With just over a week to go until Mother’s Day, the clock is ticking if you’re still looking for that perfect present for your mum.
Perhaps you’ve been procrastinating, perhaps you’re just genuinely stuck for what to get – either way, we’ve pulled some of the best present ideas from a selection at luxury designer outlet Cheshire Oaks to help you show your mum just how loved she really is.
No matter your budget, there’s something here to suit – from coveted luxury handbags and beauty products to quirky homeware pieces and more.
Keep reading to discover some of the best gift ideas for your mum this Mother’s Day.
New Balance
For those mums who are always on their feet, a stylish pair of New Balance trainers are sure to be a hit. Widely considered to be some of the most comfortable trainers on the market, these fresh foam kicks will have your mum looking chic as anything whilst she’s out and about.
L’Occitane
If your mum can’t live without her luxury skincare, French beauty house L’Occitane is a must. There are a whole range of different gift sets to choose from in store, but if you’re in need of some inspiration you can’t go wrong with this Luxury Divine Face Care Collection. A PH-friendly makeup remover, alcohol-free toner and divine cream combine to offer an indulgent skincare routine to leave skin looking smoother and refreshed.
Mulberry
Surely every mum wants a Mulberry of her own, and if you’re the one to get it for her – well, just expect you’ll be in her good books for a very long time to come. These British-made luxury leather goods are the ultimate arm candy – with designs to match every style.
Molton Brown
Help your mum bring the spa to her this year with a Molton Brown gift set. The opulent fragrance brand has just released a new fragrance, rose and rhubarb, but if floral’s not her style you can also find comfort in the more classic, aromatic and woody Molton Brown scents.
UGG
Like a hug for your feet, these Australian sheepskin boots have been a wardrobe staple for years. Whether you opt for shoes, slippers or boots, know that these super cosy and breathable boots will give her years of comfort.
Levi’s
A good pair of Levi’s are a classic for a reason. So much so, that rare original pairs of Levi’s from the 50s can go for tens of thousands of pounds online. Get her a good fit, and she’ll want to hang on to those bad boys for life.
Hotel Chocolat
Luxury hot chocolate is having a moment in the UK, and it doesn’t get much more luxurious than Hotel Chocolat. Made with grated pieces of real chocolate, this high-end drinking chocolate is designed to be deeply chocolatey with rich cocoa flavours running throughout. Pair it with a Velvetiser if you want to go all out.
Furla
This sought-after Italian handbag brand is known for its quality craftsmanship and materials, making it the perfect choice for busy mums in need of a stylish, reliable upgrade that’s going to last a long time.
Fossil
There’s nothing like a classic timepiece to keep you in mum’s good books. As something she’ll wear every day, whenever she looks down to check the time she’ll think of you – and there’s something really special about that.
The Cosmetics Company – Jo Malone
Simple but beautifully crafted, Jo Malone’s fragrances have become somewhat of a go-to for special occasions and gifts and you can find them at Cheshire Oaks’ The Cosmetics Company. Of course, the infamous candles are a solid favourite – but if you want to up the ante, why not get her a scent she can enjoy everywhere.
Cath Kidston
Known for her eclectic, bright and colourful prints, at Cath Kidston you’ll find everything from beautiful homeware to stylish bags and clothing. There’s something cute to be discovered here on every budget.
Feature image – Supplied
Cheshire
‘Dazzling’ Victorian silver sculpture goes on public display in Greater Manchester after fears it was lost
Emily Sergeant
A long-lost masterpiece of Victorian silverwork has been saved and is now on display to the public in Greater Manchester.
Anyone taking a trip over to the National Trust’s historic Dunham Massey property, on the border of Greater Manchester into Cheshire, this summer will get to see the ‘dazzling’ sculpture called Stags in Bradgate Park – which was commissioned by a former owner in a defiant gesture to the society that shunned him.
The dramatic sculpture of two rutting Red Deer stags, commissioned in 1855 by George Harry Grey, 7th Earl of Stamford, was said to be an ‘act of love and rebellion’.
It also serves as a symbol of ‘locking horns’ with the society that ostracised him over his marriage to a woman considered ‘beneath him’.
