With Christmas fast approaching, Westfield is set to make the busy festive season a breeze with its team of Christmas Experts.
Westfield's Christmas Experts can provide expert comment for media, offering tips and advice on: Gift giving and buying Shopping tips Food and entertaining ideas; and Christmas party fashion tips.
GIFTING
As editor of Westfield's Christmas magazine, Margaret Merten is Westfield's expert on gift giving and buying.
Margaret says the rules of selecting a great gift never change – the key is knowing who you are buying for.
“Make a list of everyone you need to buy for, and identify three things each person likes. Whether it be a hobby, musician or destination, it doesn‟t matter. If you're not sure, ask. Friends or family can provide insights, or ask directly without giving too much away.”
Top gifting tips for two weeks out
Make a list – short-list potential gifts and run these by friends and family for a fool-proof win. Alternatively, share your thoughts via social media. The Westfield Facebook Fanpage is a great way to get immediate feedback from like-minded shoppers.
Take note – if you see something that grabs your attention, jot it down. Chances are your tastes extend to those around you, provided their interests match.
Ham(per) it up! – a great gift can be lots of little goodies your recipient loves and with a little more time it's easier to pick a winner. Be bold and think beyond a box or basket to present them in, try a beautiful summer hat or crockery.
Top gifting tips for 48 hours out
Seek and find – complete the fields on the Westfield Gift Finder on westfield.com.au to uncover suitable treasures from a range of over 12,000 gifts. If you‟re really pressed for time try the Top 10 gift search. If most shoppers are considering these gifts, it's sure to be a popular choice.
Bring a friend – there‟s power in numbers. Ask a friend who knows your gift recipient to tag along for a speedier gift hunt.
Copy cat – we all have something we really love, and wish we could replace or buy in another colour. When it doubt (and out of time), think of an easy find item like a scarf or mug your recipient raves about and snap it up in a similar style or shade.
SAVVY SHOPPPING
As Australia‟s savviest shopper, Alyce Cowell, "The Westfield Insider‟ spends her days browsing and shopping for great buys.
Alyce says everyone will be trying to stick to a budget in the lead up to Christmas, but there‟s a knack to getting more bang for your buck.
“Shop smarter online by using websites with price compare functionality. It‟s easy to nab a bargain when you can compare products side-by-side in the same website, as on westfield.com.au. It's also a great way to see what‟s available in-centre and plan your shop.”
Top gifting tips for savvy shopping two weeks out
Nab an early bargain – make the most of early season sales. Many retailers commence their summer sales when December starts, so hunt around for a bargain.
Manage your time – with a month to go you don't need to condense your shop into one day – concentrate on your family for one week and friends the next.
Go online – free online tools like the Westfield Online Gift Finder are great thought-starters. Start price comparing for your favourite gift ideas and if you find an early bargain in store or at Westfield Online, nab it before it sells out.
Top gifting tips for savvy shopping 48 hours out
Quick research – do your research before heading to a centre. Go online at westfield.com.au to find tips from the Christmas Experts. You might even find some last minute gift ideas you hadn‟t thought of.
Make the most of your time – use services like Westfield‟s free gift wrapping (optional gold coin donation to a local charity) and valet parking*. Extended trading hours also help and can be found on centre websites.
Call for help – my Westfield facebook page has over 135,000 savvy shopping fans who can help. Post a question on the wall and you will receive great and quick advice from the shopping community.
FOOD AND HOME ENTERTAINING
As a qualified home economist, Emma Braz is well-placed to know how to plan, shop and prepare for food; from serving up a memorable Christmas feast to hosting a festive party to remember.
“Even though fresh is best when it comes to food, there are some dishes that can be prepared in advance. A stressed host is no fun, so plan ahead to give you time to enjoy yourself on Christmas day,” Emma said.
Top home and food tips two weeks out
Get creative – hampers are a great gift idea as they include treats to enjoy and share during Christmas festivities. The kids and I make hampers of Christmas cake, shortbread, gingerbread people, jams, and muesli to give to their schoolteachers.
Order early – pre-order fish and meats, especially turkey. Get to know your local Westfield butcher and ask them what cuts are best, how to prepare them and if they can do any of the leg work, such as de-boning. In most cases this will be complimentary, but if not, it's worth the loose change.
Go with the seasons – be a little flexible with your menus so that you can take advantage of the specials. For fruit and vegetables, shop with the season.
Top home and food tips 48 hours out
Prep food before the day – even a day or so out, food can be prepped to save time.
Most deserts and non-dairy canapés keep a day or so if stored correctly. Your local Westfield specialty retailers can advise on the do‟s and don‟ts for seasonal produce.
Stick to you menu – it's easy to get bamboozled in the last-minute rush. Know what ingredients you're after and the quantity of each for a fuss-free shop and preparation. If in doubt, ask, your local specialty retailer – they know their products inside-out.
Consider pre-made – purchase good quality pre-made finger food from Westfield retailers to save you time on Christmas Day. Foods like ready-bake bread will not only taste great, but add a lovely scent to the home and pave the way for a homecooked feast.
PARTY FASHION
Preparing for the party season is a specialty of Westfield Stylist, Donny Galella.
With the silly season being the time to get out and about, Galella believes the perfect look is all about knowing your shape.
“Dress for what you've got – accentuate your best assets and down play those parts you don‟t like as much!” Gallela says.
“An all white Christmas is sure to be a popular party season trend this year. Minimal White is in vogue and looks great on so many shapes – from a maxi dress for rectangle shaped women, to a cropped jacket for those with bigger hips, like pear shapes. It's fresh for summer and looks great against the bright light the warmer months bring.”
Top fashion and style tips two weeks out
Step out in style – stylists aren‟t just for celebs, they're for every women, every day.
Give yourself a pre-Christmas treat and book a personal style session with a Westfield Stylist. You can even do some self-styling with the new Westfield Body
Shape Calculator – simply insert your measurements at westfield.com.au and receive style advice for your body shape.
Shop with a plan – list the events coming up, the appropriate attire and potential looks. It's important to know your dress code.
Mix the old with the new – purchase just a few key summer pieces that can be easily mixed and matched with your current wardrobe items.
My top picks to give any wardrobe an instant fashion update are a gorgeous summer dress that can be dressed up or down, a cute blazer in a season popping tone like tangerine, a statement necklace, a loose drape style of pant and a pair of wedges.
Top fashion and style tips 48 hours out
Brighten up – if you haven‟t had time to plan your looks, wear what you've got with bold, new accessories. Colour blocking is huge this season. We all have staple white pieces so match this summery colour with a bright neckpiece or bangles to make a statement.
Put your best foot forward – stock up on comfortable footwear. Nothing is worse than sore feet at a function. Invest in some on-trend flats and if you‟re going to wear heels, apply a toe and heel protector.
Don’t stress – if your Christmas party dress code requests cocktail and you've left your outfit to the last minute, don't panic. Choose a knee length or on-trend maxi dress and add accessories that take the look from day to night.
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