Best Christmas Films

Christmas Film Edit

Cuddle up, cuddle bunnies! Put on your dressing gowns, onesies, blankets; gather your mince pies, Bailey's, cats, small children, etc. The cosy Christmas film viewing is, for many families, as essential a part of the big day as dinner is. Here are a few well-acknowledged favourites. Is yours here? Drop us a comment to let us know! 

Home Alone

Ballsy little Kevin McAllister sets so many perfect booby traps that I'm always amazed villains Harry and Marv make it out alive. Any else have great memories of crying with laughter during this film? Did you wet yourself? 

Elf

Will Ferrell stars as a larger-than-life, Christmas-obsessed elf who spends most of the movie getting into scrapes with cynical New Yorkers. The tights definitely make it for us.  

Image credit: IMDb

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Vintage Charlie Brown? Can't be beaten! The 1965 special was initially predicted to bomb magnificently, but won an honorary Emmy years later! Who could watch this without falling in love with Snoopy all over again? 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

A little darker than the other movies on this list (though still full of fun!), The Nightmare before Christmas is about Jack Skellington's attempts to bring Christmas to his Halloween hometown. Tim Burton heads up the writer's team working on this movie. 

The Grinch
A Christmas villain manages to finally redeem himself with the villagers of Whoville in this adaptation of Dr. Seuss's picture book, written in 1957. Great fun, plus a green villain! What's not to like?

Image credit: Bristol Film Festival

Miracle on 34th Street

A heart warming, dreams-can-come-true tale. The premise sounds improbable (who takes Father Christmas to court?!) but essentially this is a story about a young girl's belief in something adults repeatedly tell her is not real. So there! Santa does exist! 

What do you like to watch at Christmas? Who do you watch it with?

Drop us a comment and let us know! 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Sustainable Christmas

Happy Sustainable Christmas!

It’s a well-known fact that we all enjoy indulging ourselves a little more than usual at Christmas – whether it be by buying our loved ones more gifts planned, treating yourself while Christmas shopping (cos that shizzle is exhausting!), or having to unzip your jeans after dinner. But spoiling ourselves this season does not mean we need to spoil our planet too.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a sustainable Christmas this year. Challenge accepted? 

1) Sustainable Christmas Trees

Christmas is a massive tree brushing the ceiling of your living room, adorned with glittery baubles and lights and memories of Christmases past, right? Doesn't have to be! Why not try an artificial tree for a more Sustainable Christmas – these can be bought from most shops and last on average up to 20 years.

Not only that, but they come in all shapes and sizes – for example, there is the classic artificial tree, but also more unconventional trees such as this stunning steel tree above. Stick it away in the loft when January rolls around and re-use every year!

Another option for a sustainable Christmas tree would be to rent one! Yes, you read that right. There are now companies all over the UK, such as Forever Green, Christmas Tree Rentals, or Living Christmas who specialise in growing Christmas trees in pots. You simply order yours, they deliver it and you water it every day. Then, come January, the company comes to pick it back up and look after it all year until it gets rented again the following Christmas. The benefit of this is that trees are not simply being planted to be chopped right down again come Christmas time. Here at M&M, we think renting Christmas trees is a pretty great idea and will certainly be renting ours from now on!

2) Eco-friendly decorations

There is nothing prettier than an autumnal wreath on the front door at Christmas time and our friends at Fleur de Rue in Stroud Town Centre are selling the most stunning wreaths that would look amazing in any home this winter!

Why not pop down to their stall and have a little nosey for yourself at their beautiful pieces?

3) Recycle your tree!

You do not have to rent a tree or buy a fake one to be sustainable this Christmas. Make sure to recycle your tree when Christmastime is over and ensure you're not contributing to the 90% that end up in a landfill. For advice on recycling your tree, simply call your local council.

4) Send e-cards

Not in the mood to handwrite hundreds of Christmas cards this year? No worries – check out how to create an e-card and then email them to your recipients. The process takes minutes and all your cards can be sent at the same time – saving you time and effort, which means more time to get into the Christmas spirit with your family and save trees in the process! Win-win! Or a voucher from us, now what's not to love! 

5) Why not try a Vegan Christmas dinner?

