Rocking around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday! If you haven’t sorted out your presents yet (we know we certainly haven’t), we’ve come up with the ultimate Christmas gift guide to end all gift guides! From fabulous family feasts to a sparkly new wardrobe for your tots, we’ve found the hottest products mamas everywhere are desperate to get their hands on. With 26 gifts for every letter of the alphabet, our A-Z Christmas Gift Guide is going to be your little black book for getting those Christmas lists crossed off early this year! Happy shopping, mamas!
A is for AUMNIE, a Canadian-born health & wellness lifestyle brand that’s all about mindful and eco-conscious living. Exercise is not just about being healthy, it’s about looking and feeling great, and who can deny that goes hand in hand with a cute pair of yoga pants? If you want to give someone the perfect gym-going outfit for getting back into the grind after the Christmas eating binge, AUMNIE is the place to look!
B is for Babylicious, a recently launched online retailer of all things cosy, comfy and baby-approved! Babylicious was founded by two friends who share a love of children and have searched far and wide to source a range of unique and stylish items that are perfect for gift-giving! The site is also amongst the first in Hong Kong to provide a baby gift registry service, so now you can easily cross off all the items on mama-to-be’s wishlist! Our favourite holiday pick is the Premium Xmas Hamper for both boys and girls that comes packed to the brim with soft, cuddly toys and an EGG bike helmet.
C is for Cinci Soaps, the new product line from one of our own Sassy Mama expert contributors that incorporates the philosophy of Chinese medicine into skincare products that are gentle, soft to the skin and leave you feeling refreshed and squeaky clean! Essentials By Cinci EC Soaps are made from all-natural ingredients and come in fragrant scents such as Spicy Ginger, Silky Rose and Smooth Lavendar, stripping away dirt and grime and leaving you feeling (and smelling) fresh as flowers. They’re all individually wrapped with elegant, minimalist packaging, making them the perfect stocking stuffer!
D is for Divine Marinade, the range of scrumptious Korean-inspired marinades that have been tempting our taste buds at every marketplace around town! Inspired by happy visions of family and friends relishing in the joy, comfort and pleasure of premium home-cooked cuisine, Sandra and Wendy proudly invite you to delight in their natural products! Divine’s line-up of marinades and sauces are rich and flavourful, but best of all their products are vegetarian and have NO preservatives or anything else artificial… it will add that extra pizzazz to anything you’re whipping up over the holiday season – the most delicious meats, vegetables and noodles in town! Gift them to your friends, they will love you for the introduction! Click here to place your order now.
E is for EezyPeezyParties, one of Sassy Mama’s favourite party planning companies. You have more than enough going on this holiday season, mamas, so why not make party planning easy by having them do all the heavy lifting? From creating invitations to coming up with the perfect theme to sourcing the ultimate party venue, Eezy Peezy has always had us covered for all our party planning needs from start to finish. Pick up their Christmas in Hong Kong Book to round off the holiday party with a festive storytelling session!
F is for Four Cow Farm, the premium skincare brand that prides itself on using 100% natural ingredients. This Christmas, treat your skin to high quality and ultra-soothing moisturisers, oils and balms. Our favorite is the Tea Tree Remedy for nappy skin. It’s made from natural beeswax and macadamia oils, as well as organic tea tree pure essential oils. The product is great for everyday balm, and works wonders on problem skin like bruises and scrapes from running around with the kids! While Four Cow Farm doesn’t have its own store yet, you can shop online or at one of their local stockists!
G is for GUSELLA, expertly crafted shoes for your little princes or princesses straight from Milan, Italy. There’s no reason your kids can’t look as stylish as Mum and Pop, and with the full-on comfort and support of these adorable tailor-made shoes, we think the suave factor is just a bonus! For $1,720, gift a pair of these elegant, handcrafted shoes that are specifically designed to support the posture and gait of children who are just learning to walk. Four different shoe ranges are available for babies aged 3 months to 8 years, so they’re bound to be the perfect fit no matter who’s wearing them. And if they’re good enough for Princess Grace Kelly’s daughter, they’re good enough for us!
H is for Homeless, one of our favourite lifestyle stores stocking an array of fun, kooky and practical home goods and decorative pieces to make your “home sweet home”. Their wide range of unique and original products is mind-boggling, and you could literally spend hours exploring the store (which we admittedly have more than once)! For an easy stocking stuffer, pick up these ABC Gingerbread Cookie Cutters that are just too cute to resist! The bite marks are built-in, hence the “Already-Been-Chewed”, and the cutters are cast aluminum with no sharp edges which means 100% safe for the kiddos.
