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Itsyourstory launch unique photo-personalised letter from Santa

If you think you've seen every festive letter on the market, you could be in for a surprise. 

Because this year, with the help of Itsyourstory, you can make the run up to Christmas extra special with a unique photo-personalised letter unlike any you've seen before.

The Father Christmas photo-personalised letter features your child in the illustrations dressed as Father Christmas's elf. Share in your child's excitement as they see their photograph on Father Christmas's notepaper and information above them woven into the letter.

Each letter is personalised when ordering to feature the child's address, the name of two of their friends, their age and a uniquely personal PS at the bottom of the letter. This will create even more magic as it is written by the sender and relates to something personal in their lives eg – how well they’re doing at school, getting a new pet etc. The letter also reveals which friend or family member has asked Father Christmas to get in touch.

Priced at £4.50, the Father Christmas photo-personalised letter is available exclusively from Itsyourstory.co.uk. Customers can choose from two letter designs featuring the child alongside Rudolf or Father Christmas. The letter arrives in a Christmas-themed envelope addressed to the child and complete with a North Pole stamp. What better way to build the excitement in the run up to Christmas!

Orders are being taken NOW. Last delivery date before Christmas is December 19th.

FACTFILE:

Itsyourstory launched in 2004, specialising in photo-personalised children’s books. It was the first company in the UK to offer books which include the child’s face in the illustrations as well as their name and information about them in the text. It has a range of 20 books for children aged two to eight and also sells personalised birthday cards, thank you cards and party invitations. The Love Is… book is its first product for adults. For further information please visit www.itsyourstory.co.uk.

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'Purely' the best Christmas Gifts for Him & Her!

If you’re looking for something extra special to give for Christmas this year, online fashion retailer Pure Collection have a luxurious range of 100% sustainable cashmere accessories. There are gifts suitable for both him and her and prices start at just £35.

For him

Available in black, grey or navy this Ribbed Scarf, £109 is perfect for those chilly winter days. Smart enough to wear to work; it’s also perfect for winter walks.

The matching Ribbed Hat, £35 has a luxuriously soft feel and is the perfect companion for the Ribbed Scarf. Its simple shape and classic ribbed design make this a go-with-anything, wear-with-everything winter accessory.

Totally indulgent, but knowing how good new socks feel, the Cashmere Socks, £49 are an ideal Christmas gift. Available in three neutral colours and a festive red, these socks will keep toes toasty no matter the weather.

For men, a traditional Cashmere V neck Sweater, £159 is the ultimate Christmas gift. Available in four colours, these creamy tones of Heather Stone and Praline look fantastic with this season’s bold prints and shirt colours. In a fine knit 100% pure sustainable cashmere, this is the gift for the man who has everything.

For her

Cashmere at Christmas is always welcome, but tapping into the AW trend of wearing furs is this Faux Fur Snood, £59. A traditional two-tone fur in a modern incarnation, it’s a perfect gift for women who want style and warmth.

A classic pair of leather gloves is another sure-to-be-loved gift, and the Cashmere Lined Leather Gloves, £69 bring them up to date with a cosy cashmere lining. The buttery tan colour is ideal for creating a touch of ladylike charm.

Animal prints are big news this season, and the Ultra-fine Printed Stole, £99 is a perfect way to test the trend. Available in blue, brown and grey, this luxurious stole also benefits others at Christmas too: for every item sold, £10 will be donated to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

If you’re travelling at Christmas, the Pashmina Shawl, £149 is an ideal gift. Woven from 100% cashmere, this item looks good in casual or formal ensembles, and can be used to add extra warmth (without weight) when visiting loved ones this season.

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Make the chaps Smell well this Christmas!

Debenhams has revealed the results of new research which show that a man's choice of fragrance alters dramatically with advancing years, resulting in men in their sixties and above selecting and piling on the strongest of scents.

The sense of smell weakens in people who are their sixties hence why older generations prefer impactful, longer lasting perfumes, often opting for classic, masculine pongs from the likes of Aramis and Davidoff.

Unlike today's man who on average begins to use cologne from the age of 14 years old, sexagenarians and their older brothers didn't grow up wearing fragrance and most men in this age group (77 per cent) claimed to only start wearing aftershave at the age of 30 years old.

Now that wearing scent is an acceptable part of everyday male grooming, it seems those born in 1951 and earlier are making up for lost time and 'splashing it on all over' with 56 per cent saying they respray three times a day, more than any other age group.

Ruth Attridge, spokesperson for Debenhams said: "No longer the fusty Steptoe or the less-than-fragrant Compo, the older generation has embraced the fragrance hall and is creating a buzz in the beauty industry.

"Choosing a signature scent can be a challenge whatever your age however, before reaching for another spritz, we'd always advise remembering that a 'man doesn’t have to try too hard'."

The older generation still has a little way to go to match up to their sons in their late twenties and thirties. Research has shown that 63 per cent of men in this age group have a 'fragrance wardrobe' of five or more scents, with men citing "mood", "occasion" and "trend" for why they experiment.

They were also the age bracket most likely to be influenced by the women in their life with 71 per cent of men claiming their wife or girlfriend has a say in their smell.

Despite their bad rap for piling on the pong, it is fresh, often unisex fragrances that are bought most frequently by men in their teens and early twenties. Bottle design and association with celebrities and sports proved major motivations for purchases in this age group.

As men reach their forties and fifties, sex sells resulting in a sales boom for the spicy and musky fragrance sector. The baby boomers have ascertained what fragrance they like and therefore spend more but buy less, investing in premium, designer brands such as Chanel, Tom Ford and Bvlgari.

Attridge added: "This research is massively important as we enter the Christmas shopping period.

"Fragrance is one of our most popular gifts for men and we can now provide further training for our fragrance consultants to help busy shoppers pick the right perfume, whether it's for your Great Uncle Bob or your image-conscious teenage son.

"We will be managing our stock levels accordingly to make sure that no one ends up with a dusty bottle of Old Spice left on the shelf year after year."