Frank's Top 10 Christmas Wishlist

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs shearling bomber jacket, 2. An Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A Memoir of an Outsider in Paris by Stephanie LaCava, 3. Slowear plaid cotton chinos, 4. New Balance ML574 Backpack Trainers, 5. The Unknown Hipster Diaries by Jean-Philippe Delhomme, 6. Alexander McQueen wool and cotton sweater,

7. Jil Sander dinosaur tie, 8. Oliver Spencer leather brogue boots, 9. J.Crew leather iPhone 5 cover,

10. Sandro checked bomber jacket.

Christmas 2012 Wishlist: Davidelfin & APC Sweatshirts

I realised this week I have bought next to no jumpers this winter. And so I am sort of planning to remedy that over the next two months. Thinking about it I realised there would be no point in investing in woollen pieces and so I'm going for the chic cotton sweatshirt-y options.
Choice number 1 is this amazing Davidelfin inside out jumper. I have been so happy with the quality and the fit of the SS13 one I bought this summer and this one is even cooler but also more subtle. And I simply love all the details.
I fell in love with choice number 2 as soon as I saw it on a blog. I have been contemplating for months whether to buy the infamous Kenzo jumper of the season but eventually decided it was not for me. Instead, I would go for this vintage-flavoured APC one. I can't say what it is that makes me like it so much and that's reason enough to get it.

Christmas 2012 Wishlist: Dolce & Gabbana and Grado Headset

Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Even though I've always been quite tech friendly and often obsess about not having some of the latest gadgets at hand I've never quite got the new obsession the world had with old school headphones. Until I tried them, that is. My flatmate got himself a new set a few months back and, while not great aesthetically speaking, I must say it's like being transported to a new world.
My struggle since then has been finding a set that looks nice because it's a big enough of an accessory that you need to carefully choose it. And here it is, this season Dolce & Gabbana has partnered with industry leaders Grado to create this beautiful headset with mahogany wood. There is a certain vintage air to them, which I love, that mixes so well with the modern design. I am not too versed in these matters, but I'm told its "'open-air' technology allows a clearer sound’s reproduction for both the high and low frequency bands".
What better time to get them – or to make someone else get them for you – than Christmas?

Christmas Wishlist: Louis Vuitton travel rug

LouisVuitton.com

I can't quite remember what I read or watched a few years ago that made me realise how useful a travel blanket could be. Snobbery aside, most aeroplane blankets (unless you're flying First) are too thin and can smell too funky. Which is why an investment on a nice cashmere travel blanket is so worth it.
Cashmere is a lot warmer than normal wool but it's also a lot lighter, which makes it perfect for travelling. What I love about this particular Louis Vuitton one is, firstly, the subtle grey and olive check that adds a stylish note. And secondly, the leather holder that it comes with. This way you don't have to quickly fold your blanket on the way out of your plane, you can just roll it up and carry with as a bag or throw it into yours.
This blanket is a bit of an investment (!) but if you can splurge a little I'd say it's worth it.

Christmas Wishlist: The Montblanc Meisterstück

Courtesy of Montblanc

If five years ago someone had come up to me and told me I was going to get a pen for Christmas I would have cursed them inside. A fountain pen is, like whiskey, a thing you can only appreciate with age and wisdom. I don't know if this is normal for a young man getting closer to his mid twenties but I am beginning to want fewer and fewer things but make sure that what I get is excellent.
My dad is the owner of one of these incredible Montblanc pens. I remember my mum bought it for him years and years ago as a (I think) birthday present. Even since then he's taken good care of it. It's the pen with which he signs contracts, important letters and the like. I guess observing this over the years (I was, of course, not allowed to use the pen) contributed to my wanting my own one.
I would have to carefully choose the exact model and design I'd like. My dad's is a black roller pen model with a sort of silver grid –something very similar to this. And so I wonder whether the iconic Meisterstrück fountain pen, which celebrates its 87th anniversary, is the one for me.

