Luxury and timeless items that bring you joy

[Traveltart]

What luxury or good quality items have you received or bought for yourself that you think stand the test of time and bring you joy?

Big birthday coming up so I plan to drop heavy hints to DH and also treat myself over the course of the year.

These can be wearable items or home goods and gadgets. They can be expensive (up to low thousands) or much less.

They can be items that finally made you feel like a grown up but that bring you a rush of wonder when you use them.

I’m after quality or beauty or practicality rather than anything super fashionable.

Sadly budget won’t stretch to car or holiday home! And I don’t have the capacity for more pets. I’m good at coming up with experiences gifts so it’s just cold, hard, material goods I’m after!

I got sweet vca earrings for Christmas. Wear them all the time. One of several nice things that DH has bought me over the yrs. Not everyone's cup of tea but I love.

I'd love an original painting by Georgia Cox. Lots of gold, birds, seedheads, teasers, that. She also sells prints for those of us still aspiring.

Absolutely love Orphéon , by Diptyque.

How about having a piece of jewellery made? I recently had a gold ring made yo my design

Cashmere is my favourite luxury. New from Brora is best but vintage Scottish is wonderful too.

A painting by Margo in Margate. I finally bought myself one of her paintings and it brings me endless joy.

A painting by My Dog Sighs. He paints incredible eyes with reflections in the pupil. If you want to combine art and jewellery he has produced a collection with the amazing goldsmith Charlotte Cornelius. Mydogsighs.co.uk

Astier de villatte incense and incense holder
Liberty silk pyjamas
Le Creuset butter dish
Santa Maria Novella scented terracotta pomegranate
Bitossi dinnerware
Repetto ballet pumps
French lingerie
Diptyque candles
Pucci silk scarves
Burberry trench coat
Dolce and Gabbana black lace dress. You know the one

If I had a few grand spare I think I’d also get:

A maxmara camel coat (I’m also too young atm but this is going to be my in my 40s coat)
Anonymous Copenhagen boots
Olympia le Tan clutch bag

If I had many grand spare I’d get a dress from the Dior tarot collection or the Dolce and Gabbana Byzantine collection!

Oh my, yes. Astier de villatte incense is out of this world

Cashmere jumpers, cashmere socks and designing a piece of jewellery are my luxuries. I have a room atomiser that I fill with different reef diffuser oils that I love the smell of. I love going up to bed and my room smelling like a spa.

@ithinkilikethislittlelife beautiful watch. I have a similar shaped square face Ebel watch also bought by dh about 16 years ago. I wear it every day and still love it just as much.

Georg Jensen bracelet
Chanel Gardenia perfume
Diptyque Satin Oil
Diamond stud earrings
Peonies from Border peonies
David Austin roses
Various bath oils and shower gels from Chanel to Aromatherapy Associates and Badedas
Tom Studio lumos pen
Mason & Pearson hairbrus
Dyson hairdryer
Folio Society books
Jellycat bear
Stationery

Vitamix
Infrared sauna
Cashmere bedsocks
Alpaca jumpers
Oxo garlic crusher
Various paintings, prints and drawings I have loved for years and years. Nothing wildly expensive, but have made me smile and felt like home
Probably lots more things

My camel Max Mara full length coat gives me endless joy. Goes with everything, makes me feel instantly put together and gets lots of compliments.

Original artwork or limited edition print were my first thought.

I can't think of any luxury/quality items that bring me "joy" - and to even imagine that, I recoil from that kind of consumerism.

I have bought items that bring me satisfaction: antique jewelry, beautifully tailored pants, a quirky blue strainer, a pulse oximeter, a well-designed purse.

But the only items that bring me "joy" are ones that are associated with memories of when I bought them, or with whom I shared them.

I have a few quality items that bring a smile to my face each time I see or use them:

• Kitchenaid mixer - hasn’t missed a beat in 15 years so well worth the money
• Solid gold bangle and diamond pendant necklace. I wear these everyday and will pass on to my daughters
• Original artworks - purchased with inherited money in memory of loved ones that have passed.
• Quality handbags and footwear

I have got a big birthday coming up and going for a maxmara coat.

Max Mara wool coat
Burberry trench
gucci loafers
cashmere jumper
diamond studs
sunglasses.
love this thread x

Coach handbags
Bramwell Brown weather clock
Original art works
vintage tea sets with real gilt details, using them not just looking at them
silk scarves - to put on bags, wrist, neck, in hair
good, well fitting wool winter coats
and I’m eyeing those terracotta pomegranates from Santa Maria Novella

Lots of new ideas! Thank you! I had heard of Santa Maria Novella - though missed out on going to the flagship store in Florence recently - doh! But not heard of the pomegranate terracotta things.

Seems to be a lot of love for MaxMara coats especially in camel which is exactly what my friend got as one of her 50th gifts!

Diamond studs would be nice but need to get my ears repierced as I allowed them to close up after many years of being dissatisfied that the holes were lopsided so couldn’t wear studs.

I am very tough on shoes so heels will never work and even sleek boots will look rubbish within two years.

Cashmere worries me due to occasional moths and shrinkage.

I love the idea of scarves but always feel like I’m playing dress up and never quite tie them properly.

Had not heard of the Astier incense mentioned above.

The person who mentioned the Oxo garlic crusher: I feel that way about my Oxo potato peeler!

I resisted getting a KitchenAid stand mixer and I think we are over the huge birthday cake phase for DC sadly. They are beautiful.

I once had the most beautiful, fragrant red rose bush that came with our house. We had an extension and I told the builders you can touch anything but that rose bush. So of course they ripped it out. Was so cross as no rose bush since including a David Austin one, has come close. It had repeated flowering through what felt like several seasons and the colour and fragrance were divine. If anyone has a variety they’d recommend please let me know!

Which MaxMara coat are you all getting? Seem to be big differences in price across the range. Am very big chested and large so would any stop me looking like the sack of lumpy potatoes that I am?

Any recommendations for good quality shoes? And handbags - not just what’s cool but ones that live up to the idea of quality?

Vintage Chanel beads necklace - have my eye on Vestiaire.
A coat from The Fold.

We don't really spend on this kind of stuff but since we've finally been more financially comfortable with the children growing up and both working full time and further on with careers, we've been buying original paintings. They are highly unlikely to be good investment pieces as they're in the £500 range by artists with only a small following, they may well not be resellable if the children don't want them and end up at a car boot sale 😆 but as long as they hang on the wall they bring me joy. For me a £500 painting bought just because you love it is completely in the luxury category because it's utterly unnecessary and bought only for beauty and aesthetic pleasure.