The Vegan Food and Living website has some incredible Christmas meals and snacks to try. What's to stop you from updating your Christmas dinner, whilst still allowing for tradition? Check them out now for stunning and simple recipes such as Vegan Christmas Pie and Vegan Tofu “Egg” Nog and enjoy a sustainable Christmas dinner.

6) Eat your leftovers!

Boxing Day's leftover-sandwiches are a great part of the season's culinary offerings. Ensure to make your Christmas leftovers last and avoid throwing away good food this Christmas instead of binning your food remains. Books such as Love Your Leftovers from Friends of The Earth are a great way of doing this, but failing that, it might be an idea to donate your leftovers to your local homeless shelter. For some, it may be the only Christmas dinner they will get this year and you will be helping to cut down on global food waste whilst making someone feel loved. Is that not what Christmas is all about?!

However you choose to spend Christmas this year, we hope this has been of some help to you in having a more sustainable Christmas! All of us at M&M would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year and thank you for all your support this year.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Party Season Edition- Longer Nights, Party Lights

Longer Nights = Party Lights! 

Since the clocks have gone forward, we've been watching the night falling quicker and quicker. You could respond to this one of two ways: go to bed at 5pm; or you could take advantage of the longer nights and go wild 'til the early hours. Here at M&M, we're in favour of a 70-30 split between partying all night and going to bed at 5pm. So we've got a few special party pieces together to tickle your fancy. Whether your a day bird or a night owl, dressing up a bit in these colder days makes everyone feel a little bit more sparkly inside!

Cocktails, dinner, book club— wherever you're heading of an evening, these styles will have you sorted. Check out our specially selected range of going-out stuff!

Cocktails, dinner, the club— wherever you're heading of an evening, these styles will have you sorted. Check out our specially selected range of going-out stuff!

Dress? Check. Statement jewellery? Check. Sassy shoes? Look below! Like, wow, we have you covered. Get them here!

Allow us to explain: it is winter, but it's also strappy season, honest! You can layer over them, accentuate them, do what you like with them. Get our beautiful Lila dress here. 

More straps! How about teaming our lovely Emily dress with a silver long-sleeved top underneath for the chillier days? Heck, make it sparkly! A belt made of fairy lights, perhaps? Other similar and equally delectable dresses include ravishing Ruth and dynamic Delia. 

Oh hi, Kate! (She just dropped in for some milk. She's diggin' the strappy look too). 

All that's left to say is YAY! Yes, it's winter, but it's also party prime-time. And we're not settling for dreary and dull in the sartorial section when there are goodies like the ones above, all ready to go! 

If you piece something killer together, please comment or tag us in a pic! We'd love to see what you're wearing. 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Prezzie Panic? Gifts With Low Environmental Impact and High Wow-Factor!

What's Under the Tree For Me?

If you're having trouble deciding what to put under the tree or into stockings this year, look no further! We're here to help you get your prezzie panic under control, although it's still early days yet. But I'm sure you don't need reminding that the early bird catches the worm!

Hoogly's Vanilla Chai— the ideal Winter Warmer!

We've teamed up with lovely brew company Hoogly Tea who make ethically sourced, fairly traded and Soil Association certified tea (try saying that three times fast!). Their super-cute tea cubes make the perfect stocking filler, with 5 biodegradable teabags in each. They also come in bigger sizes, with 15 teabags. Check out the list of their yummy teas here. 

Lola's Apothecary has your Christmas relaxation covered

Close your eyes and imagine the smell of fresh oranges, cloves, cinnamon, that concentrated Christmas smell. Now imagine stepping into a hot bath with candles around, being enveloped in that scent... The Inner Light Ritual Orange Patisserie beauty set promises a bath that "feels like hugs and cakes", while the luscious oil and fragrant candle included in the set are the perfect gifts for those who could do with a little R+R at the end of Christmas Day (who wouldn't?!). To top it off, they have a teeny little pot of local honey and tea to go with it! We're sold. This way to Blissville.