I is for Itsie Bitsie Boutique, a multi-label, ready-to-wear boutique located in The Repulse Bay Shopping Arcade stock full of fun and flirty spring-summer fashions to spruce up your wardrobe. It may be Christmas in Hong Kong, but the tropical climate has us constantly dreaming of beaches and sunbathing and it’s never too early to pick up a few key pieces for your next vacay! We are loving the chic Figue collection, inspired by designer Stephanie von Watzdorf’s travels around the world. Evoking the energy and intrigue of Paris to the Mediterranean, the collection of colourful tunics, dresses, tops and pants are a great present for your mama friends as you plan your next girls’ getaway!
J is for Jellycat, the brand with the softest toys that are so silly even a mama can’t resist the desire to pick one up! The company offers baby collections, gifts for newborns and gifts for adult (and animal toys just for Christmas!). With over 18 types of animals, you’re bound to find your little one’s new favourite cuddle buddy. We have our eye on the Paxton Puppy Sleeptime, perfect to put the little one to sleep after the big day of Christmas festivities, and who knows, maybe they’ll even unwrap a pair of pyjamas to match their new friend!
K is for Kate Spade, the always cute and trendy American fashion design house. If you couldn’t tell already, Kate Spade is one of our favorite brands for purses and accessories! They have the best holiday gifts this season including adorable eyelashes eye masks, oversized red bow belts, beautiful shimmering watches, festive red wristlets and even Santa hats! The brand is best known for its stunning handbags, but there are plenty of more affordable gifts as well. For a gift every mama would love, try the Words of Wisdom Bangles in silver, gold, or rose gold, available at Kate Spade outlets around HK!
L is for Lil Nika, a brand featuring fresh and funky designs that we can’t get enough of! We’re all about being one-of-a-kind, and Lil Nika’s original designs and fresh perspectives on practical home items do just that. Their Red Safari range puts a cheeky spin on traditional lighting and is guaranteed to get the kids raving about the new addition to their bedrooms. Choose from Imo the Hippo, Oma the Lion or Emi the Elephant lamps, which can be floor, table or wall-mounted, for just $515 with free delivery!
M is for MEV – Mothers en Vogue, a Singapore-based fashion label for maternity, nursing and baby apparel! We’ve been frequent visitors of their Hong Kong flagship ever since it opened in 2013 — an easy one-stop shop for fashionable yet affordable maternity and nursing wear as well as matching mum and baby outfits. In fact, we think the Moms & Tots range will be making an appearance under many a Christmas tree this holiday season, with adorable sets including the Britney Bubble Long Sleeve Top ($479) and Onesie ($189), and the Everyday Faux Wrap Dress ($639) and Long Sleeve Onesie ($189).
N is for Nine Months, another one of Sassy Mama’s go-to stores for stylish maternity wear! We know that not every mama feels like their most fashionable self while pregnant, and Nine Months offers elegant and comfortable clothing to make getting dressed effortless and feeling beautiful easy. One of the biggest selling points of this company is being able to shop straight from the comfort of your home! Fatigue comes easy during pregnancy, and Nine Months takes the hassle out of being out and about by offering free next day delivery in Hong Kong. Your first purchase should be this Madderson London Saturday Dress: with its long sleeves perfect for winter and super soft material, you’ll never want to take it off, even after the bub is born!
O is for OliveTreeHK, offering the best of gastronomic Greece delivered straight to your home! This online shop stocks premium olive oils, olives, raw honey, wine and a variety of other fine products from Greece, and delivers all around the island so you can experience the flavour of the Mediterranean right here in the 852. If you’re stuck for ideas this Christmas, you can’t go wrong with a good food hamper, and OliveTreeHK’s “Golden Greek Goodness” basket filled with healthy and delectable goodies from Greece is a fun twist on the traditional hamper!
P is for PinknBlue, an online kids store teeming with kids accessories, toys, clothing and shoes for the little ones. With so many brands and items to choose from, we could easily get all our shopping done in one go, but we have our eye on one item in particular for our Christmas wish list. This 18K Italian gold necklace for $1,800 will melt a mum’s heart in a minute, with each kid’s name engraved on individual gold pendants – talk about a heartwarming and meaningful surprise!
