Personalised gifts are a great way of making a present that much more special. This is particularly important in the height of the 21st birthday season, where the pressure is on to give ‘special’ presents. Whether it’s a friend, housemate, or girlfriend, many of the ideas below can be customised to suit the lucky recipient.
1) Longchamp Le Pliage bag – ££-£££
The Le Pliage range by French luxury brand Longchamp has become iconic to say the least, from their coin purses to their weekend travel bags, available in a broad range of colours and designs. Their online store now offers a customising app where you can you can further personalise their bags. There are six different sizes to choose from, two handle lengths, 15 colours to mix and match, three colours for metallic hardware finish and you can get a name or initials embossed or embroidered on the leather flap or main body. While the service doesn’t come cheaply, (coin purses start at £30 while an embroided, long handled travel bag can set you back £120), this is a gift to be treasured. Delivery does take about three weeks so order well in advance.
http://www.longchamp.com/gb/home-sur-mesure-gb-10245.html
2) Personalised nail polish – £
Nails Inc’s ‘Couture’ Collection offers a personalised service that allows you to create your very own nail polish, customising the varnish colour, cap design, packaging and even the name of the polish itself. Through a simple app on their website you can choose from a variety of bejewelled and studded caps, pick from a range of nail colours, name it, box it and even choose the stickers with which to adorn the pack. I love this service and think it’s both a meaningful and practical gift. It only costs £20 too, which considering you get a completely personalised Nails Inc polish delivered to your door, is an absolute bargain.
http://nailsinc.com/couture
3) Passport cover – ££
A gift to last a lifetime, personalised passport covers make a stylish gift for any seasoned traveller. Aspinall of London’s covers start at £25 with embossed initials up to four characters costing an extra £15. With a wide range of colours, textures and finishes to choose from, you can make the cover style as classic or contemporary as you wish.
4) Personalised alcohol – £/££
A bottle of booze is often a failsafe present, but personalising one makes it that little bit more thoughtful. Depending on your friend’s favourite tipple, personalised bottles of champagne, wine and spirits can be found in abundance online. The Original Gift Company offers personalised wine from £15, Champagne from £33, and whiskey or vodka for £40, accompanied by engraved shot glasses or tumblers. The recipient’s name and age will appear on the label and the bottle delivered in a gift box. The company even offers non-alcohol alternatives, a personalised gift set of three English teas will set you back £19.95 or for coffee lovers, a personalised silver cafetiere with coffee and mint chocolates is available for £29.95.
http://www.theoriginalgift.co.uk
5) Personalised stationery – ££-£££
With 21st invites to RSVP to, and all those Christmas thank you’s still to write, personalised stationery will be an invaluable present at this time of year. Most stationers offer the service now, both in store and online, with a huge range of personalised correspondence, At Home and Thank you cards, and letterheads to choose from. Prices range greatly according to your choices on size, paper, and typeface but expect to pay £40 upwards for 30 personalised correspondence cards. Prices increase with illustrations, embossed lettering and personalised envelopes. Listed below are three stationers offering a personalised stationery service.
http://www.honeytreepublishing.com/ ££
http://www.paperplain.net ££
http://www.blushpublishing.co.uk £££
If ever you’re stuck for a present that is as meaningful as it is useful, personalising is the way forward!
Photo credit: www.longchamp.com, www.nailsinc.com, www.aspinaloflondon.com, www.theoriginalgift.co.uk