Depicted as a celebration of love and family, the festive season is actually much more about panicking what to gift your best friend or your aunt you see once a year. Christmas has shifted to be a fete of consumerism, making everyone fall into the traps of capitalism at the end of the year. Still, receiving gifts counts as one of the five love languages. It is an act of signaling to someone that you have thought of them, thus expanding a present to more than just its materialistic value when it holds meaning.
So, for you to lean back and enjoy the festive season, SLEEK has curated a list of actually cool Christmas gifts.
Image Courtesy of PLAYBABE.
PLAYBABE CALENDAR
Playing with its namesake and giving it a feminist twist, the PLAYBABE calendar is reclaiming the traditional use of women’s bodies in our culture. By placing it in the center of the project, the photos are challenging society’s norms with hypersexual visual language. The graphics of the calendar also translate to its cause. PLAYBABE is a non-profit project aiming to raise funds for feminist associations with this year’s calendar supporting sex workers’ rights by donating 100 percent of the sales benefits to HYDRA Berlin.
Get your PLAYBABE calendar here.
Image Courtesy of luce Berlin.
LUCE BERLIN CALENDAR
Holiday seasons scream for a feast of home-cooked meals. Luce Berlin will give you a full table of food which is tempting to delve into but disappointedly not edible. Each piece is a candle or even more so art, which can be lit to set the mood for the festive season.
Image Courtesy of TYT.
TYT TIGHTS AND SOCKS
Socks as Christmas presents are often greeted with disappointed faces. Though not with TYT, the UK-based label is making socks and tights in the most fun and surprising way, thus actually becoming the main piece under every Christmas tree.
Image Courtesy of Simon & Schuster.
‘DOWN THE DRAIN’ BY JULIA FOX
To also nourish the brain, Julia Fox‘s book “Down the Drain” will give some food for thought. The hotly anticipated book comes with rawness and authenticity. Julia Fox tells her story of her rough path to cultural supremacy, giving an intimate insight into her childhood, her time as a dominatrix and her trials of supporting her son as a single mother. A true masterpiece, as cited by the words of the icon.
Image Courtesy of Breuninger.
THE FLOWERPOT VP9 LAMP
This timeless treasure is for all design lovers: The FLOWERPOT VP9 table lamp was designed by Verner Patron in the 60s. With its iconic vibrant colors and simple and geometric shape, this lamp stands out in a sea of traditional designs. It offers a modern and minimalist touch, nodding to the pop-art movement and to everyone who wants to have a little bit of space-age glamour in their room.
Image Courtesy of Simnett.
MARIANNA SIMNETT’S MOUTH ASHTRAY ‘OGRESS’
Unleash your friend’s dark and rebellious humor by gifting them one of Marianna Simnett’s mouth ashtrays – a quirky masterpiece that’s anything but ordinary. Crafted from a white concrete cast of the artist’s own mouth, the sculpture is designed to evolve with time. Instead of staying white and clean, the ashtray encourages a delightful mess. Each piece is meticulously hand-crafted, making it a unique Christmas surprise. And to all the non-smokers: You could also use it as a paperweight.
Image Courtesy of Voo Berlin.
NEEDY NESSY BLANKET
Who would have thought that the Loch Ness monster was needy? We didn’t know either. The blanket by the sex-positive brand Carne Bollente is definitely fun to look at. Kind of cute, kind of sexy and kind of weird. Needy Nessy is made from a cotton blend with a multi-colored fringed hem. So, if you wanna gift something for the cold winter days to snuggle in, this is the perfect thing for you.
Image Courtesy of Voo Berlin.
HOT LEGS COWBOY BOOT CANDLE HOLDERS
Saddle up, style enthusiasts! Introducing the Hot Legs cowboy boot candle holders in red by LA Walker – the wild-west-meets-chic-décor vibe your own or your friend’s space has been craving. Handmade in the heart of Berlin, these beautiful candle holders strut their stuff with a glossy finish and a silhouette that screams “yeehaw!”. With a little bit of imagination, they could also be the pointy shoes of Santa Claus.
Image Courtesy of Nicole England.
‘RESIDENT DOG’ BY NICOLE ENGLAND
Books are always a good purchase for Christmas. “Resident Dog” by Nicole England is the ultimate coffee table delight for architecture enthusiasts, interior lovers and dog friends. The book showcases stylish and luxurious homes and their furry inhabitants – capturing the heartwarming chaos of dogs; from French bulldogs to Labradoodles, all making themselves comfortable amidst stunning backgrounds. It’s a fun, cute and inspiring journey through photographs of pets stealing the spotlight, turning every page into a charming celebration of style and four-legged companionship.
Image Courtesy of Oystersia.
OYSTERSIA
You can never go wrong with jewelry. Berlin-based label Oystersia offers necklaces that take a twist on the usage of pendants, making each piece unique and contrasting the generic jewelry you receive every other year.