bad news is you might have to do a little more work. Think about it this way, gifting a scent benefits everyone in the long run.

You need to understand your brother as a person in order to know what he would enjoy wearing. If he prefers something a bit more bright and fruity then "Happy for Men" by Clinique is a great option provided you're not trying to break the bank. Paco Rabanne may be bordering tacky with their packaging for "1 Million" but the spicy aroma makes it perfect for the masculine man while Chanel's "Bleu De Chanel" acts as the ideal combination of woody notes paired with fresh citrus.

5) Significant Other

It is only fitting that the love of your life receive the greatest gift money can buy. If you're unsure where you stand and see the relationship ending anytime soon, I'd probably go with a bouquet of flowers and a card reading "it's been fun".

Someone who means the world to you deserves nothing but the best and while you cannot give them the literal world you can provide something dug up from the earth and turned into a sparkling accessory. It's a beautiful metaphor, really.

A great place to begin your search would be none other than Cartier and yes, their collection extends beyond the widely popularized Love bracelet.

The Juste En Clou necklace is a personal favourite guaranteed to add a bit of edge to any occasion with it's out of the ordinary design. De Grisogono shows us that precious metals can be utilized in the construction of more than just your typical forms of jewelry as seen in this head turning timepiece incorporating silver, gold, titanium and black diamonds. If stones are what your heart desires there's no need to look any further than this blinding bracelet by Sidney Garber. Who knew a metaphor could carry such hefty price tags.

Exploring various arrays of lavish items can be exhilarating whether with the intent to purchase or for any other reason. As much fun as it is to admire the beauty in desirable creations, owning them is by no means an indicator as to the quality of someone's life.

Would you rather own an entire collection of Louis Vuitton luggage or have the opportunity to travel the world? Would you prefer to lay in a bed with satin lined Versace sheets or one where you are able to be with the person you love each night? Extravagant gifts possess the highest cost but genuine life experiences hold the most value.