Christmas shopping: where to go for good selection of gifts

Where to go for a well-chosen selection of unusual, tasteful and well-designed gifts for Christmas? Online or high street, or a combination of both? There is a large choice, so it can be worth homing in on a few favourites whose offerings meet your tastes and requirements.

Original & unique gifts from 1of1

I found an excellent high street shop, 1of1, not far from my home and typical of many similar around the UK, selling a good variety of fascinating items. An online store, Black.do.uk, offers a wide selection of the type of gifts I'm looking for. Here is more information about them.

1of1, Teddington, Middlesex

This high street store has a fascinating selection, all carefully curated by the owner, Kate Winskill, whose collection of one-off artworks, jewellery and recycled ephemera provides a rich source of original gifts.

Cufflinks made from watch movements from 1of1

I was tempted by the watch movement cufflinks. Kate now supplies these as tie and lapel pins. Much of the jewellery is also made from recycled objets trouves and makes excellent unique gifts.

The shop, in Teddington, South West London, is well worth a visit, but products can be bought online. See the 1of1 website for more information.

Black.co.uk

Was founded in 2006 by Paula Reeves, who had a business background and whose life was changed by illness and then inspired by a trip to India. Run as a family business, Black sells a tasteful and well-curated selection of gifts for him, her and the home.

A selection of quality menswear gifts from Black.co.uk. Gifts for women and home are also available

Black's director, Toby Logue, summed up the offering for me,

Black.co.uk is a luxury accessories and gifts brand offering discerning customers high quality classic lines balanced with contemporary designs, all in exquisite fabrics such as cashmere, leather and silk. Their signature collections are luxury cashmere scarves and Italian leather gloves.

Our latest menswear collection embraces this season's Big Scarf trend and features oversized cashmere scarves in checks, tartans and houndstooth designs. Detailing on leather gloves features extensively with black and brown Italian nappa leather gloves adorned with zips, tweed inserts, cashmere cuffs and houndstooth patterns. Silk scarves and pocket squares showcase paisley prints in navy/brown, monochrome and earthy tones and complete the collection.

I have a pair of gloves and one of the houndstooth scarves (see below), the quality and feel of these are impressive. See Black.co.uk for more information and to buy.