A glimpse of stocking fillers

From Gucci socks to essential oils and designer earrings, here are some hints

1. Stockings £35, agentprovocateur.com

The origin of our odd Yultide custom of a sock stuffed with gifts has been lost in the annals of time. No matter: it’s still got me considering the finer festive points of hosiery. Namely, what you can put in them, other than your gams.

3. Socks £60, Gucci, mrporter.com

Next year, underpinnings are set to take centre-stage as the subject of Undressed, the V&A’s key exhibition. Rather fittingly it’s sponsored by Agent Provocateur, a giant in the world of smalls, who also offer a rather fetching line in stockings (1) – albeit not ones terribly well-suited to stuffing with the traditional Lindt chocolates and tangerines.

Not content with a well-worn woollen sock on Christmas morning? If only the best will do, Kim Seybert’s twinkle-toe stockings (2) will take pride of place hanging by the fire.

2. Stocking £135, Kim Seybert, harveynichols.com

For hosiery options to suit the man in your life (without resorting to the Rocky Horror school of festive fashion) I’m rather taken with Gucci’s socks (3), appropriately festive in red and green, the signature colours of the fashion house. At£60 a pop, said socks may be better suited in a stocking rather than as one, though.

4. Star essential oil £10, aromatherapyassociates.com

As to what I’ll be hoping to find in mine; where once chocolate coins and new knickers would have been gratefully received, stocking gifting has been seriously upgraded. Pint-sized and pocket-friendly stocking purchases don’t come much sweeter than this star from Aromatherapy Associates (4), containing a miniature version of their essential oils. Good things can indeed come in small packages: if your nearest and dearest is feeling the urge to splash out and spoil, a stocking is ideally sized for all manner of jewellery-box trinkets. Top of my list are these Oscar de la Renta earrings (5). Far better-received than any novelty festive-themed (ahem) tat. Hint hint.

5. Earrings £185, Oscar de la Renta, net-a-porter.com