“This isn’t just silver – it’s a story,” says James Rothwell, who is the National Trust‘s curator for decorative arts.
“A story of a man who fell in love with a woman that society deemed unworthy. When the Earl married Catherine Cox, whose colourful past was said to have included performing in a circus, Victorian high society was scandalised. Even Queen Victoria shunned the couple at the opera and local gentry at the horse races in Cheshire turned their backs on them.”
Modelled by Alfred Brown and crafted by royal goldsmiths Hunt & Roskell, Stags in Bradgate Park is a meticulously-detailed depiction of nature, and was considered a ‘sensation’ in its day.
Showing the rutting deer positioned on a rocky outcrop with gnarled hollow oaks, it graced the pages of the Illustrated London News, was exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1862, and at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867 – both of which were events that drew millions of visitors.
A ‘dazzling’ Victorian silver sculpture has gone on public display in Greater Manchester / Credit: Joe Wainwright | James Dobson (via Supplied)
The silver centrepiece was the celebrity art of its time, paraded through streets and admired by the public like no other.
Gradually over the years, some of the Earl of Stamford’s silver collection has been re-acquired for Dunham Massey, and this particular world-renowned sculpture, thought to be lost for decades and feared to have been melted down, has miraculously survived with its ‘dramatic’ central component being all that is left.
“The sculpture is not only a technical marvel, with its lifelike depiction of Bradgate Park’s rugged landscape and wildlife, but also a dramatic human story key to the history of Dunham Massey,” added Emma Campagnaro, who is the Property Curator at Dunham Massey.
“It speaks of nature, of craftsmanship, and of a couple who chose each other over status and what others thought of them.”
The sculpture has now gone on display at Dunham Massey from Thursday 26 June.
Featured Image – James Dobson (via Supplied)
Cheshire
Man who calls himself ‘Kardashian of Cheshire’ pleads guilty to £200k handbag fraud scam
Emily Sergeant
A man who refers to himself as Cheshire’s very-own Kardashian has pleaded guilty to fraud and theft.
Cheshire Police explained how Jack Watkin, formerly of Wilmslow Road, in the affluent Cheshire suburb of Alderley Edge, funded his fantasy Instagram influencer lifestyle by defrauding businesses and individuals to a total value of more than £200,000.
The 26-year-old appeared at Chester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 24 June), where he pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud by false representation.
The court heard how Watkin used the lure of well-known designer handbag brand, Hermes, as a ruse to trick people into giving him the money he needed to afford his extravagant lifestyle, as these sought-after handbags can’t be purchased over the counter, and instead, shoppers must be specially invited to buy one.
This therefore makes Hermes bags a lucrative investment, as the resale value of them can be much higher than the original price.
Jack Watkin has pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud / Credit: Cheshire Police
The victims were told by Watkin that he had the contacts that could give them access to the handbags and that they could split the profits made on resale, so they proceeded to hand over their money in good faith.
But when no bag or sign of any money from the investment opportunity showed itself, they would begin to ask for their money back… and it was at this point they encountered his excuses.
A police investigation was launched after one victim contacted the Metropolitan Police back in 2022 when she became suspicious of Watkin’s continued excuses, and the case was subsequently referred to Cheshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit.
Their enquiries unearthed a string of victims and a ‘breathtaking’ amount of luxury goods and hotel bills, all of which Watkin afforded by ‘swindling’ his six victims.
During the investigation, detectives also found indecent images on his mobile phone, which he has already been found guilty of at a previous hearing.
“Watkin deluded himself that he was a successful rich kid influencer,” explained Detective Constable Gareth Yates, of Cheshire Constabulary ECU.
“But in reality, he was stealing money from wealthy individuals under the guise of ‘business opportunities’ to fund his expensive habit of fast cars, luxury goods, and designer footwear and clothing.
“It was never going to end well, and his downfall was inevitable.
“Eventually his lies caught up with him and he is now facing the consequences of his deceit, and his perversions.”
Watkin has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced for the fraud and indecent images offences on Wednesday 3 September at Chester Crown Court.