Buying presents is often a tricky business, and a conversation with a friend last week reminded me of one of the nicest I have received in recent years, a little houndstooth Commes de Garcons leather wallet that goes everywhere with me (thank you, Andrew Innes). Small but quite beautiful, it has only improved with the bashings of daily life. If, like my poor husband, you are afflicted with a horribly fussy partner or friend, you could do a lot worse (whilst still being quite gentle on your own purse) than give one of these... (I just happened to notice that Liberty have a gorgeous parrot-hued version at the moment..!)