Today is the last day for guaranteed Christmas delivery — here are my proven crowd-pleasers for everyone on your list

Victoria Beckham, Uniqlo, Dyson, Missoma, and more — where to get the best gifts (at the best price) for everyone on your list

Cyber Week Christmas Deals
(Image credit: Getty Images)

I’ll be honest, when it comes to gift-giving, I procrastinate. Like most forms of procrastination, I think this stems from perfectionism. Bear with me because I know that sounds like a cop-out, but I pride myself on being a brilliant gift-giver.

I remember throwaway comments, compliments in shops and obscure items friends see in shop windows. Remember that scene in Friends when Ross recalls a brooch Rachel said reminded her of one her grandmother had as a child and he then buys said brooch months later? That’s the level of present-purchasing I'm talking about. All of which is to say, I’ve made a rod from my own back and set the bar too high. So each year in a bid to outdo myself, I hold out for the best deals and scan the recesses of my mind for the unexpected but sure-to-be-adored gifts.

Occasionally, I fall short, and so I’ve also devised a backup plan of gifts for every budget (and everyone on my list) that have a proven track record.

It turns out, there is a science to Christmas gifting and I’ve found the perfect formula…

Christmas gifting essentials

Big Ticket Items

Shop the Marie Claire UK Christmas Gift Guide

Failsafe Gifts For Her

Shop Gifts For Her

Failsafe Finds For Him

Shop Gifts For Him

Stocking Fillers

Shop Wellness Gifts

Christmas Eve Gifts

Shop All Christmas Gifts

Mischa Anouk Smith
News and Features Editor

Mischa Anouk Smith is the News and Features Editor of Marie Claire UK, commissioning and writing in-depth features on culture, politics, and issues that shape women’s lives. Her work blends sharp cultural insight with rigorous reporting, from pop culture and technology to fertility, work, and relationships. Mischa’s investigations have earned awards and led to appearances on BBC Politics Live and Woman’s Hour. For her investigation into rape culture in primary schools, she was shortlisted for an End Violence Against Women award. She previously wrote for Refinery29, Stylist, Dazed, and Far Out.