Mert Alas' Christmas wish list

Mert Alas' Christmas wish listFrom Venezian slippers to ballet tickets, here’s everything the creative director wants to find under his tree this year

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The photographer, creative director and co-founder of Seventy One Gin is after crisp shirts, early-edition tomes and thigh-high boots.

Here’s his 2025 Christmas wish list.

Marchesi 1824 panettone

Marchesi 1824

From the golden crumb to the delicate perfume of butter and candied fruit, Marchesi’s panettone is the definition of Christmas.

£49, marchesi1824.com

Piedàterre Venezia slippers

Piedàterre Venezia

Handmade in Venice since 1952. Add your initials for that personal, sartorial flourish.

From £229, piedaterrevenezia.com

Vintage 1990s Vivienne Westwood T-shirts

Yoox

You can’t fake that kind of energy. A little rebellion…Always romantic.

Vintage, prices vary, vestiairecollective.com

Tickets to the Royal Ballet

Tristram Kenton

I’m once again addicted to ballet — it’s something I love to give and to receive.

Prices vary, rbo.org.uk

Semra Russell’s doll paintings

I love discovering new artists. I’m currently obsessed with Semra Russell’s hauntingly beautiful doll paintings — they stay with you long after you’ve seen them.

From £1,100, @semrarussellstudio

Four days at SHA Mexico

SHA Wellness Clinic

After the chaos of December, nothing beats disappearing into the sun at SHA’s new wellness clinic — clean food, yoga and zero agenda.

From £4,535 including the rebalance and energise programme, shawellness.com

Saint Laurent never fails to impress

YSL

For men, these thigh-high Robert Mapplethorpe tribute boots are the perfect mix of classic and provocative.

£3,350, ysl.com

Charvet Paris shirt

Charvet Paris

Crisp-collared perfection. If you’re in Paris, visit the store at 28 Place Vendôme for bespoke, initialled incarnations.

From £525, mrporter.com

Seventy One gin

Seventy One Gin

I love gifting the large bottle with two minis tied to it — it always makes for the start of a very good night.

£168 for 700ml, £58 for 20cl, seventyonegin.com

Early-edition classics

Peter Harrington

Finding an early fabric-bound edition of Wilde or Dante is very sexy. There’s something tactile and timeless about giving words that have already lived a life.

Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray 1895 edition, £750, peterharrington.co.uk