Christmas is now around the corner and if there's one thing we've got covered here at Banvard and James, it's gifting. Whether you're looking for that one 'hero' gift such as a cashmere scarf or leather holdall or if you need a few smaller bits to put under the tree, like our cotton socks or smaller leather accessories, we can help. In this week's journal entry, we'll be focusing on those ever important stocking fillers. In addition, these make fantastic options for a secret Santa present your recipient will actually use. We also like to have a couple of extra little gifts wrapped and ready to go to prevent that awkward situation of being handed an unexpected gift with nothing to reciprocate with.

What makes the perfect stocking filler?  

 

In our eyes, a stocking filler should tick a few boxes...

1. Affordable price point - while you can add luxury to a stocking with a couple of higher value items, we usually feel that a stocking filler should be priced under £25.

2. Fun & unexpected - for us, the perfect stocking is filled with gifts that bring a smile to their faces and offer something that they might not have known they needed.

3. Practical & useful - gone are the days of Christmas being filled with plastic, single use items that won't see the light of day after Christmas. Stocking fillers should be gifts that will be used over and again.

The Banvard & James stocking... 

 

These are the pieces from the Banvard & James collection which we feel make the most ideal stocking fillers. All of our designs are available in a range of colours so we're confident you'll find something to suit every member of the family.

Socks

At Banvard & James, we make our socks from Fils d'Ecosse mercerised ribbed cotton. We offer a large range of colours to suit every style - from classic hues to bold shades. We also have a collection of three striped socks - the perfect pairs to brighten any ensemble.

Coloured shoe laces

Our waxed cotton Wilson laces are available in twelve bright and colourful shades and allow the wearer to add an element of fun and personality to their footwear. They can be dressed up with smarter shoes or added to more casual footwear - the options are endless. You'll also find a matching or complimentary coloured pair of socks in our collection, making socks and shoe laces the perfect pairing for their stocking.

Leather cable wrap

Our vegetable-tanned leather cable wraps are incredibly useful and definitely fall into the category of "I didn't know I needed that." The perfect accessory for the person on the go, they keep cables neat and tidy as they travel around - ideal for wrapping headphone wires, phone charger cables or anything else you wish to prevent getting tangled in your bag. Handmade and available in three classic leather shades, we can't recommend these little lifesavers enough.

Leather key ring

Our leather keyrings are available in chocolate brown or navy leather and feature contrasting stitching and leather loop, for that Banvard & James signature style. Crafted from sturdy vegetable tanned leather, they make an elegant and subtle gift for the man who has everything.

Leather money clip

The Banvard & James Bartlett Money Clip is an extremely useful little tool for keeping your banknotes together, with the help of the inbuilt super strong magnet - far less bulky than the traditional wallet. Made from the softest leather and available in classic tan, dark green or navy and presented in our signature gift box.

Put something extra special in their stocking...

 

Sometimes we feel like really treating the ones we love. We have a few smaller but ever so special items which would make for a really luxurious stocking filler.

The Suede Leather Belt

Our Huxley suede leather belts are made in Italy from the finest leather and backed with smooth leather to ensure ease of use when pulling them through belt loops. Available in a beautiful range of shades, all with contrasting stitching and edging paint for that unmistakable Banvard & James style. They come presented in our brushed cotton dust bag, perfect for slipping into the top of their stocking!

The Telescopic Umbrella

This is one of our most used items, especially at this time of year. Forgot those flimsy umbrellas that turn inside out at the mere hint of wind, our Roscoe Telescopic umbrella is of exceptional quality, made with super light aluminium for the shaft and fibreglass for the frame. Built to last, all our umbrellas come with a full performance guarantee.

The Leather Wallet

Our Harrison wallet has been expertly crafted in the finest vegetable-tanned leather and offers a stlish and sophisticated place to keep cards, notes and receipts organised. It features eight card slots, two small pouches and a large pouch for banknotes. Available in navy, dark green or tan leather and featuring our signature flash of colour through the contrasting stitching and complementary coloured leather insert. A classic but contemporary accessory for the gentleman on the go.

What else would we put in their stocking?

 

Here is our selection of stocking fillers from some of our favourite stores. These all fit the criteria above for our perfect stocking filler gifts and we're sure will make your friends and family very happy to receive.

Diary

However digitised our lives our becoming, everyone needs a paper diary - to jot things down as we go, keep our appointments and write down inspiration as it comes to us. Moleskin diaries are classic, trusted and fit easily into a jacket pocket. We love the yellow option but they're available in a range of shades.

 

Whisky Glass

For the whisky or cocktail lover in your life, we recommend these classic crystal tumblers from Not Another Bill, which come in a handy gift box, ready to place straight into their stocking. The panelled design and thick base gives a really luxurious finish and we're confident will make a welcome addition to their glassware collection.

  

Book

The Night Sky Almanac is a lovely little book which follows the progress of the constellations through the seasons and provides monthly calendars and maps to help you chart the lunar phases and discover events to look out for in the night sky.

 

Chocolate

You can't go wrong with Fortnum and Mason chocolates when it comes to classic Christmas luxury. These boozy Champagne truffles are made in England and are truly delicious - sure to put a smile on their face on Christmas morning.

  

We hope our stocking filler guide has given you some inspiration for accessories and gifts to surprise your loved ones with this Christmas. Take a look at our gift guide for more inspiration and check back for more Christmas gifting related journal entries soon.