The items that Santa will find on our Wish Lists this year.

With Christmas just around the corner, we are busily trawling through this year’s gift selection on MR PORTER. And it is more recherché and more rarefied than ever before. Indeed, it reads like a list of booty Lord Byron might have brought home after one of his many jaunts across the continent (and beyond). There’s a telescope that looks like it could have been used by Mr Galileo Galilei, an accompanying astronomer set , a sterling silver bottle opener in the shape of a duck, a bamboo handled truffle shaver, a mother of pearl caviar knife as well as Japanese tea sets and cashmere-covered hot water bottles. Not to mention a stylish array of designer wallets and sumptuous woollens, a better selection of which you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere on the planet. So with more choice than ever we’ve struggled to whittle our Wish Lists down to just three items. Here’s the requests we’ll be sending to Santa this season.

Ms Mariah Carey might very well have just wanted you for Christmas, but my taste runs a little more in the direction of a nice new tie, an instant camera, and a means to keep frost bite off my fingers. And why not? The festive season, after all, calls for festive behaviour and festive dressing. Often that means black tie in the evening and a suit and tie in the day.

This Paul Smith polka-dot number in knitted silk gives an added lustre to a light blue shirt. While these Paul Smith gloves with their blue and red trim will ensure my fingers will still be functioning when I arrive at the New Year party with my new Leica Sofort Instant camera, in turn meaning I won’t forget what mischief I got up to in my new tie – which, depending on how I acquit myself, could be both good or bad thing.

I’ve just moved into a new apartment and the look I am going for I’ve termed Parisian minimalism. You know, where you keep rooms relatively empty apart from a few key mid-century pieces, white walls and a parquet floor. That’s the plan at least; the end result may end up looking more like a garage sale. Still, any additions on the technology front will need to blend in rather than shout too loud. And that’s where B&O Play’s new M5 speaker comes in. It’s small and discreet, and covered in wool (yes, wool), but powerful enough to blast Mr Frank Sinatra’s “Jingle Bells” as I host a dinner party for my friends staying in London over Christmas. I’ll probably end wearing this pyjama shirt for New Year (not a trend, but my trend of the moment) and the bottoms will be perfect for Christmas morning, lounging around listening to the carols on Radio 2 before joining my family for lunch. My third and final wish is for a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso with a tan ostrich strap. As a fan of vintage watches, I love this one because the Art Deco design has barely changed in more than 80 years.

I’m obsessed with NOMOS Glashütte watches and I’m delighted they are now on MR PORTER. I love the understated simplicity of the design and they represent terrific value for money given their intricate internal workings. I also appreciate the fact that they remain something of an insider brand. If you know, then you know.

I recently read a glorious cover feature on Mr Robert Redford in US Esquire magazine and it made me think I need to be more Mr Robert Redford. Having a framed picture of Mr Robert Redford being Mr Robert Redford on my wall will help me keep this New Year’s resolution, I feel.

Do I need a paperweight in the shape of a dumbbell? No, I absolutely do not. Do I want one? Why, yes. Yes, I believe I very much do. Thank you.

Getting fit has been one of those carry-over New Year’s resolutions that’s been haunting me in 2017. Next year will be the year, though, because I’ve signed up for the London Marathon and my training is already underway. However, I’ve learned the hard way (blisters, chafing, etc) that when it comes to the gear, comfort and performance are key to all that pavement pounding. That’s why I’ve put these Nike Running flyknit trainers on my Wish List – they are fitted with lightweight, cushioning rubber soles that are engineered to enhance performance. Not only will they soften the blow of those treadmill sessions, but they’re easy on the eye, too. This lightweight jacket by Nike will keep me warm and dry on those early mornings. And all that arctic air on my face will undoubtedly take its toll on my skin, which is why I’ve asked asked for this face cream by French apothecary brand Buly 1803. It hydrates via linden water, soothes thanks to sweet almond oil and moisturises because it contains shea butter. Plus, who wouldn’t want that olde-worlde packaging front and centre in their bathroom cabinet?

What do you get the man who has everything? My parents often accuse me of being that man. And my answer to them this holiday is: “Aha, but I don’t have a shearling trapper hat, do I? Do I?” I’m imagining I’d wear this on some fantastic wintry adventure, with a Junya Watanabe down jacket and some Moncler hiking boots. But the likelihood is I’ll spend most of the time indoors, where I want to be inhaling two things: a nice G&T (from one of these Soho Home highballs) and the fumes of one of these brilliant looking candles from Fornasetti.

I’ll be taking an extended break in January, during which I intend to “find myself”. This will involve temporarily turning my back on material things, and so for obvious reasons my Christmas Wish List is a little more succinct than normal. I’ll still need a bag, though – what am I supposed to do, carry my stuff around under my arm? – and this one, from Filson, has exactly the kind of Mr Jack Kerouac, Beat-poet, hitchhiker-on-the-road-to-nowhere look that I’m going for. My spiritual journey will need a soundtrack, too, so into the bag will go this delightful, pebble-shaped portable speaker from B&O Play. And let’s not forget a suitably masculine beard oil for the rugged facial hair that I will attempt, and no doubt fail, to grow while I’m away.

I’m aiming high this year adding this James Purdey & Sons backpack and blanket set to my list. Made by one of the finest English countryside brands, it’s beautiful, practical and sure to be hardwearing – it will make weekend ambles that much more appealing. Also on the list and made with incredible materials and attention to detail is this Montblanc pen. A fineliner model makes it practical for daily note making and sketching. And finally, this super seasonal wool blend sweater from Mr P. is comfortable, but still refined enough to be worn to any occasion in late December. Fingers crossed.

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