The sales have been coming thick and fast this week, and I have been trying not to get caught up in the pandemonium. Then I spotted my favourite wine glasses in the Oka Black Friday sale, and everything changed. I have never seen them discounted before now.
They have long been my benchmark for the best glassware. Not because they try to be impressive but because they simply are. Elegant without being ostentatious, pleasingly weighty, flattering to every table I have ever put together. The Pulcinella Large Wine Glasses have become my signature move, the one thing people always notice, even when the rest of the table is a bit ad hoc.
So the fact that they are finally reduced feels almost mischievous, as if someone at Oka has accidentally discounted my most adored possession. I will be buying yet another set and would encourage anyone who enjoys a beautifully dressed table to do exactly the same. There are not many things I would happily evangelise about, but these glasses have earned that honour many times over.
I have the large size and use them constantly, but they also come in small wine glasses if a crisp Gavi or a bright Picpoul is more your style than a full-bodied Malbec. Both sizes feel elegant, and they suit any table style. They make the ultimate gift for an interiors enthusiast because they look beautiful in a cupboard, on a table, and in someone’s hand. I reach for mine all year, and they are always admired.
I should also say that for something so elegant, they are remarkably robust. Mine have survived busy dinner parties, hurried clear-ups, and more than a few crowded dishwasher loads without complaint. There is something reassuring about having glassware that looks refined but can genuinely handle real life.
If I were given these as a present, I would be genuinely thrilled. They feel considered in a way that shows someone knows you well and appreciates the joy of a beautifully set table. They are the sort of gift that becomes part of everyday life rather than something stored away for special occasions, and I think that is what makes them so successful. Anyone who loves their home would be delighted to unwrap them.
If you adore these just as much as me, but are looking for something a little more modestly priced, I found a few others that you might adore.
I have already picked up a few of these for Christmas gifts because they are so beautiful. They look effortlessly boutique but are very reasonably priced at Habitat. You will thank me later.
If you prefer a long, elegant stem to a shorter, chunkier glass, these are a fantastic option. They bring the same effortless style and refined feel to your table, while being very modestly priced.
Drawing inspiration from the 1960s white swirled glass lights of Soho House Rome, these glasses are breathtakingly beautiful and now reduced so heavily that I had to double-check.
I am often asked how I approach tablescaping, and the truth is I favour a timeless but informal, thrown-together style. I hate anything overly curated or themed and prefer pieces that feel effortless yet refined. Classic silhouettes, sumptuous textures, and considered layering allow a table to look inviting and stylish without ever appearing forced. These are the kinds of pieces with perennial appeal, and these Oka wine glasses in particular work beautifully all year round, subtly elevating any setting, whether in the height of summer or the depth of winter.
Throw in some antique brass candlesticks, linen napkins (I love these napkins from Rebecca Uddall), classic plates, and lashings of fresh flowers or foliage from the garden, and it will always look beautiful.
For anyone who loves considered, elegant table settings, these Oka wine glasses make the perfect tableware gifts. They are timeless, versatile, and effortlessly elevate any occasion, making them a treat to give or keep for yourself.
