London’s gone mad as a hatter for Alice with afternoon teas, jewellery, make-up and treats inspired by her adventures. Everyday is like a Mad Hatter’s tea party at Ladurée (although a much more civilised one), so it’s fitting that the divine temple of macaroons would create a limited edition Alice box.

The gorgeous music box is covered with illustrations from Alice in Wonderland and Ladurée’s signature cakes and in packed with 12 green apple macaroons (Ladurée’s new Spring flavour).

The Ladurée tea salon at Printemps in Paris has been turned into an ephemeral Wonderland, with giant tea pots and long communal tables, so you can have your own Parisian Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!  Printemps have also installed their own Alice-inspired creations by designers such as Haider Ackermann, Manish Arora, Chloé, Ann Demeulemeester, Christopher Kane, Nicholas Kirkwood, Maison Martin Margiela, Bernhard Willhelm, and the late Alexander McQueen.

The limited edition Alice macaroon box is available until 18 March at all Ladurée stores.

If you’re after more of an English Eccentric kind of tea, The Sanderson invite you to fall down the rabbit hole for a Mad Hatter’s tea party.  The afternoon tea consists of rainbow-coloured sandwiches, Heston Blumenthal-style molecular cakes and some very traditional scones with clotted cream and jam.

Curious desserts include a Queen of Hearts teacake, which melts in the mouth when you bite through the white chocolate and strawberry shell; a hazelnut and passion fruit tart topped with the White Rabbit’s pocket watch; a chocolate crackle cupcake; pineapple lollipops that turn your mouth from cold to hot and mint chocolate chip ice cream lollipops that explode with a single bite.

The tea is served in the hotel’s Courtyard Garden and is presented on the prettiest vintage tea set by ClaraBows.

The Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea at The Sanderson is available daily from 2.30pm – 5.30pm throughout March 2010.  The standard tea costs £20.00 per person, and is also available with a glass of Veuve Cliquot Champagne for £26.00. To make a reservation, call 0207 300 1444

Selfridges have also given their appropriately named Wonder Room an Alice make-over.  They are displaying costumes from the film, including Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter suit and hat (sadly, that’s as far as most of us will get to him).

Stella McCartney, Tom Binns and Anna Lou of London have teamed up with Disney Couture to produce a range of Alice in Wonderland jewellery, all available at Selfridges.  Expect a multitude of charms such as playing cards, pocket watches, broken hearts, white rabbits and tea pots.

Make-up junkies will find it hard to resist the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows by Urban Decay, OPI’s collection of Alice glittery nail polishes and Paul & Joe’s adorable Disney range.

Warning: As lovely as these Alice-inspired events and goodies are, don’t get too distracted and forget to go and see the film!

So, instead of bombarding everyone with not-so-subliminal SPEND SPEND SPEND messages, I’m featuring a small number of gorgeous gifts up until the big day that I think will make you and your recipients feel happy and loved, without having to flash too much cash.

Virago exclusively published women authors and have collaborated with female designers and critics to produce eight hardback novels featuring cover artwork by the likes of Celia Birtwell,Cath Kidston and Orla Kiely.  On my wishlist is Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann, rethought by my fashion hero, Biba designer Barbara Hulanicki.

If you love the dreamy, rose-tinted fashion shoots in Lula Magazine and Wendy Bevan’s ethereal photography, you need the Diana camera in your life!  Diana wrecks your shot, but in a beautiful way, leaving an aura of light and giving that vintage effect. A perfect antidote to Photoshop retouching, me thinks.

Thanks to Disneyrollergirl, whose post led me to this amazing laptop case.  It’s less eye-wateringly expensive than the Mulberry/iMac cases and looks like something that Betty Suarez would carry her computer around in – what’s not to love?

Amnesty Internation candle, £35, Temperley Launching in Selfridges this week, date TBC.

Temperley just got even more lovely with this dusky pink candle, designed for Human Rights Day on 10 December.  Unlike many labels who capitalise on charity branding and then donate a measly 5 per cent from sales (shame on you), ALL of the proceeds from the candle will go to human rights organisation, Amnesty International!

Top notes – blackcurrant, rose, frangipani and ylang ylang. Middle notes: orange blossom, jasmine and violet. Base notes: patchouli, vanilla and chocolate.  It looks adorable, smells divine and will make a meaningful gift…well done, Alice!

Juliette Has A Gun bag roll-on in Miss Charming, from £59, Selfridges Bamford Botanic range, from £10-£70, Liberty Lumière Noire Incence Papers x 20, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, £20, Liberty

Juliette’s gun is fully loaded…with the most gorgeous perfume, of course!  This super cool coffret comes with a bullet-shaped roll-on and three refills with any of the three Juliette Has A Gun fragrances.  Perfect for parties, purses and travelling!

I recently tried out Bamford Botanic Geranium Bath Oil and Body Lotion and am already converted.  The body lotion sinks into the skin quickly, so you can wear it during the day and you can feel your muscles relaxing straight away.  The bath oil softens the skin and creates a luxurious milk bath, plus the lavender extract helps you sleep.

Francis Kurkdjian is the man behind some of the world’s best-selling perfumes and has  created hits like Jean-Paul Gaultier’s MaDame and Fragile, Rumeur by Lanvin, Armani Mania and the first two Juliette Has A Gun scents.

For his own fragrance house, he has turned Willy Wonka and devised innovative ways to fragrance your body, clothes and home, such as incense papers, laundry washing liquid and perfumed bath bubbles, complete with wand.

The Lumière Noire Incense Papers are infused with spiced rose, patchouli and narcissus and work with the burning scent to create an intense, heady aroma.

I’ll be posting more gift tips over the month, so leave some room on your Christmas lists!

For more present ideas and Christmas trinkets, visit