Life & Style | Beauty & Fashion
Your guide to online gift shopping
Make gift-buying for friends and family overseas easy this festive season with Louise Emma Clarke's selection of the best online stores with worldwide delivery
- By Louise Emma Clarke for Aquarius magazine
- Published: 00:00 December 1, 2011
- Image Credit: Getty Images
- Online shopping takes the stress out of buying gifts.
Best for personalised gifts: www.notonthehighstreet.com
Go here if you want... High-quality, unique gifts that show you've put a lot of thought into them.
What they offer This UK website combines hundreds of independent gift retailers under one easy-to-navigate site. There are more than 35,000 different gift ideas - from framed prints, to jewellery, to home accessories, to toys. The company handpicks high-quality, original items and this attention to detail is reflected in the selection on offer. What really stands out are the gifts that can be personalised with names, initials, places, or special dates.
Price range From £5 (Dh30) for personalised wooden blocks for children, to £500 (Dh2900) for large pieces of bespoke art.
Aquarius loves... The Bespoke Heart Map Art, from £48 (Dh280); the Personalised Your Story Necklace, from £54 (Dh310); and the children's Personalised Dinosaur T-Shirt, from £19 (Dh110).
Delivery details Delivery terms are set by the individual retailer, but most items are offered worldwide. Delivery price and times vary, so check details carefully before ordering.
Best for Dubai luxury: www.boutique1.com
Go here if you want… To treat friends and family overseas to a taste of the UAE's luxurious designer fashion and home buys.
What they offer Much like the company's Dubai boutique, this slick website is packed with fashionable designer buys for women, men, and children. Browse the jewellery, lifestyle, and home section for unique gift ideas, where you'll find some gems amongst the virtual rails. It may not be the cheapest website, but everything is guaranteed to be stylish and high-quality.
Price range From Dh85 for a glass vase, to Dh15,000 for designer fur shrugs.
Aquarius loves… The Smythson Live, Love, Laugh Notebook, Dh285; a Zoe and Morgan Love Necklace, Dh700; Orlebar Brown Swimming Shorts, Dh755.
Delivery details UAE delivery is free of charge (next working day). International delivery starts at 120 AED (2-3 working days).
Best for gourmet gifts: www.harrods.com
Go here if you want… Tasty hampers or gift boxes of festive food to satisfy all tastebuds.
What they offer The online shopping portal of London's most iconic department store is packed with high-end buys in fashion, beauty, and accessories. Much like the store itself, however, it's the food and drink section that really impresses, with a tempting selection of festive hampers. For food lovers or wine buffs, these selections will satisfy the fussiest palates.
Price range From £3.95 (Dh23) for a pot of Christmas Mustard, to £100 (Dh5800) for the most opulent festive hampers.
Aquarius loves... Harrods The Christmas Carol Hamper, £100 (Dh580 AED); Harrods Hot Chocolate Drink, £19.95 (Dh115); and Harrods Traditional Panettone (1kg), £19.95 (Dh115).
Delivery details Harrods delivers to more than 40 countries worldwide. UK delivery is 3-5 working days and starts at £5.95 (Dh35), while international delivery (10-12 days) costs between £20 and £25 (Dh115 and Dh145).
Best for quirky, one-of-a-kind gifts: www.etsy.com
Go here if you want… To ensure that your gifts are totally unique.
What they offer US-based website Etsy gives an online platform to thousands of small businesses. Most of the items are handmade, totally unique, and extremely affordable, giving the site the feel of a vast craft fair. If you need to buy a gift for someone who likes the items in their home, wardrobe, and jewellery collection to be one-of-a-kind, this is the site to visit. Allow time to browse and buy, as the choice is a little overwhelming.
Price range From $5 (Dh20) for a delicate handmade bracelet, to $600 (Dh2200) for a leather bag.
Aquarius loves… Typewriter Cufflinks, $44.99 (Dh165); Rose Quartz and Lapis Lazuli 14k Plated Handmade Ring, $48.88 (Dh180); and a Recycled Suit iPad Tablet Case Sleeve, $29 (Dh105).
Delivery details Delivery depends on the retailer, but most items are delivered internationally. Prices and delivery times vary, so check details before ordering.
Best for an unbeatable selection: www.aura-b.com
Go here if you want... To shop for all your friends and family in one easy transaction - whether they're young, mature, male, or female.
What they offer This Middle Eastern online boutique offers plenty of unique gift ideas for the whole family. The site specialises in art and fashion, with a focus on encouraging new regional and international designers. We love the selection of children and baby gifts, quirky home accessories, and unframed photographs. There's something to please everyone and the site is easy to navigate.
Price range From Dh85 for baby bibs, to Dh13,000 for original paintings.
Aquarius loves... Personalised Baby Baskets, Dh681; Babatude 100 per cent Cashmere Cushion Covers, Dh365 each; and Dubai Marina Photograph, Dh552.
Delivery details Aura-B delivers to more than 170 countries around the world (2-8 days). A handy shipping calculator helps to work out costs, depending on location and weight.
Best for fun things for kids: www.sandypants.com
Go here if you want... To treat kids to bright, colourful, and imaginative gifts without breaking the bank.
What they offer SandyPants is a UAE-based website that handpicks toys, gifts, and clothing designed to bring back the magic and nostalgia we remember from our own childhoods. The company encourages active lifestyles with a large selection of outdoor toys - while the educational toys are so cleverly designed that kids won't even know they are learning.
Price range From Dh21 for puzzles, to Dh1749 for large playhouses.
Aquarius loves Paint Your Own Funky Wellies, Dh99; World Velcro Globe, Dh220; and the Wheelybug Mouse, Dh300.
Delivery details UAE delivery (1-3 days) starts at Dh20, while international delivery is available worldwide (1-3 days) and starts at Dh100.
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