Annika Purdey is something of an expert when it comes to shopping, gifting and preparing for festivities – whether she’s hosting a shoot in the Highlands, or preparing for a Christmas get together with the family at home. Here, she shares how she’ll be celebrating the holiday season this year, plus her tips on gifting for family and friends. And if you're looking for inspiration, her Women's Gift Edit has something for everyone.
Start Shopping Early
I like to be quite organised about gifting. I start by making a list of everyone I need to buy for and writing down ideas for each person. With my nieces and nephews, I usually ask if there’s something in particular they’d like or need. I tend to start early and tick each person off as I go – it’s lovely to feel ahead of the December rush. Everything gets hidden away in my “present cupboard” until I’m ready to wrap. I enjoy wrapping later on – it’s one of my favourite parts – and I always go for a simple, traditional Scandinavian look: plain white paper tied with red or dark green silk ribbon.
Embrace Tradition
Our family adores Christmas stockings. Even though our children are grown up now, they still get one, and my husband and I give stockings to each other too. When the children were little, I used to wrap every tiny thing individually – I don’t quite have the energy for that anymore, but there’s still always a satsuma at the very bottom. Some traditions are too good to let go of.
Ask, And Surprise
I usually ask my immediate family if there’s something they’ve had their eye on. It makes things easier and ensures they’ll really love what they receive – sometimes they even send me the exact link! That said, I do enjoy adding a surprise or two. It keeps the magic alive.
Choose Gifts That Last
The best present I’ve ever received was a piece of jewellery from my husband that I’d quietly admired for a while. It was such a perfect surprise because I wasn’t expecting it at all. As for giving, the most loved gifts have probably been the tech presents for our children – new laptops or phones that they’ve been thrilled with. I also love gifting Purdey clothing to my husband – he always looks wonderful in it and genuinely enjoys wearing it.
Enjoy Family Time
I’m hosting this year, so the whole family will be coming for lunch on Christmas Day. We keep things very traditional – stockings in the morning, then church, followed by champagne and canapés before a classic Christmas lunch. Afterwards, we watch the King’s speech, head out for a walk, and then gather back in the drawing room by the tree for tea and more presents. It’s the kind of day that feels timeless – cosy, joyful, and full of family traditions.
Explore the complete Purdey Gift Guide here, stocked full of heritage and hand-crafted inspiration for everyone on your list.