The Ape Want List: December 2019

The Want List is our monthly edit, showcasing the best new garments, grooming gear, tech and beyond. A tightly-curated collection, handpicked by the Ape team, it’s your go-to resource for staying stylish, seasonally relevant and up to speed on the latest releases, no matter if it’s the peak of summer or the darkest depths of winter.

The Christmas Tree is up, your local illuminations have been switched on by some long-forgotten Z-list celebrity, and Slade’s “Merry Christmas Everyone” is playing on a constant loop in your head, slowly driving you insane. Whether you love this time of year or loathe it, a spot of retail therapy can help to take the edge off. So, whether you’re buying for the man in your life, or just fancy yourself a well-deserved festive splurge, these are the best new items doing the rounds in December.

Style

Mr P Shetland Wool Sweater

You wouldn’t normally put things from Italy and Scotland together. Deep-fried Mars Bar pizza? Whisky-flavoured gelato? An entire opera played on the bagpipes? We’ll give those a miss, thanks. However, as it turns out, Shetland wool and Italian sartorial craftsmanship are a match made in style heaven. Just look to this rich green knitted sweater from Mr Porter’s in-house label, MR P., for proof.

£150; mrporter.com

Suitsupply Custom Suit

What better way to approach 2020 than clad in a razor-sharp suit? The trouble is, with all the Christmas shopping and expensive nights out, a wallet-draining trip to Savile Row probably isn’t top of your to-do list. Don’t let that deter you from suiting up, though. A custom-made option from Suitsupply will look (almost) just as good for a fraction of the price. So good, in fact, that you’ll be tempted to leave it on for Christmas dinner… but don’t.

From £399; suitsupply.com

Crockett & Jones Ross Suede-Collar Derby Boot

You should have kitted yourself out with a pair of winter boots already, but just in case you’ve been holding out for the perfect pair, here they are. With a waterproof wax-hide upper and oversized Vibram sole, the Ross Derby Boots from esteemed Northamptonshire shoemaker Crockett & Jones somehow manage to be both rugged and elegant all at the same time. Perfect for tackling that white Christmas you’ve been dreaming of, or the wet one you’ll most likely get instead.

£485; crockettandjones.com

Grooming

Malin + Goetz Revitalising Eye Gel

If your social calendar for the festive run-in looks anything like ours, you’re going to have more than a couple of unpleasant mornings in the office. Sadly, we can’t claim to have some sort of miraculous solution for the headache and the queasiness. However, this revitalising eye gel from Malin + Goetz can help to relieve some of the tell-tale visual symptoms.

£38; endclothing.com

Tom Ford Oud Wood Gift Set

When it gets past October, every man should have a powerful oud fragrance on hand. This rich, woody, musky scent is the yin to your summery vetiver’s yang. Widely regarded as one of the best, this Oud Wood from Tom Ford set comes with both the eau de parfum and a refillable atomiser, so you can take it with you wherever you go.

£172; tomford.co.uk

Foreo Issa 2 Silicone Toothbrush

Cake, advent calendars (you’re never too old), chocolate selection boxes and more. You might be enjoying yourself over the next month but rest assured, your teeth are having a horrible time. Treat them to the care they deserve with this futuristic toothbrush from Foreo. Maybe keep it hidden in the bathroom cabinet though, just to preempt any raised eyebrows from visiting house guests.

£149; lookfantastic.com

Lifestyle

Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23-Year-Old Single-Malt Whisky

When everyone tires of bucks fizz and beer and asks if you have anything stronger, make sure you have something special to offer them. This single malt from Glenfiddich, a name that needs no introduction, has been matured for 23 years and finished in rare French Cuvée casks for up to 6 months. Definitely a step up from a Baileys on the rocks.

£220; glenfiddich.com

Gin – Shining Cliff Gin, White Peak Distillery, Derbyshire

Gin is certainly having a moment – and there are a plethora of long-serving gin brands. But look beyond the household names and you’ll find an uprising of new producers who are both challenging the industry norms thank to their inventive and experimental approach. Our pick of the new breed is White Peak Distillery, located in picturesque Derbyshire, and its Shining Cliff gin. White Peak were inspired by, close to its distillery, Shining Cliff’s woodland and hedgerows, where they picked 13 carefully selected botanicals to distil. The result is an incredibly smooth, perfectly balanced Derbyshire dry gin. Upgrade your G&T, now.

From £23, whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1 Chestnut

The house really fills up during the holiday period so anything that can save a bit of space is a good thing. The sonic wizards at Bang & Olufsen have somehow managed to cram the clarity and bass response of a decent hifi system into a bluetooth speaker the size of a beef burger. Plus, a new batch of wintery colourways means it looks as good as it sounds.

£230; johnlewis.com

Bollinger James Bond 007 Millesime 2011 Champagne

What is Christmas if not cause for celebration? And what celebration would be complete without a nice bottle of bubbly? Having said that, this one is pretty special, so we don’t blame you if you’re not actually going to drink it. Released to celebrate the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die, this 2011 champagne comes complete with an etched bottle and wooden presentation box.

£150; thechampagnecompany.com

Cars

New Land Rover Defender

We probably won’t get any snow this year, but just imagine how smug you’ll feel driving around in a brand new Land Rover if we do. This boxy all-terrain powerhouse borrows more than a little the current Discovery in terms of appearance, but under the bonnet it’s all Defender. A fitting reincarnation of the original which was famously discontinued in 2016.

From £45,240; landrover.co.uk

Watches

Longines Heritage Military 1938

A heroic timepiece from the interwar period sees a fresh release this winter. The Heritage Military 1938 boasts a clean black dial, charcoal leather strap and a true-to-its-era hand-wound movement. If you want one, though, you’ll need to act fast as numbers are limited to 1,938 – another little nod to the year of its initial launch.

£2,020; longines.co.uk