Where has this year gone?! We've not even dented our New Year's resolutions of 2022, but it'll only be a few short weeks before we have to lie to ourselves yet again! Before such well-meaning self-delusion, we of course have Christmas to look forward, not least the many parties leading up to it, which is why we've attuned a laser-like focus on all things velvet for this Festive Register. From velvet dinner jackets for both ladies and gents, to sumptuous long velvet coats, the lush pile is on its A-game in December. We've tempered the Christmas cheer with some Christmas jeer too - we've dug up a delightfully curmudgeonly story about a Christmas neighbourhood feud for any humbugs out there with their schadenfreude radar dialled in!
Party season, that twilight period of about six weeks before Christmas, when most of the year's hard work has been done and targets (hopefully) achieved, allowing for a great many shindigs and events. All of which means ample opportunities to dress up to the nines, and by that we mean velvet jackets. This selection will provide you with everything you need to look outstanding in the plush pile and the many silhouettes we've created.
Racing Green Velvet |
Navy Velvet Single- |
Burgundy Velvet Single- |
Soho Coat Red Green |
Westminster Coat Dark |
Eton coat Amethyst |
We've written quite extensively about many of our various coat silhouettes, such as the Eton, Westminster, and Carnaby coats, but thought it would simply be easier to highlight our velvet coats on the whole since they are an eclectic collection, full of vibrant winter tones and exceptional hand embroidery details. Perfect for party season, they provide a super glamorous layer atop a silk dress or even ballgown.
Three cocktails to help Christmas run smoothly
If you hadn't already guessed, we're quite the cheerleaders for a good libation or two (read our guide to the best cocktail bars in London before you next head into the capital) and there is no shortage of watering holes in and around the Favourbrook flagship store on Pall Mall. Even so, Christmas is a time spent at home, so if you can't make it to the mixologist, then you must assume the role yourself. We've chosen three festive cocktails from the peerless compendium that is Difford's Guide (diffordsguide.com), each of which will slake thirst and fortify the soul. Interestingly, we've discovered that one or two of these cocktails seems to achieve a warm familial atmosphere, but upon 6 or 7, all hell breaks loose so slurp carefully!
The Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini
The scent of Christmas with the kick of a mule. Shake all the following ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a slice of orange:
45ml premium vodka
15ml creme de cacao
15ml coffee liqueur
30ml espresso coffee
Tiny pinch of salt
The Mulled Negroni
Stir all of the ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass.
25ml of your favourite dry gin
25ml Campari
25ml Martini Rosso Sweet Vermouth
15ml red wine
10ml Difford's Falernum liqueur
5ml sloe gin
The Gingerbread Old Fashioned
Stir all of the ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass.
60ml Bourbon whiskey
7.5ml caramel toffee liqueur
5ml ginger liqueur
4 drops vanilla bitters
2 drops ginger bitters
If you have yet to take the first unsteady steps on the path to Christmas gifting then do not fret. Think of the Favourbrook Gift Guide like a Zimmerframe for festive retail. In it you'll find a large array of timeless gifts that are perfect for love ones, sartorial types, elegant ladies, and, of course, yourself. Small, but perfectly formed gifts such as ties and bow ties are an excellent option than will last a lifetime.
Christmas is a time where it's important to think of everyone, and so this particular story is dedicated to the humbugs and cynics because you also deserve entertainment. Don't ask us how we found it, but too much time on the internet invariably leads one to side streets few fear to venture down. Our digital excursion led us to the Inlander, and a brilliant long-form piece that documents "How one man's quest to spread Christmas cheer led to a miserable four-year war with his neighbourhood." It follows the story of devout Christian Jeremy Morris and his 200,000 light bulb bonanza that is his house in North Idaho every Christmas. Unlike the three wise men, who were guided by the light, Morris's neighbours sought guidance from their lawyers on how to distinguish said illuminations. There's even a documentary about the whole kerfuffle on Apple TV+ called... wait for it... "'Twas the Fight Before Christmas".
