Michael Bastian Dachshund Intarsia Cashmere Sweater
If your New Year’s resolution is to wear more jumpers with animals on them (hey, it’s more realistic than trying to stick to an all-kale diet) then cast your eyes over Mr Bastian’s sausage dog. Designed exclusively for Mr Porter, the dachshund snakes around a 100 per cent cashmere sweater, to liven up your off-duty outfits. And if you still feel like getting fit, then just take it out for walkies. Available at Mr Porter, priced £635.
Sonos PLAY:5 Wireless Speaker
Sonos has carved out a niche in sleek speakers that don’t look too speaker-y, a brief ably filled by the smart new PLAY:5. Expect great sound and simple connectivity as standard, plus a new ‘Trueplay’ feature that measures the acoustics of your room for the best possible playback. It also sits unobtrusively on a bookshelf, unlike those child-sized hi-fi towers you’ve been meaning to get rid of. Available at Sonos, priced £429.
Comme des Garçons Play Pullover Hoodie
Yes, we all intend to get fit this year. But just in case the flesh proves less willing, this Commes des Garçons hoodie at least nods to the gym, even if you only ever wear it to the juice bar. Crafted in Japan from high-quality cotton, it’s the ideal thing to pull on post-shower, but will also slot under a jacket to tip your smart-casual officewear to the relaxed end of the spectrum. Well, you need a rest after all that exercise. Available at END Clothing, priced £196.
Frescobol Carioca Trancoso Wooden Beach Bat & Ball Set
Grey days can sap your spirit. So pep up by getting your summer jollies planned early. If the post-Christmas bank balance won’t quite stretch to all-inclusive on St Barths, then this luxury bat and ball set from Brazilian-inspired brand Frescobol Carioca should take out some of January’s sting. And we think that a quick game in the living room definitely counts as a day’s exercise. Available at Mr Porter, priced £150.
Olloclip iPhone 6 Studio Case
Kickstarter-funded Olloclip has released a comprehensive collection of pieces to turn your smartphone into a full photography studio, including a kickstand, mounts and finger grips. You could use it to take semi-professional photographs of your loved ones. But we all know that this is your ticket to Kendall Jenner-level selfies. Available at Olloclip, priced £79.99.
Fitbit Blaze Watch
For the fitness freak, the Apple Watch didn’t quite stack up (not least because the price tag makes putting it near case-denting dumbbells a nerve-wracking experience). Instead, look to Fitbit’s new Blaze, which boasts similar styling but a more comprehensive suite of training apps. With a new full-colour display and selection of straps to choose from, it also transitions to the office without you looking like that smug fitness guy. Available at Fitbit, priced £159.99.
Good Cardboard Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Tech and sci-fi fans, here’s the crossover you’ve been waiting for. Google’s cheap and cheerful virtual reality viewer Cardboard has been given the Star Wars treatment to celebrate the new flick’s release, with a choice of BB-8, Kylo Ren, R2-D2 or a Stromtrooper’s eyes to grab. The Force not included. Available at Google, prices vary.
Bong Spirit Vodka
When this bottle landed on our desk, we were somewhat perturbed. Fortunately, it turned out that we hadn’t been sent something that would have Customs following up, but a premium vodka distilled in (where else?) Amsterdam, which just happened to have some rather original packaging. But novelty aside, the spirit itself is worth risking the security services’ ire for – distilled six times and charcoal filtered, it’s won a host of industry awards and is as mellow as the silhouette suggests. Available at Urban Drinks, priced £29.90.