Presenting the Ana boot: keeping ankles safe from Jack Frost 

How about something to kick up leaves in, or crunch through frost in? Check out Bourgeois Boheme's Ana boot: a great example of BB's excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail, made from eco-friendly vegan leather and suede. PVC-free materials and natural latex also feature in this stylish, versatile shoe, perfect for pretty much any time of year. This is a gift with serious staying power and superb quality. Grab a pair here! 

Now, we know, she doesn't look so ready for Winter here, but our lovely Lilly skirt can totally handle anything you throw at her. Dress up with a jumper, tuck in a long-sleeved shirt, wrap yourself in fairy lights—whatever takes your fancy. We like to think of it as an easy essential, to wear to the bar, dinner, or ice skating. Take a look here.

We hope this post gives you a bit of Christmas treasure-hunting inspiration. Good luck; go forth and shop!

Sincerely, Madia & Matilda

Countdown to Christmas - Day 11 - Style A day

Joselle Nguyen - Business Administrator at Madia and Matilda

Joselle is an intern business administration at M & M and for the 12 days - countdown to Christmas is inspired by real girls and aspiration women, we asked Joselle to join in. 

Here is Joselle's views on ethical and sustainable fashion:

The miracle of Madia & Matilda is that every little pieces of fabrics counted, I can see a tiny piece of material finds its place in a wonderful dress. Today's inspiration comes from those stories.

For the day look, an elegant Riene top with a playful Simone Chequered Print Wrap Skirt would be my choices.

For a minimalist night look, why not Julia Metallic Sheer Dress paired with stilettos and a coat (or tights and heeled boots for those nights it is slightly chiller!)?

However, for something a little more risky, yet still completely elegant, I would choose a Violet Velvet Panel Dress? 

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Countdown to Christmas - Day 8 - Style A Day

Jennifer Aniston – Actress:

Today’s style inspiration comes from the one and only Jennifer Aniston. The F.R.I.E.N.D.S actress is hugely admired here at Madia & Matilda for her individual style, strength and of course, her acting skills.

We have several posts about how to recreate Jen’s character Rachel’s look already on our blog. Today, however, we wanted to celebrate Jennifer’s own style.

As a fan of strappy long dresses, you to can flawlessly rock red-carpet-ready look in our Amelia or Ruth strap dresses.

However for a more chilled out daytime look, stringing our Greta Blouse with the Ellen Cigarette Trousers together with a pair of ankle boots to exude confidence and style. Who knows, you might even be the next lady to get over Brad Pitt… (Cringe?) 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 4 - Style a Day

Emma Watson – Actress/sustainable fashion advocate:

Following the release of the latest film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that is currently taking the Wizarding World by storm, we thought we’d cast our minds back to the original Queen B of the world of Harry Potter.

Emma Watson is not only a renowned actress in top films such as the Harry Potter saga but has also starred in releases like The Perks of Being a Wallflower and spends her spare time advocating for Human Rights – particularly Women’s. 

We at Madia & Matilda think that makes her a superhero in her own right, but particularly when it comes to her style. Emma has her own look, taking inspiration from the latest trends as well as her own passions. In 2010 she worked closely alongside People Tree, a sustainable brand like us, to create her own line and continued creating clothing for the company until late 2012.

Dress her look in our very own Dakota knitted tank top and Ellen Cigarette Leg Trousers or for a more adventurous night wear look, try our Bella Halter Neck Jumpsuit or Amber Lace Top and Evelin Mini Skirt.



Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Countdown to Christmas - Day 3 - Style A Day

Giovanna Fletcher – “Giovanna’s World” blogger/TV presenter:

Blogger at Giovanna’s World, TV Presenter, Mum and all-round superwoman! Today’s on-trend lady is Giovanna Fletcher. 

Her style perfectly captures her energy and confidence whilst maintaining a practical and elegant look for her day-to-day plans. She seamlessly transforms her day look for night wear.

Channel your own inner Giovanna in our Abbie silver smock dress for an evening occasion or replicate Gi’s daytime look in our Mercia Frill Sleeve Top and Camille High Waisted Capri Trousers, paired with our Emery Sleeveless Jacket. To really finish off the look, why not add a pair of Olivia vegan shoes from our curated brand Bourgeois Boheme now available in store and online.



Sincerely Madia & Matilda