Whoa mama, it’s gift-buying time and top of the list is none other than Mother Dearest.
In theory, it should be easy to shop for the woman you’ve known all your life, but the strange thing about present-giving is that the closer you are to the recipient, the harder the task seems to get.
Whether she's the one you run to in times of trouble, can be trusted for sound counsel and practical advice, or you inherited her belly laugh, we can all agree that mums are the MVPs in our lives.
So, no pressure then.
We’re not just talking mums either. This shopping tussle applies to any matriarchal figure who’s mothered, cuddled, cooked or advised you: grandmothers, stepmums, aunties, family friends, mentors. There's often little point in asking what they want outright. Most will bat you away, telling you to save your money.
Obey this directive at your peril, especially on occasions like their birthday, Mother's Day, or Christmas where a perfectly wrapped gift is an unspoken essential.
Luckily, we’re here to help with an edit of the best mum-friendly gifts to help you nail the brief. We've got the lowdown on the very best gifts to spoil the deserving rotten, from tech that promises to make her life easier, personalised accessories made just for her, and luxury fashion and beauty we all know she would never dream of splashing out on for herself.
If you’re still not sure, a hamper jostling with indulgent treats or gourmet snacky things never fails to get the right reaction.
Mother may know best, but we’ve got the ideas and inspo to bring her pure joy in our edit.
Shop now
Missoma Curly Molten Initial Pendant Necklace
Spell out how much you care with a Missoma pendant. Featuring a cursive initial placed on a fine trace chain, the piece is perfect for layering. The jewel is crafted from recycled materials and has a carbon-negative footprint, meaning you can shop stylishly and sustainably in one fell swoop.
Buy now £125.00, Missoma
John Lewis Scarf Coat, Camel
A two-in-one delight, John Lewis’ classic camel-toned scarf coat has an instantly luxurious silhouette. We love the fact that it prevents the need to carry extra components for winter protection with its built-in blanket scarf.
Buy now £179.00, John Lewis
Anya Hindmarch Eyes Card Case
If they appreciate luxury design with a playful edge, Anya Hindmarch's Eyes series hits all the right notes. This card case finished with the motif is perfect for keeping their plastic safe while the central slot can hold a few folded banknotes too. Made from capra leather, it comes in matte black and metallic silver.
Buy now £150.00, Anya Hindmarch
Lisa Yang Natalia brushed-cashmere sweater
Haven't you got enough black jumpers? Breathe zingy freshness into your winter looks with Lisa Yang's beautiful brushed cashmere jumper offered in a sharp apple green. It's a relaxed fit with dropped shoulders that can be worn over a collared shirt or a vest - or casually draped around the shoulders.
And my goodness, the softness! Let's just say it's reflected in the price tag.
Buy now £715.00, Net-A-Porter
Maison Balzac Clear & Multi Pomponette Champagne Coupes
There's nothing like a good set of drinking glasses to cheer a table up. Maison Balzac's pom pom hand-blown coupes, sold as a pair, bring a playful tilt to the mix, somehow making Champagne taste all the sweeter.
Buy now £96.00, La Gent
Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Ribbons Robe
Think pink when it comes to festive drinking; Champagne Laurent-Perrier is always a welcome addition to our table - especially when its Cuvée Rosé is dressed so beautifully for the occasion.
This year, the brand presents one of its bestsellers with ribbons wound around the delicate cage. It looks as good as it tastes with a fine stream of bubbles and red berry flavours that pair well with seafood or dessert plates.
A stunning gift for your party host.
Buy now £84.99, The Bottle Club
Otis Batterbee Retractable Makeup Brush Edit
For the mum who's always on the move, a set of retractable makeup brushes will ensure she looks her best on arrival. Otis Batterbee's set of four (including two double-ended), has e head for every eventuality, from topping up concealer, finessing eyeliner, and adding mattifying powder.
Buy now £80.00, Harvey Nichols
Creed Candle Porcelain Vanisia
Creed may be best known for its Aventus aroma but don’t sleep on the luxury fragrance house’s opulent candle collection housed in quietly luxurious porcelain vessels. There are five scents that comprise the range but the most suitably seasonal is the Vanisia, a contemporary vanilla aroma that turns the signature sugary ingredient on its head by combining it with musky amber.
