I call it a haul, but I suppose it’s more of a communal gift dump, bestowed upon me by my loving family and friends. This year, I focused rather stringently on asking for vain and aesthetic presents: dresses/dresses/dresses/MAC-anything – and it worked out quite well. I received some gorgeous bits and bobs, here are a few pieces (I won’t be that wazzock that lists them all, lest you think I’m bragging – and put it this way, I’m still yet to get a Mulberry. Hand me the violin):

• Forever 21 – Daring Cutout Bodycon Dress – £16.75

Arguably the sluttiest piece I have in my entire wardrobe – perhaps even surpassing my Ann Summers drawer – this dress is a corker, and I’m highly surprised my dad agreed to buy it for me (cheers dad). Definitely one only ever to be sported with black tights and nothing less, I have gone to wear this for a meal/casino night out recently and changed last minute, due to my nipples repping nothing short of the ‘telescopic Bowie antennae’ look. Maybe I’ll wear this one when the chill wears off a little…

• Forever 21 – Enchanted Velveteen Maxi Skirt – £12.75

Check out those thigh splits – Angelina Jolie, eat yer heart out, love. I’ve been on a bit of a goth stint recently (by recently, rather circa 1993), and velvet is right up my back alley, especially when it’s floaty and mental and quite fun to team with killer boots. I’ve been wearing this with a Forever 21 black lace sweater, but I’m looking forward to returning to my flat and sporting it with one of my cropped t-shirts. Wearing around Leigh town centre has garnered a fair share of scathing chav glares.

• Empty Casket – Amethyst Pentagram Cord Necklace – £16.00 

I’m guessing you’ve caught on to the goth influences by now, no? This is such a nifty piece: the frame opens out like a pendant, allowing you to wear it without the amethyst if it clashes with an outfit, or switch with other stones if you wish to collect them. The only thing I’d like to change about it is that it’s a bit too long: I wanted a choker style, given I’ve managed to break my last two. I’m wearing it on the Forever 21 dress picture above anyway, if you’re interested. This gem is currently sold out, but there are other styles – and other drool-worthy pieces – available on the site.

• Lush Cosmetics – My Fair Lady Gift Set – £31.95 

My connection with this gift set thus far, is verging on the mildly psychotic. I found myself cuddling the ‘Miranda’ soap for quite the inordinate space of time earlier, hugging it to my nose like you’d do with a newly-bought puppy (if you liked dogs, that is). Basically, it all smells damn grand. Out of all the products included, I’ve only ever tried the Charity Pot before, which is luscious – determined to keep exfoliating/moisturising every single day now (we can only live in hope). The Tiny Hands solid hand cream bar might be a favourite so far, I’m going to have none left if I don’t stop smooshing it – the consistency is so invitingly butter-melty and luxurious. Elizabeth Arden, your hand cream reign is over: it smells exponentially better than you.

I could yanner on all day and bore you all to tears – there were other bits and pieces like: an ASOS PVC dress that I’ve been lusting over for months, some more Gucci Guilty perfume, the MAC Prep + Prime powder I mentioned in this month’s wishlist, the 3 year tradition of a new Simon’s Cat calendar, a new set of crossword books… urrr, yeah, and many fat-inducing chocolaty things and some new trusty owl slippers. Anyone else get anything similar?

As always, products linked through images.