the art of giving: part one

Hannah and I have collaborated on a holiday gift guide, this is part one; luxury, with the next one to follow on Hannah's blog...

Apparently, luxury, like all things good, is going out of fashion, but we just don’t agree. For everything there is a season, and luxury’s season is surely – surely – Christmas. Eating too much pudding, drinking too much mulled wine, laughing too hard at a bad cracker joke, these things are all luxuries and extravagances in their own ways. But luxury in its more material forms should – and must – find its way to the foot of the bed on the 25th.

Araks lingerie for Francophiles who will revel in their silky slip-of-a-thing bras and knickers, all cast in the colours of a Vermeer painting, or the Turkish delight sunsets of the Australian countryside. A Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton clutch for the girl who has everything she needs but nothing she wants. The Isabel Marant Atea Jacket, who will charm someone with simple tastes through its broody French Navy wool and its discreet, covered buttons.

A Benah cuff in basic black, a poised full stop for every wacky outfit with its brushed gold hardware and utilitarian design. A chic 3.1 Phillip Lim satchel – a glorious mixture of glossy patent and smooth pony-hair – just because it’s pretty, and you like it. In fact, why not give – or receive – all of these together and make the perfect Christmas day outfit out of things which, only yesterday, had been shrouded in candy-cane-covered paper? Things that yesterday you could only dream of owning? Surely that is luxury, no?

But, actually, real luxury is dinner for two, with starters, mains and dessert to share, a few drinks, a few more, and not worrying one single iota about getting the right deal, or a good price, or a student special. We’d love it if, this Christmas, someone splashed out and bought us a beautiful, luxurious dinner at Sydney’s Restaurant of the Year, Sepia, and an overnight stay at The Park Hyatt. Real luxury is a beautiful meal, and time to enjoy it.

Clockwise from top, Araks Lara Bra-let, $168 (US) and Lyona Knickers, $98 (US) in Pomegranate, from Araks, Dinner at Sepia, $150 pp for a Degustation Menu and overnight stay at the Park Hyatt, prices upon request, Isabel Marant Atea Jacket, €360 (EUR) from Mytheresa, Benah Black Kodi Cuff, $120 from Benah, Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton Clutch, prices upon request from Louis Vuitton, 3.1 Phillip Lim Abichi Satchel, 
$1050 (US) from La Garconne.

words by Hannah and collage by me