We all have someone in our lives who maintains that sense of childlike wonder, whether they're 75, 23 or 40 - a reminder that sometimes you just need to indulge your inner child with some unabashed nostalgic fun.
The latest in our festive series of extremely niche gift guides offers some suggestions for that person in your life who's forever young at heart - classic games, nostalgic accessories, and books of childhood trauma...
Melissa x Collina Strada jelly shoes, about $210
Jelly shoes have been all the rage recently, but this glittery pair – a collab between footwear brand Melissa and the very cool NYC-based label Collina Strada – are like adult replicas of the pairs I dreamed about as a child. Yes they’re $200, so perhaps save these as a gift for yourself…
Jellycat 'vivacious vegetable' kale soft toy, $45
It's a plush smiling kale. What else is there to say?
Lego Vespa set, $180
‘Adult’ Lego sets are hugely popular, from miniatures of The White House to the pretty botanical collection - appealing to those who used to spend hours playing with the colourful blocks. Get this for that adult who needs to quiet their mind, and/or still doesn’t have their full licence (aka me).
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, $45
I’m too old to have known the child actor for her roles in iCarly and Sam & Cat, but her memoir with a so-dark-it-hurts title is on my must-read list for summer. In it she reckons with her childhood drive for stardom and the trauma inflicted on her by her mother, and how she came to terms with it. A sad, very grown up story... with a pastel cover that reminds me of the original Sweet Valley High or Babysitter’s Club paperbacks.
Caitlin Snell cotton hair bow clip, $89
Like oversized collars, ruffles and sickly sweet shades of pink, I think of oversized hair bows as an unapologetic subversion of the aesthetics of femininity that are usually dismissed as 'silly' and frivolous. To quote my idol Miuccia Prada: "You can wear the most powerful dress and not be powerful. You can dress like a stupid little girl and be super-powerful." Channel that when you give someone a huge bow barrette by local designer Caitlin Snell.
Matilda by Roald Dahl, $24, from Unity Books
The world (and I) can't get enough of Matilda, with the musical adaptation of this beloved childhood classic being released as a film on Netflix on Christmas Day. Naughty bookworms all grown up in their 30s or 40s will appreciate a fresh paperback of the original story.
Screaming Jewellery troll handmade earrings, $240
Trolls are actually terrifying (I put them up there with cat-eating Alf, and Falkor in The NeverEnding Story), but for those with tastes that are both dark and cute are these. An expensive Christmas gift, sure, but they are handmade by local artist Jessica Dew – who brings a “campy, gothy, shiny” approach to fine jewellery.
Duck Island ice cream cake, $75
Those of us who grew up in the 80s/90s will remember the iconic Mooloo ice cream cakes from the supermarket, with that 'crisp' frosting decoration. Duck Island’s version is a fancy, modern version of that.
Vilac Keith Haring chess set, $105
Chess is the most serious/boring of board games, but this version featuring Haring’s iconic illustrations as kings, queens, bishops and pawns might help make it fun.
Independence Studios Magic Tree, $10
Cue childhood nostalgia in 1,2,3… I never had the patience for these, and probably still wouldn't.
Byredo Tree House Candle, $124
Hanging out with my sister in our tree house, a space that was just for us, is a core memory that I haven't thought about for years until I saw this candle. With woody notes of pimento, bamboo, hay, labdanum, myrrh, blonde cedarwood, guaiac wood, sandalwood and leather, it's described as being for "the ultimate grown-up make-believe treetop adventure". Something about handing over $124 to try and conjure that carefree feeling of a childhood adventure seems a little bleak... but scented candles are always a nice gift.
Crayons, $16
Does anyone use crayons over the age of, I dunno, five? These, featuring colours in te reo Māori, might encourage some grown-up doodling and colouring outside the lines. Also great for notebook girlies.
