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It's only nine weeks until Christmas. And, like everyone else, I've already been overloaded with more catalogues, adverts and "book your Christmas party now" flyers than I care to mention. 

Amongst this deluge of "stuff" there's the obligatory blog and magazine "Christmas Gift Guide". Now, to my mind Christmas gift guides in a vacuum aren't really very useful. Without being able to relate to the person the guide has been put together for, I often find it hard to test whether the gifts might be appropriate for my nearest and dearest.

On that basis, I've decided to put together a guide for me (being the person I know best), made up of gifts available at middle England's favourite department store, John Lewis. You all know me by now, so I'm hoping you can all relate!

1. The Look

Thomas Pink Comfort Stretch Plain Shirt, £69.00

Christmas Party. Christmas Day. New Year's Eve. All occasions where you need a good, crisp, fresh shirt. This plain shirt from Jermyn Street tailor Thomas Pink should do the trick for all three.

And whether in blue, pink or white this is going to look classic and super-sophisto.

2. The Accessory

Mulberry Scotchgrain Simple Clipper Holdall, £550.00

Driving home for Christmas? Perhaps load your presents into this very handsome Scotchgrain Clipper by Mulberry. This bag is durable, beautiful in this mole with cognac trim, and wins humongous man points in my eyes.

It's going to look incredible with that blue Thomas Pink shirt you've just bought, too.

3. Morning Time

Bialetti Moka Express Hob Espresso Maker, £26.40

Hangover after the office party? Then, if you haven't already been dragged into the world of Nespresso, this Bialetti Espresso Maker is an iconic way to make your morning brew. Big enough for six cups, it also means you can cater for those colleagues who had to stay at your place because they couldn't be trusted to get home safely.

4. Cocktail Hour

Alessi Juicy Salif Citrus Squeezer, £48.00

If you're having your own Christmas get together, than you can make preparing those cocktails easier with this instantly recognisable design from Italian brand Alessi. Squeezing those lemons has never been so cool.

5. Travel Necessity

Otis Batterbee Prince of Wales Eye Mast, £45.00

If you're a frequent flyer, why not ask for this Prince of Wales chequed eye mask by Otis Batterbee as a stocking filler? Entirely made in England, and scented with lavender, you can feel both patriotic and luxurious as you get some shut-eye on that red-eye.

6. Fresh-Faced

Kiehl's Facial Fuel Transformer, £27.00

Every Christmas means another year gone (#doom, #gloom). So it's never too early to take into account protecting your visage as part of your Christmas wish-list. This age-correcting moisturiser from Kiehl's could be the start of your attack on any signs of ageing, or just to counter the general weariness following the hectic holiday season.

All products are available at John Lewis.

La Prairie, Cellular Emulsion Matte Pore Minimiser (£150.00 (approx.), 50ml)

Pretty please.

I want some so bad. Would anyone like to donate? Please? Pretty please? 

Product Review: Elemis Time for Men, Time Defence Wrinkle Delay (£54.00, 50ml)‏

Straight up: this is an anti-ageing moisturiser and I'm 26. So, perhaps some of the qualities of this product are a little lost on me. Having said that, I do like Elemis' Time Defence Wrinkle Delay very much.

Elemis - pumped and plumped

And I'll tell you why. First, quite frankly it just feels lovely. Silky smooth and quite fine, Elemis have captured well the way you want an anti-ageing moisturiser to feel on the skin.

Secondly, and importantly for me, the finish is non-shiny. I have mainly been testing this product as a night cream, so I question how well it would cope with a day out in the hot and sweaty city, but then not many products can.

On the anti-ageing piece, the anti-oxidant ingredients are designed to pump and plump the skin. They seem to do just that - my skin is certainly left feeling well hydrated and smooth.

Finally, it's totally fragrance free (unlike many other products claiming similar), leaving you free to scent up of your own accord.

No. 7 - doing a job for £23.00

To preach, it pays to use anti-ageing products before you feel (and, more importantly in this scenario, look) "aged". They tend to be preventative, rather than curative and as such you want to splash out on the right product at the early signs of ageing. I don't think the Elemis product would be any different.

Any anti-ageing moisturiser is going to be priced more highly than the average generic moisturiser. Even the Boots classic No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Moisturiser is £23.00. At £54.00, I can't deny that Elemis have priced themselves towards the top end of the market.

However, when my time comes, I may well be tempted by it.