Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Christmas unwrapped

If you find the holiday season brings a feeling of panic rather than excitement, it’s time to review your shopping methods. The easiest road to squeals of delight at present-opening time? Our clever gift guide. Just pick a theme and choose a winner: it’s as simple as that. Let the countdown begin…

How to surprise a foodie

1 No one can resist the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee – especially when it comes from such a lovely retro Illy machine.
X1 coffee machine, €420, www.illy.be

2 Don’t underestimate the power of simplicity; these cups designed by Pieter Stockmans for Serax are the perfect mix of modern and classic.
Uno-Due-Tre cup (including saucer), €11,28, and mug, €6,35, www.serax.com

3 Daff felt place mat, €7, www.donum.be

4 Trust iconic French brand Laguiole to create a sharp set of table knives sleek enough to win over even the most finicky design lover.
Forge de Laguiole set, €243, www.donum.be

5 Stew – preferably made with local dark beer – is so beloved by Belgians that pots like these from Le Creuset are a must in every kitchen; the smaller size is perfect for side dishes.
Pot 10cm, €39,90, and 14cm, €71, www.vangastel.be

6 Ask any foodie: when it comes to the perfect knives for the kitchen, the Japanese have it all figured out. Global is no exception to this rule, and it definitely has the nicest holder for collectors.
Knife block set, €399, www.vangastel.be

7 The ideal last-minute gift for the host of the party: Piper-Heidsieck commissioned Jaime Hayon to design this colourful cooler. The best part? You get it for free with the bottle of bubbly.
Piper-Heidsieck Brut Holiday Edition, €29, www.piper-heidsieck.com

8 Inspire your gourmand friends to become true groupies with this little Archie Grand notebook: perfect for collecting signatures and recipes from the best chefs in the world while on their travels.
Chefs I Met and Liked notebook, €9,95, www.archiegrand.com

9 The classy Danish design of this glass is made for sophisticated tasting rather than binge drinking!
Normann Copenhagen cognac glasses (set of two), €40, www.espoo.be

10 Daff felt place mat, €7, www.donum.be

11 Belgian company Demeyere understands how design and gastronomy are inseparable, and so asked industrial designer John Pawson to create an eye-catching line of pots and pans.
John Pawson 18cm cooking pan, €215, www.vangastel.be

How to win a fashionista’s heart

1 Every woman has a love-hate relationship with denim. Want to save her the trouble of finding the perfect pair? Turn to Levi’s Curve ID for an impeccable fit.
Levi’s Curve ID jeans, from €89,95 to €129,95, www.levis.com

2 The Stephen Jones exposition at the Antwerp Fashion Museum runs until Valentine’s Day 2011, but the book – a beautiful collection of essays and mind-blowing pictures – will last forever.
Stephen Jones & Het Accent op Mode, €49,95, www.lannoo.be

3 Backpacks uncool? Delvaux begs to differ. The Belgian powerhouse of leather accessories has re-thought the way travel luggage should look with its sophisticated yet sturdy Airess line.
Airess Backpack, €480, www.delvaux.be

4 Samsonite celebrates its 100th anniversary with this special edition of its incredibly light Cosmolite series. The golden look makes it appropriately festive, while the limited edition of 20.000 pieces makes it enviably exclusive. Need we say more?
Cosmolite Gold 100th Anniversary, €320, www.samsonite.com

5 A bit of bling for him: these shiny shades are a modern interpretation of the emblematic aviators. Belgian designer Dirk Bikkembergs is the king of adding glamour to sporty items.
Sport Couture sunglasses, €320, www.bikkembergs.com

6 A bit of bling for her: this necklace by Hulchi Belluni may be understated, but it’s clearly also impossibly chic.
Hulchi Belluni necklace from the Pastille Collection, 18ct red, yellow and white gold with 468 diamonds of 3.5ct, price on request, www.hulchibelluni.com

7 Tired of giving perfume, but still like your gift to have a fashionable smell? If you turn to French brand Diptyque’s luxurious scented candles, you can’t go wrong.
Tubéreuse scented candle, €48, www.donum.be

How to pamper an adventurer

1 In a handbook called ‘How to Survive a Storm in Style’, these boots would be featured in the first chapter. The black patent design with padding makes them worthy of any modern-day Mademoiselle Chanel.
Moon Boots Crocodile, €140, www.moonboot.it

2 These boots are made for walking… Up mountains and down slopes. Their tough, impermeable soles and toasty warm wool make them ideal for long hikes through winter landscapes.
Converse All Star Outsider, €139,95, www.converse.com

3 Nothing beats walking through the snow for the very first time – but these boots sure will make it even more fun.
Naturino parachute boots, €74, www.naturino.com

4 Shiny black goggles deliver an instant sexy and mysterious aura on the slopes, making you look cool even if you’re barely succeeding in keeping your balance. In other words: there are lots of reasons someone will be thankful for this gift.
O’Neill goggles, €100, www.oneill.com

5 Every adventurer will tell you how important layers are to their outfit. These thermals from The North Face zip all the way down, making that transition from hot to cold easy – and fashionable.
Grey thermal, €169, red thermal, €59, www.thenorthface.com

6 It’s been a while since the fashion craze for puffy jackets, but leave it up to Scapa to reinvent the style and make you lust for shiny materials and fluffy tubes of down once more.
Scapa down jacket, €269, www.scapasports.com

7 Rimowa is well known for its super-lightweight and stylish suitcases, and they’re a favourite among adventurers thanks to their near indestructibility. Seven trips around the world later, your favourite explorer will still be thankful for this present.
Case, €319, www.rimowa.com

8 To cater for the needs of true adventurers, cult cosmetics brand Kiehl’s developed the special Cross Terrain line. From UV protection to smelling nice after a 24-hour hike, the brand has thought of everything. As an added bonus, all the products are biodegradable and can thus be used in nature without harm.
Cross Terrain UV Skin Protector, €25,50, 24-hour Strong Dry Stick, €12,50, and Dry Run Foot Cream, €18,50, www.kiehls.com

How to dazzle a techie

1 What about a glittering piñata to draw someone back into the real world after hours online? The Brooklyn design duo behind Confetti System insist their creations are at their prettiest when beaten until confetti gushes out; a cooler workout than any Wii could offer.
Confetti System Quartz Piñata, €125, www.huntingandcollecting.com

2 No matter how much technology evolves, in some cases nothing beats the classics.
Tivoli Audio Model Two Radio, €299 and Model CD, €243, www.donum.be

3 It could be a reaction to discreet iPod earphones; whatever the reason, headphones are back, in a big and bold way.
Coloud Stereo Headphones, €39,95, www.coloud.com

4 Is it a toy or art? German designers Desiree Heiss and Ines Kaag, who form Bless, love to create offbeat products.
Hairy Automatica, €280, www.huntingandcollecting.com

5 This digital camera has to be one of the smallest around, making it perfect for your pocket – you never know when you’ll want to snap something to Twitter about.
JVC Picsio GC-FM2, €179, www.jvc.eu

6 Belgian designer James Van Vossel created these sculptural frames for Antwerp company Theo – a company that’s always up for this kind of unpredictable collaboration.
James 1, €390, www.theo.be

7 What you see is what you get: this watch by Maurice Lacroix honours and celebrates the dedication of its craftsmen by putting their work on display for the world to see.
Masterpiece Squelette watch, €6400, www.mauricelacroix.com

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