Ideas for last-minute shopping

published 15 December 2017

The Heywood Hill bookshop in London realised it couldn't compete with Amazon for convenience, so it has started a bespoke subscription service, says Francis Wheen in Vanity Fair doing for book lovers what Savile Row does for gents looking for an outfit. Personally selected parcels are sent out to customers following a "reading consultation" on what they most like to read. Subscription packages from £125 a year, HeywoodHill.com/subscriptions.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best phone you can buy right now, says Stuff magazine. It's "powerful, takes fantastic photos, and is gorgeous": if there was a museum dedicated to great smartphone design, it "would be on a pedestal in the entrance hall with a giant spotlight on it". Up to £689,Samsung.com/uk/smartphones.

Monica Vinaders "dainty" rose gold pieces "throw off vibes of chic minimalism and feminine sophistication", says Angela Goh in Marie France Asia. The Fiji Full Diamond bracelet features pav set diamonds totalling 1.73 carats. £2,495, MonicaVinader.com.

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If the man in your life is yearning to upgrade his games console, says Claire Davies in T3, you may as well "go the whole hog" and get the Playstation PS4 Pro. It's a "killer" console that will take his holiday gaming to a whole new level. £299,Playstation.com.

Instant cameras are back, says Marc McLaren in Stuff. The Polaroid OneStep 2 looks just like the original and takes pictures like one: just point and shoot, then print. Perfect for parties. £110, UK.PolaroidOriginals.com.

Cinema lovers can stream super-sized pictures anywhere in their own home with this new smart LED projector, the Optomo ML330, says Dom Reseigh-Lincoln in T3 magazine. It has everything you'll need in one box and can stream services such as Netflix. £399, ProjectorShop24.co.uk.

Stuart graduated from the University of Leeds with an honours degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and from Bath Spa University College with a postgraduate diploma in creative writing.

He started his career in journalism working on newspapers and magazines for the medical profession before joining MoneyWeek shortly after its first issue appeared in November 2000. He has worked for the magazine ever since, and is now the comment editor.

He has long had an interest in political economy and philosophy and writes occasional think pieces on this theme for the magazine, as well as a weekly round up of the best blogs in finance.

His work has appeared in The Lancet and The Idler and in numerous other small-press and online publications.