I love Christmas and I like to be super organised so that I can enjoy it. Here’s my guide to a stylish festive season:
Plan Christmas
Organising Christmas early means that I can have a (relatively) stress-free December. This means I aim to have everything ticked off and ready to go by the end of November. That means, right now, my tree is up and decorated, my cards and presents are wrapped (and posted) and my Christmas party wardrobe is ready to go.
Decorating for Christmas
I love decorations and this year I bought my bright, festive honeycomb decorations from Amazon and the Conran Shop. For the tree I wanted loads of silver and gold with pops of colour - I’m going kitsch. I go through my decorations (accumulated over years) and lay out the ones that I want to use and then I call in the experts from Seventh Heaven Events to do the hard part. They put put the tree (always fake - in Australia where I grew up our tree was tinsel, I didn’t even know you could get a real one till I was about 14), do a fantastic staircase garland and mount a big festive wreath on the front door. This year I’ve also propped up a big garland by the fireplace as I liked the way it looked next to some books on the mantle - I’ll worry about the practicalities of that when it’s cold enough to light the fire.
Wrapping Christmas
The next thing on my list is writing all my Christmas cards and the wrapping the presents. I always pick one signature paper every year to make it easier and this year is from Paperchase and I always use a great ribbon, this year I ordered from Amazon.
Gifts for Christmas
As we’ve just launched our first candle at DONNA IDA called I’ve Got My Eye On You Candle a lot of my family and friends will have that in their stocking from me. It is a great, easy gift - who doesn’t love a candle? - and the scent is instantly recognisable as ours. It has top notes of tomato leaf, fig, cassis and baise - so delicious! I’ve bought a lot of You Can’t See Me Sleep Masks (for those who want total peace and in bed) and Dream Catcher Silk Pouches from our new lifestyle range. There is a little card inside the Dream Catcher asking you to write down your dream and think good thoughts so you wish for everything you want and go into the New Year feeling hopeful. It’s always the perfect time to reassess and commit to goals for the year ahead. For Christmas this year, my one hope is to find a new pair of shoes under the Christmas tree. I lost one of my Gucci loafers in a taxi earlier this year (how do you lose just one shoe?) and they need to be replaced with a new pair - that’s all I want!
Dressing for Christmas
For Christmas parties, I will be wearing a new top called Maggie in Love (our famous Maggie is in a gentle loving phase) which is a gorgeous crimson red with black stars - so festive - to slip on with high waisted Rizzo the Ankle Skinny or my current favourite the Kitty Kat - in literally any denim or cord in the range. Every year Bobby Dazzler and I take his family to the Ritz for Afternoon Tea in the week leading up to Christmas and this year I’ll be wearing Friller Cashmere Jumper to bring in a bit of razzamatazz to The Ritz and distract them from the fact that I definitely will be wearing jeans, albeit black ones. A chic, comfortable and cosy December outfit.
Donna wears Friller Cashmere Jumper in Posh Break and Kitty Kat Jeans in 70s Memphis
On Christmas Day I’ll wear my DONNA IDA Lounge Lizard Pyjamas with my Manolo Blahnik red Chaos sandals (which I want in every colour).
Donna wears Lounge Lizard Silk Pyjamas
In the morning, Bobby Dazzler and I will have champagne, caviar and kedgeree before heading for Christmas drinks with our friends in the village. In the afternoon, Bobby Dazzler will be in charge of Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and I’ll be in charge of the drinks so I will change into the Everyday in St Tropez top to mix things up a bit. I always aim to be in bed by 8pm to recover from the day and to watch Christmas movies. Heaven!
Donna wears Every Day in St Tropez Blouse with Lounge Lizzard Pyjama Bottoms
Drinks for Christmas
While Bobby Dazzler cooks up the perfect festive meal, I am in charge of the drinks with my signature Gin & Tonic. I use an oversize balloon glass and pour either Bloom Gin or Apothecary Gin over ice. Then I add one small can of Scheweppes soda water with one small can of Fever Tree Tonic. Then add two freshly cut 1-2 inch sprigs of rosemary from the garden and 5 or 6 blueberries. The perfect drink.
Christmas Desserts
Anyone who follows my Instastories will know that I love baking and making desserts. To satisfy my sweet tooth, I will make the simple chocolate mousse recipe I’ve been making for years. It is from my recipe box which I bought over from Australia which is full of family recipes and favourites that I have been accumulating for years. As I’ve been cooking since I was tiny tiny (I used to drive mum nuts), I’ve been making this particular recipe since I was 16. Some of you will have clocked a frustrating disaster with it about 3 weeks ago - it took 4 goes to make it, after years and years of making the same dessert I was suddenly burning the chocolate. Slow and steady wins the race - I should have learnt that by now.
Donna wears Dolly Flight Suit
Beauty for Christmas
In Winter I find the harsh winds and indoor heating can be brutal on the skin so I seek out a lot of oils from Aromatherapy Associates so I can moisturise, moisturise and moisturise. I also love a facial and recommend and Dr Sebagh in Marylebone and also QMS Medicosmetics at Liberty London and I am also partial to a Tripe Oxygen Facial at Bliss. Brilliant facials and so soothing.
Donna wears Lois Jeans and Grown Up In Chelsea Blouse
Denim Tips for 2018
Looking ahead to next year, the mini bootcut is still big news in denim as it is perfect for women who want a move on from the skinny but still love how great a skinny silhouette makes you look, so look to the Lois style with lace detail at the hem and Lila in Big Starry Skies for a more extreme kick out at the bottom. Detail also continues to make a come back with embroidery on the leg of the Kitty Kat Jeans in Secret Garden and stars on the back pockets of Lila. We haven’t seen a lot of back pocket details on denim for 12-13 years so it is a nice move on which looks super fresh.
Donna wears How Frilling Shirt in Western Sunset
Instagram Competition
For a chance to win our new lifestyle collection including our Lounge Lizard Silk Pyjamas £325, I've Got My Eye On You Candle £45, You Can’t See Me Sleep Mask £40, Smoothly Does It Pillow Case £100 & Dream Catcher £35: Follow both @donnaida and @donnaidadenim Like the post featuring this competition and leave a comment, tagging THREE friends who love the festive season & tell us how you’d spend Christmas Day wearing your Lounge Lizard Pyjamas. Enter by 11:59 pm GMT Sunday 17th December 2017. A winner will be announced on Monday 18th December in our #InstagramStories. Good luck!
Only one entry will count. Friends who are tagged need to enter their own comment to enter. DONNA IDA Lounge Lizard Pyjamas are available in XS, S, M and Large and the winner has to select a size within one week.
T&Cs - DONNA IDA's general competition rules apply. Prize is non-refundable and no cash alternatives.
