Lomography Diana F+ Camera
cool xmas gifts, gifts by christmas, gift ideas
Lomography Diana F+ Camera
“Forget giving this retro, colourful camera as a gift, I want it for myself. This ‘60s-style cult snapper creates hazy, radiant, low-fi images and comes in a limited edition azure blue, yellow and hot pink finish. It also boasts an old-school electronic flash that fires a burst of white light at your subject. Pap-pap. I know what I’m getting my budding photographer brother for Christmas.”
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£80 from Lomography
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Keith Richards autobiography
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for dads
Keith Richards autobiography
“It’s the music autobiography I’ve been waiting for: Rolling Stones guitar legend Keith Richards’ new book, Life. Promising to offer an eye-popping insight into the decadent life and rock ‘n’ roll excess of one of the world’s biggest rock stars in one of the world’s most iconic bands, I, for one, am expecting lots of juicy anecdotes from this eagerly anticipated rock chronicle. Perfect for music loving dads too.”
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£10, from Waterstones
Tickets to the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, books for christmas
Tickets to the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts
“Got book worms in the family but not sure which title to plump for? Then follow my lead and snap up a ticket to next year’s Hay Festival of Literature and Arts for a literary treat of a gift. If you do, they’ll experience a more cultured type of festival next summer (26 May to 5 June 2011) at the reading event nestled on the England-Wales border close to the market town of Hay-on-Wye. And it’s not all about books either, expect musical performances and film screenings for bibliophiles to enjoy too.”
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Festival tickets are priced up to £35, from hayfestival.com
British Film Institute posters
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for art lovers
British Film Institute posters
“I’m going to add a slice of Hollywood to my film buff friend’s walls with these retro posters from the British Film Institute. Currently in stock? Pictures from the Orsen Welles, Roman Polanski and Federico Fellini seasons.”
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Orsen Welles season poster, £5.99 from the British Film Institute
Roberts digital radio
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for women
Roberts digital radio
“Whether you’re into music, documentaries, sport or news, there’s no better way to listen to the radio than with this retro-looking digital radio by Roberts. I would opt for baby pink or duck egg blue for a gift for girlfriends.”
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£153 each, from Roberts
Membership to the Tate
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for mum and dad
Membership to the Tate
“I’m going to treat the art lovers in my family to a Tate membership this Christmas for free entry to all Tate gallery exhibitions. They’ll also enjoy access to special members’ rooms within the galleries, the Tate magazine and bi-monthly guides posted to their front door and fast-track entry and viewing opportunities. If you want to buy a membership as a gift too, remember to book before 17 December to ensure your gift is delivered in time.”
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Prices start at £52 for a yearly single person membership, from tate.org.uk
Smythson travel accessories
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for culture vultures
Smythson travel accessories
“I’ve got lots of jet-setting friends who love to soak up the culture abroad and I think I’ve found them the ideal present. These Smythson travel wallets, passport covers and luggage tags in sweet candy colours are the perfect travel-related gift.”
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Clockwise from top; Pink passport cover, £65; Pink luggage label, £40; Powder blue travel wallet, £325; all from Smythson
USB Mix Tape
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for boyfriends
USB Mix Tape
“Ah, remember making mix tapes in your bedroom as a teenager? Miss them? I do. And I’m sure my friends do too. So here’s the perfect Christmas gift: the USB Mix Tape. It features a memory stick that stores up to one hour of digital music for me to make my own compilation, but comes packaged in a classic cassette-shape case complete with space for notes and doodles so I can scribble down a personal message before gift wrapping.”
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£8.99 from play.com
The Secret In Their Eyes
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for film lovers
The Secret In Their Eyes
“I’ve been wanting to see this film as soon as it won the Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars. It’s out on DVD in the next few weeks and is an ideal stocking filler for lovers of art house films. The Argentinian crime thriller (original title El Secreto de Sus Ojos) tells the story of a retired policeman (played by Ricardo Darín) who writes a novel based on an unsolved murder, and cuts between past, present and imagined memories as he obsessively pursues the truth.”
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£15 from amazon.co.uk
Falling books bookends
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for book lovers
Falling books bookends
“Love, love, love these bookends from the V&A Museum shop. A cute gift for all book-loving friends.”
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£20 from the V&A Museum shop
Subscription to LoveFilm
cool xmas gifts, gift ideas, gifts for girls
Subscription to LoveFilm
“A perfect present for all movie buffs, including me, would be a subscription to LoveFilm. Gift packages start from £16 in four month, six month and yearly subscriptions and bring you an unrivalled database of thousands of films to choose from with no late fees. You can pick an e-card to ping your gift by email, personalise and print your subscription details or a use the gift box and voucher service to post your present to their door. Brilliant.”
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Gift subscriptions start at £16, from lovefilm.com
