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Just as we’ve finally recovered from the festive chaos, and the last stray piece of pine has been vacummed, another celebration is quietly tip‑toeing in – or rather, galloping.
Yes, the Lunar New Year is almost here, and this time it’s a pretty special one. On February 17, we’ll be stepping into the Year of the Fire Horse, an astrological event that only happens once every 60 years, which makes it feel just that little bit more exciting.
It’s also the perfect excuse to treat yourself or someone you love to something small and joyful, and to properly mark, what many of us consider, the true reset of the year.
We’re also wrapping up the tail end of the Year of the Snake, which was focused on reflection, planning, and generally getting our lives a bit more sorted behind the scenes.
Now? We’re swapping that slow‑burn energy for the Horse’s signature spirit – faster, bolder, and much more encouraging of taking the kind of leaps we’ve maybe talked about but not actually taken yet.
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Gifting plays a lovely role in Lunar New Year traditions, and it’s far more meaningful than simply handing someone a present. It’s about offering good wishes for the year ahead, which is why red envelopes make such an appearance: red represents luck, protection and prosperity.
Even simple gestures like giving oranges or tangerines carry symbolism – their golden colour represents luck and abundance, turning a bag of citrus into a beautifully thoughtful offering rather than a last‑minute panic buy.
While traditional gifts still have a special place, more modern choices have become just as popular. People love skincare, jewellery, and limited‑edition finds inspired by the zodiac — especially when brands lean into the year’s theme with Horse motifs or classic red‑and‑gold packaging. It keeps the spirit of the celebration while feeling fresh and stylish, don’t you agree?
There are a few items, however, to avoid gifting – not because anyone will be offended, but because they carry meanings people would rather not associate with a new year. Clocks imply time slipping away, sharp objects can symbolise cutting ties, and white items are traditionally linked with mourning, so they’re best left off your list.
If you’re hoping to bring in the Fire Horse year with gifts that feel thoughtful, meaningful and genuinely lovely to receive, this week’s Trend Trove has you covered. Expect pieces that balance tradition with a contemporary twist – lucky reds, prosperity‑themed home touches, stylish zodiac‑inspired accessories, beauty favourites and little luxuries ideal for ushering in joy and good energy.
Whether you’re shopping for someone close or simply want to bring a bit more positivity into your own space, Trend Trove pulls together the most charming, design‑led picks to help you start the Lunar New Year in exactly the right way.
Humantra Black Cherry
Humantra is a plant‑based, sugar‑free electrolyte drink designed to keep up with real‑life hydration needs – delivering hard‑working replenishment that also happens to taste genuinely good.
Buy Now from £22.40
Johnnie Walker Blue Label in Year of the Horse 2026
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label – Year of the Horse 2026, arrives in a striking limited-edition bottle designed by Hong Kong-born, London-based fashion talent Robert Wun, whose bold, sculptural style brings the Lunar New Year’s forward‑moving Horse to life. Inside, it’s the iconic Blue Label blend made from some of the rarest casks in the brand’s reserves – no experimental finishes, just the ultra-smooth whisky fans know and love, wrapped in a bottle worthy of display.
Buy Now for £225.50
REFY Lip Blush
The REFY Lip Blush has quickly become one of my go‑to everyday lip products thanks to its lightweight, blurring formula that smooths fine lines and adds a soft, natural wash of colour to the lips. It feels like a hydrating balm – thanks to nourishing coconut emollients – but delivers the tint of a lipstick without any heaviness or stickiness. The satin, softly diffused finish makes lips look naturally fuller, and with wearable shades like Bloom, Amber and Orchid, it’s perfect for that effortless no‑make‑up‑make‑up look.
Buy Now for £16
Thortful Cute Chinese New Year Card – Year Of the Horse
This bold red Lunar New Year card instantly caught my eye, with its playful pink star‑covered horse soaring over a gold moon – the perfect nod to 2026’s Year of the Horse. It’s fun, vibrant and full of personality, making it an easy pick if you want a card that feels celebratory, stylish and just that little bit extra.
Buy Now from £3.99
Missoma Classic Pave Huggies
These tiny huggie hoops are exactly the kind of piece I reach for every day – simple, sparkly and effortlessly stackable. The pavé cubic zirconia adds just the right amount of shine, whether I’m pairing them with chunkier statement hoops for a full ear stack or wearing them solo for a more minimal look. They’re the kind of wear‑with‑everything earrings that quietly elevate your whole vibe.
Buy Now for £85
Cambridge Satchel The Year of the Horse Charm
If you’re after a little good‑luck boost for the year ahead, this Year of the Horse bag charm is such a sweet touch. Symbolising strength and freedom, it adds a meaningful nod to the Lunar New Year without feeling over the top. It’s small, thoughtful and instantly personalises any bag – the kind of easy accessory that makes a simple staple feel that bit more special.
