11 Big Birthday Presents To Splurge On

A commission at Erdem's Bespoke Atelier moves through four distinct stages – and none of them are rushed. It begins with a consultation, talking through ideas with the design team, before moving into sketching and the selection of custom fabrics and signature embroideries. Fittings are then held in London to lock in the fit, and only after that does the piece move into final construction. The atelier specialises in eveningwear and tailoring, and every garment is built individually rather than adapted from something already on the rail. The experiences take place in Erdem’s two London flagship stores, South Audley Street in Mayfair and Sloane Street in Knightsbridge.

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Selfridges has taken private shopping up a notch with 40 Duke, its new 25,000 sq ft destination above the London flagship. Designed around personal shopping, the space brings together private suites, a concierge service, dining, drinks and cultural programming, so a shopping appointment can easily turn into a full afternoon. The experience is highly personalised, with dedicated shoppers on hand to curate everything from a single look to a complete lifestyle edit – all with the kind of attention you’d expect from a private members’ club. Access is available through a personal shopping appointment or to top-tier Selfridges Unlocked members.

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Hax offers both custom and made-to-measure tailoring. You’ll find the studio in Mayfair, close enough to Savile Row to borrow its heritage without inheriting its formality. Every commission begins the same way – a direct conversation about measurements, fit, cloth and detail – with cloth sourced from established merchants. Two-piece suits start at £1,100, with coats, dresses and shearling pieces also made to order. Some clients walk in with the whole design already worked out; others need steering through fabric and styling choices from nothing, and Hax offers as much or as little input as they want. Hattie Glendenning founded the business in 2023, and every visit is by appointment, so no consultation or fitting competes with another client's time.

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All Cartier purchases can be made unmistakably personalised by engraving a name, initials or a date onto the piece. Some boutiques will go further, adding a handwritten message or a simple motif, depending on the piece of jewellery. There's also a separate option worth knowing about: Cartier offers a personalisation service on certain boxes. The hot stamping service is offered exclusively in selected boutiques and can be used to emboss initials or a symbolic date onto a jewellery case.

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Striking hotel Jnane Rumi sits in the Palmeraie, Marrakech's roughly 1,000-year-old palm grove, about ten minutes' drive from the Medina. Its most recent renovation was carried out with reference to architect Charles Boccara's original design rather than against it, and a bathroom with a nine-metre-high domed ceiling, alongside a dedicated hammam and massage room, anchor the property's quieter side. Seven en-suite bedrooms make up the main house, with most opening onto private terraces or balconies, arranged around a 13m x 6m pool and gardens holding more than 150 palm trees. For guests who want more separation, a standalone annex offers its own salon, enclosed garden, pool and terraces, along with three smaller pavilions – enough that the whole estate can be booked exclusively for a group or an event rather than shared.

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