Each Meisterstrück has a 18 K hand-ground gold nib with platinum inlay, three gold-plated rings, gold-plated clip and deep black precious resin barrel make this luxurious writing instrument a legend among fountain pens. The white star at the top of the pen represents the snow-covered summit of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, which height “4810” is engraved on the pen itself.
Do watch the beautiful video below. I was amazed by the time, care and craftsmanship that go into every single pen. This only makes me want a Montblanc pen even more!

Christmas Wishlist: Bally Scribe Made-To-Order Cigar Humidor

Courtesy of Karla Otto

Before you think that I've gone bananas, let me tell you that I never kid when it comes to Christmas-present wish-lists. You might think that some of my picks are a bit outrageous for someone my age but I was born a sophisticated (hopefully) middle-aged man in a kid's body.
I am in love with this Bally cigar humidor box. Even though I am not a regular cigar smoker I have been planning to become one for a while. After my initiation in the world of whiskey over a year ago it just feels right to take it to the next level, Mad Men style. And when I do I want to be ready, hence the presence of this item on my list.
The Scribe humidor box is a limited edition (only 100 pieces) item produced by Bally with Sri Lankan Macassar Ebony. It can store up to 300 cigars and, get this, it can also store a pair of shoes like Bally's Scribe made-to-order. So if, like me, you are approaching the cigar-smoking with baby steps, you will know there is a worthy purpose for this absolutely stunning box.

If you are interested, the 100 pieces will be on sale from mid-December at Bally stores.

Christmas Wishlist: Prada tartan wallet

GQ.com, Saks.com

I've always found the subject of changing wallets a hard one. I have only ever had two wallets so far (excluding surfing brand ones from my teens) because once you get used to one is hard to let it go.
I remember my first ever 'grown-up' wallet was from Prada –this classic nylon model that's still produced. I bought it at the first Prada store in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan when I was about 16 or 17. My mum tried to convinced me not to spend that money on a wallet but I repeated to her how much of a classic it was and so it had to be mine.
I stuck to my Prada wallet, which is in perfect condition even today, for quite a few years until in I decided to get a new one for practical reasons in the summer of 2010. I always find bulky wallets very annoying when I wear shorts or light trousers and so I wanted to get a card case type of wallet to alternate with the other one. I eventually went for a Louis Vuitton one in the classic brown Damier canvas.
This new slim model proved to be so much more practical than, in fact, I kept using it throughout the summer and into the following seasons until today. I won't say that I've made my mind about this yet but yesterday when I was going through GQ's holiday edition of 'Shop like an Editor'. In the list I found these super cool Prada card cases with asymmetric card slots and a tartan print which seemed a cool alternative to what I have now. I want to stick to the format but mix it up a bit. And so I've thought that if someone gave me one of these as a present for Christmas I would have to move on once again, seems like a good idea, no?

Christmas Wishlist: Nixon Tortoise Acetate collection

nixonnow.com

I inherited my obsession with shoes and watches from my dear father who, funnily enough, has also always been one of the most vocal about my spending through the years (he did fund all these years). It took me a long time to be able to buy shoes at Zara (what was I thinking?!) but I eventually realised it wasn't realistic  to have 30 great pairs of shoes.
However, I have struggled a lot more with watches and I still do. Apart from the odd Swatch I can never seem to find something I love  and that costs less than 3k. This means I only own six watches: A Swatch, a Michael Kors, an Emporio Armani, a D&G, an Eternamatic and a Baume & Mercier one. But I have finally found a watch that is worthy of joining the family.
I am obsessed with the Nixon 'tortoise acetate collection' because it has a kind of vintage feel but they're all super slick. I am not a fan of really busy spheres so it's no surprise that I chose the one in plain black. Most of my other watches have leather straps so I thought I'd mix it up with an all-acetate model. My favourite model in on sale online at Nordstrom and it is just over £100!! The perfect Christmas present.