Q is for Quiksilver, the edgy surf-inspired brand that all teens know and love. Whether they’re into surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding or just want to rock the “look”, Quiksilver stocks a range of jackets, hoodies, tees and shorts that are guaranteed to amp up any wardrobe for the rest of the school year. We’re loving the 2014 snow collection with patterned snow jackets, fleeces and snow pants – if you’re heading somewhere chilly over the holidays, make sure Santa comes a little early this year!
R is for Rockababy, a learning centre we love for their fun and innovative approach to music! The company has programs for all ages, teaching kids rhythms, drumming, note reading and performing. The programs vary by age, but if you want your child to really excel, private instrument classes are also available. This December, expose your little ones to the magic of music by enrolling them in a Christmas Camp with dance, music and theatre workshops available. There’s no greater gift than the gift of music!
S is for Sleep Naked, the luxury bedding found in 5-star hotels across Asia and Europe, and now available to be delivered straight to your home – you’ll never want to leave the house again! You can get a complete bedroom makeover with sheets, pillows and duvets, or treat yourself to a premium quality pure 100% velour cotton bath robe. Get one for the hubby and you’ll spend all afternoon (while the kids play with their new toys) drinking eggnog in your new Christmas presents – you deserve it Mum and Dad!
T is for Tutulamb, a store offering a selection of colourful tutus, leotards and dance accessories. A sister brand of the Twinkle Dance Company, Tutulamb is the perfect place to get your little one all dolled up before their big ballerina debut. The new “Sweet Juliet” collection makes an adorable gift for little girls who want to look “all grown up”, whether it’s for a dance performance, tea party or just a regular Wednesday out! Visit the dance studio in Central to see all the products or check out the website and use the “design your own” feature to customise the colour of leotard, cardigan, tutu or skirt!
U is for Uniqlo, our go-to store for comfy and simple day-to-day casual wear. Our favorite Uniqlo products this winter have the Heattech feature, which retains heat without excessive layering. We found this Heattech Long-Sleeve Shirt that’s perfect for a day of running errands or cosying up by the fireplace! And since Uniqlo is super affordable, why not get it in more than one colour? Order online or pop into one of the many outlets around Hong Kong.
V is for Velveteen, the precious children’s store with high-quality, handcrafted threads for your munchkins. It’s that time of year when all your friends and family come to town and gush over how cute the kids are, and you want to make sure they look the part (as if we needed an excuse to spoil our little ones!). Surprise your princess with this cashmere and wool Nelly Dress that will be the envy of every little girl at the party, or make your boy the most handsome of the holiday in this Jimmy B Tuxedo Shirt.
W is for White Chocoolate, the women’s line of the simple and tasteful lifestyle brand, Chocoolate. We love their minimalist and effortlessly chic look for being trendy without trying! Whether it’s tops, pants or outerwear, White Chocoolate’s pieces are based off neutral colours and feature cool designs that are easy to mix and match. Our Christmas pick this year is the practical yet cute solid beanie! Buy it in red or green for the holidays, or blue/black for a more classic look.
X is for Xbox, the video game consoles that are at the top of your kid’s entertainment wish list! If your little boy (or girl) is a video game fanatic, spoil them a bit this Christmas with a brand new Xbox One all wrapped up with a big bow under the tree – there’s nothing quite like seeing your kid’s face light up when they get exactly what they asked Santa for!
Y is for YSL, the luxury fashion house with sparkly accessories and purses that we can’t help coveting for the holiday season! If you want to be the best dressed at the party, no one’s judging you for splurging this Christmas on a little “me gift”. Item #1 on our wish list is the Triple Strap Mary Jane Shoe with the silver glitter fabric for a night of non-stop twirling around the dance floor. We think it would go beautifully with the Classic Monogram Tassle Shoulder Bag… don’t you?
Z is for Zara Kids, the best place to find functional and fashionable clothes for your little ones this winter, at prices that can’t be beat. We go back to Zara time and time again for solid go-to pieces, and with the Zara Kids collection, it’s really a one-stop family shop! This Intarsia Reindeer Turtleneck Sweater for little girls and Jacquard Patterned Sweater for boys have us planning a fun family Christmas sweater party… time to bring out the boardgames and holiday sweets!
Letter illustrations above created by the amazing artist Marie Pottiez; To see more of her beautiful work, check out her website here.