Buy now £105.00, Cult Beauty
Roberts Revival iStream 3L DAB+/FM Internet Smart Radio with Bluetooth
A retro design with contemporary functions, this Roberts radio is the perfect gadget to keep around the house or office.
The vintage 50s-look body is armed to the teeth with the latest tech, including a smart radio that can broadcast web radio as well as DAB+ and FM stations. It can transform into a Bluetooth speaker and play your favourite tracks from Spotify and Deezer, all with crystal-clear audio.
Available in a range of bright and muted shades.
Buy now £199.00, John Lewis
Champagne Laurent-Perrier Brut Millésimé 2015
An exceptional vintage of Champagne? Well, only the best for mum.
Laurent Perrier has bottled the best of 2015, a year that offered excellent grape-ripening conditions, and allowed it to age and develop complex notes. Light gold with a stream of fine bubbles, it's full of warm, floral flavours ending with sweet marmalade and buttered toast.
Buy now £79.75, The Whisky Exchange
Kate Somerville Game Changers Kit
Combining medical skin science with spa-like products, we are continually impressed with Kate Somerville's line of products. This bundle showcases three of her best: the Kateceuticals Resurfacing Overnight Peel, ExfoliKate treatment and HydraKate Recharging Serum. Each one delivers fast results; glowing, refined skin will be yours before you know it. Use together, love forever.
Buy now £229.00, Kate Somerville
Coravin Timeless Six+ Wine Preservation System
How many times have you wanted just one glass of wine but wound up drinking the whole bottle for fear it will ‘go off’ from oxidation? We’ve all been there.
Thanks to the innovative wine tool Coravin Pivot though, your mum can enjoy as much or as little as she likes without removing the cork. The rest will keep for years with a new glass tasting fresh every time. Not only does it preserve wine, but it aerates as it pours too, so her vino will taste just as the producers intended.
There’s also the Coravin Sparkling, which can preserve Champagne and other sparkling wines for up to four weeks. No longer will she have the excuse of waiting for a special occasion to sip something extraordinary. This little gadget will allow her to enjoy a little luxury, every day.
Buy now £399.99, Amazon
ABBA Voyage
It's one of the most talked-about productions in town, with streams of sequinned-speckled party-goers flooding the DLR’s Pudding Mill station for every performance.
Set in a purpose-built cathedral to one of Sweden's greatest musical exports, ABBA Voyage is the party every disco-lover must experience. With incredible lightwork and avatars that will leave you rubbing your eyes to believe aren't real, this is a peek at what the future of gigs could look like.
If your mum is up for dancing, standing tickets are most budget-friendly (nudge your way back to take it all in) while seated options mean you can see the 40-years-in-the-making production in all its glory.
Want to make it extra special? Add lounge access for bubbly and nibbles before the show takes off.
Bookings are available from £104.50.
Buy now £104.50, ABBA Voyage
Moshulu Colourful metallic leather mule slippers
Slippers are a failsafe gift for mums, but give them a disco makeover with this metallic silver pair from Moshulu. They're as comfortable as they are glitzy and come with a cushioned heel and faux fur collar, ensuring comfort with each step. Lightweight Moshulu patterned EVA soles mean you can run outside for the post or bins without fear of getting them soggy.
Buy now £36.75, Moshulu
Bosch Kitchen machine MUM59340 W Silver
Once you get past the curiously sexist name (MUM5), the Bosch kitchen machine is excellent. Not only is it a stand mixer, but also a blender, citrus juicer, food processor and meat grinder. You can even buy more attachments if you have alternate kitchen desires. While all these attachments take up a lot of space (packed with the mixer in a ginormous box), the basic tools and food processor blades come in a handy little bag — something that other stand mixers could definitely do with.
The shape of the mixer is pleasantly square, so tucks nicely into the corner of your kitchen. There’s a red light to tell you when the machine is switched on, which flashes at you if there’s something going wrong, such as the head not being locked in place. The only minor complaint we have is that the bowl is hard to click into place, but after a few goes you should get the hang of it.
Buy now £299.99, Currys
Carrie Elizabeth Jewellery Celestial Pearl Drop Earrings
Looking for understated elegance? These darling celestial-themed earrings with a pearl droplet are perfect for bringing sartorial sparkle to everyday wear. They're made from recycled silver and covered with 14k gold vermeil but if you're more of a silver jewellery kind of person, you can find them in sterling silver too.
Buy now £70.00, Carrie Elizabeth Jewellery
