It’s almost that time of year again: Christmas is just around the corner and with it comes the same question – what should I get as a present this year?

Of course, Christmas shouldn’t just be about presents, we all realise that…

We look forward to spending time with family, being together with friends, going for walks, making music and, of course, eating wonderful food over the Christmas holidays. But for most of us, Christmas is only really complete when we can give our loved ones a treat. And it shouldn’t be something that you have just bought on the way to Christmas dinner, but something really special.

Let us inspire you, maybe there’s an idea for you:

A pair of jeans for the fashion-conscious:

Christopher Columbus probably wore jeans when he set foot on the continent he was to call “America”. After all, they were the standard garment of a labouring sailor, just as denim would have been the fabric of choice for the sails of his flotilla. And a few centuries later, the hero of Nice, Giuseppe Garibaldi, wore the sturdy trousers on the battlefields of the world.

Contrary to popular belief, it was not Levi Strauss who “invented” jeans, although he did contribute to their commercialisation; nor was denim an American product, but originated in France. But as a consolation for our American friends: it was James Dean, Elvis, Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe who turned blue jeans from “work clothes” into a “cool fashion statement”.

Jacob Cohen jeans, for example, are produced in an absolutely environmentally friendly way, use no chemicals to dye and wash the denim trousers AND look damn good.

I think that’s good!

For the adventurous: Handbag, weekender or trolley case

There is hardly a gift that makes a woman’s heart beat faster than an exquisitely crafted designer handbag. Whether timelessly elegant, avant-garde or classic, a designer handbag adds a touch of luxury and elegance to any outfit.

Handbags by Sofia Al Asfoor

For the gentleman and/or the lady a suitcase together with a travel guide?! Whether winter sports or feet in the sand, weekender or trolley case, I think that’s good!

Original works of art for him and her:

Art is a great way to express personality and style. Invest in a painting, picture frames, DIY surprises as personalised gifts, a sculpture or an artistic mural to fill your home with creative energy.

I like Michel Anthony in Nice Old Town.

I think that’s good!

Sunglasses as the perfect gift accessory

Sunglasses are the perfect gift for him and her this Christmas as they combine both style and function. Not only do they offer protection from harmful UV rays, they also add a touch of glamour and elegance to any outfit. Whether they are timeless classics or trendy models, sunglasses are a versatile accessory that can be worn in any season.

I think that’s good!

Beauty essentials:

Beauty essentials are timeless gifts that never go out of style. A high-quality, red lipstick or an elegant fragrance are classic beauty items that never lose their appeal.

A man who smells good is attractive and erotic. It’s the same with fruit, a fragrant apple is seductive. The apple of paradise is no longer just seen as the fruit of sin, but also as a symbol of the promise of redemption. The apple as a relic of paradise becomes the figurative interface between the Old and New Testaments.

I think that’s good!

Designer books and coffee table accessories:

For those who love art, nature and sports, books and coffee table books are a great choice. These gifts are not only inspiring but also aesthetically pleasing. If you are reading Riviera Buzz it’s likely you live on our blessed Mediterranean coast and would like something with local appeal. Did you know a famous scientist and artist Clarence Bicknell lived and worked on the Riviera; Bordighera and Casterino in the Mercantour mountains

MARVELS; The Life Of Clarence Bicknell, Botanist, Archaeologist, Artist

Valerie Lester’s biography of the fascinating scientist and artist Clarence Bicknell is a treasure trove of research. Lester spent five years trawling through hundreds of newly discovered letters, botanical watercolours and decorative arts sketches in archives such as the Natural History Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge and the University of Genoa. Each letter and diary entry gives Lester the voice of Clarence, and each of his vellum-bound albums reveals drawings, watercolours and whimsical creations. The biography’s text, supported by more than 200 images, provides remarkable insights into how and why this man strove for perfection in every subject he tackled. Published by Matador in 2018, ISBN 9781 7890 1494 5, hardback. You can buy it on Amazon, eBay or direct from stock from the book’s producers, the Clarence Bicknell Association, for just £10 + postage. At the same page you can get Clarence’s extraordinary art in the Casa Fontanalba Visitor’s Book.

For tennis lovers:

A book about the first tennis club founded after Wimbledon, the first Italian racket brand and the Piatti Tennis Centre.

TENNIS IN BORDIGHERA FROM 1878 TO TODAY by Gisella Merello
Publisher: Alzani (Pinerolo) 2021 – the book is available in English and Italian

Price 24,50 €

Thanks to previously unpublished photos and documents and the collaboration of authors with different professional skills, this book not only tells the story of the birth of tennis and the first racket factory in Italy, but also describes how much the British community has contributed to the economic, social and cultural development of the city.

High-ranking personalities such as the Earl of Strathmore, the great-great-grandfather of King Charles III, were personally involved in enabling and promoting the establishment of facilities that we still enjoy today.

‘Paul’ by our good friend Mike Colquhoun

Paul wakes up to find that he is in a world that was not the same one in which he fell asleep. At first he believes it is a strange lucid dream. Paul quickly finds out that so much in the other world that is both familiar and bizarrely strange. His would be love interest, Pam, is also in the other world though she has no memory of Paul. He moves between the two worlds becoming entangled in both realities.

Available on Amazon

I think that’s good!

For fans of Finland and chocolate: chocolate from Porvoo instead of hats, woollen scarves and gloves

Father Christmas doesn’t have to come all the way from Lapland for a super-sweet gift. Porvoo is chocolate heaven, home to two chocolate factories. I can’t say which one is better. The Brunberg chocolate factory or the Lilla Chokladfabrikken? You have to try it!

For the gentleman there is rum or whiskey to go with it. Also for the lady if she wants to!

Unspoilt nature brings about Finland’s clean air (the cleanest air in the whole of Europe) and not only that: the tap water is also of the best quality. With ingredients processed by happy Finns, it’s no wonder the chocolate is sooooooo good!

I think that’s good!

For the friends of beautiful old craftsmanship: Calendar by Louis Lucien Lepoix

Even if 2024 is still written in the stars, to look joyfully forward to the new year.

Especially for those who can still remember the “good old days”, who knew: tomorrow will be even better!

At the same time the joy of analogue drawing technology: without a computer and without an “undo” command but with the elegance of handwriting and the feel and smell of the materials: paper, ink, rulers, erasers

Courtesy Louis Lucien Lepoix Archive

This calendar is also a pleasure for all the senses – limited and individually numbered and signed by the Louis Lucien Lepoix Archive – 14 sheets plus cover page – and of course the fascination of L3 – more on lepoix.info

I think that’s good!

Giving gifts all year round is valid, not just at Christmas: Wear a smile, even several times a day; give away optimism; good humour; praise your husband/wife (even sometimes for no reason); donate to an animal shelter or refresh your soul and that of your dog with trips into nature; invite your grandma to dinner or to the theatre; Eat, drink, love and thus contribute to the interpersonal thaw. And stay healthy!

Lead image © RIVIERA BUZZ; photo of jeans on hangers by Jason Leung on Unsplash; photo of sunglasses by Oladimeji Odunsi on Unsplash