Buy Now for £35
Tonies Hero-2 Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year always feels like pure magic to me – the lanterns, the colour, the food, the sense of celebration everywhere. This sweet story follows Kai as he helps his grandparents get ready for a big family party, introducing little readers to the traditions, history and wonder behind this much‑loved Chinese festival. It’s a gentle, joyful way to share the meaning of Lunar New Year with younger listeners.
Buy Now for £14.99
Marella Cashmere Sweater
This pure cashmere jumper strikes that perfect balance between refined and relaxed – the kind of knit you throw on and instantly feel polished. The patterned detail across the chest gives it a subtle point of interest, while the raglan sleeves, inspired by classic varsity sweatshirts, keep the whole look feeling effortless and modern. It’s cosy, elevated and ideal for dressing up your everyday basics.
Buy Now for £310
Smythson Soho Notebook with Slide Closure in Mara
The Soho notebook is one of those beautifully made pieces that immediately feels special. Handcrafted in England from supple leather and filled with Smythson’s signature gilt‑edged, pale blue featherweight pages, it blends practicality with real luxury. With its mid-size design, it slips effortlessly between my desk and my bag – the kind of notebook that makes even the quickest jotting feel a little more elegant.
Buy Now for £250
Lush Gallop To Success Bath Bomb
Lush’s Lunar New Year bath bomb is a vibrant tribute to Chi Tu, the legendary horse symbolising strength and success. It fizzes into bright red‑and‑gold swirls with uplifting citrus scents and playful popping candy, all created through Lush’s Co‑Create programme to celebrate authentic cultural stories. It’s fun, meaningful and sustainability‑minded – the perfect way to welcome the Year of the Horse.
Buy Now for £5
IKEA FÖSSTA Carrier Bag
This mini FRAKTA is such a fun way to ring in the Year of the Horse – a playful, downsized take on IKEA’s iconic blue bag, now covered in running horses. It’s sturdy, easy to sling over your shoulder or carry by the handles, and brings a little festive charm to your everyday errands.
Buy Now for £2
Lululemon Lunar New Year Dual Pouch Wristlet
The Lululemon Lunar New Year Dual Pouch Wristlet is such a handy little organiser – perfect for tossing in your essentials when you’re on the move. With its festive Year of the Horse design and two roomy compartments, it’s practical without compromising on style. I love that you can wear it on your wrist for easy, hands‑free errands or pop it into a bigger bag to keep everything neat and accessible.
Buy Now for £48
Amazon 24 PCS Red Envelopes for 2026 Chinese New Year
These Year of the Horse red envelopes are such a lovely way to bring a traditional touch to Lunar New Year celebrations. The pack includes 24 beautifully made envelopes, each featuring one of six golden horse designs, and the quality feels really premium – sturdy, smooth and properly gift‑worthy. They’re perfect for sharing good luck and blessings with family and friends, and they add that meaningful cultural charm that makes the New Year feel extra special.
Buy Now for £4.99
Happy New Year Card
This bold red greetings card is such a simple but stylish way to mark Lunar New Year, with its crisp ‘Happy New Year’ message stamped in rich brown lettering. It’s clean, modern and festive without being fussy – the kind of card that instantly adds a thoughtful touch to any New Year gift.
Buy Now for £2.95
Biscuiteers Horse Biscuit
Biscuiteers have truly galloped into the Lunar New Year spirit with this adorable horse‑shaped biscuit, intricately iced with a fiery, dragon‑inspired design. It’s fun, festive and packed with symbolic meaning – celebrating strength, good luck and good health for the year ahead. And with the dragon being the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac, it feels like an extra‑special treat to kick off the celebrations.
Buy Now for £10.99
Laduree 'Lunar New Year' 8 Macarons Gift Box
This Ladurée Lunar New Year macaron box is such a beautiful little indulgence – eight of their classic, delicate macarons wrapped in vibrant red and gold for the Year of the Horse. It feels luxe but still perfectly giftable, making it an easy way to share a sweet moment of celebration (or just treat yourself) as we head into the new year.
Buy Now for £35
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Island Glow Lip & Cheek
The new Lip + Cheek Glow shades offer an instant, sun‑kissed flush with minimal effort, from soft rosy pinks to brighter holiday-inspired hues. The sheer, buildable formula works across all skin tones and glides easily onto lips and cheeks, boosted with vitamin E, beeswax and raspberry leaf extract for a smooth, moisturising finish. It’s an effortless way to get that dewy, just‑stepped‑into‑sunshine glow in seconds.
Buy Now for £30
Burberry Thomas Bear Lunar New Year 2026 Wool Bag Charm
Introducing the Year of the Horse Bear from Burberry – a charming celebration of craftsmanship and character. Featuring the much-loved Thomas Bear design, this piece is detailed with an EKD jumper for a signature touch. Thoughtfully crafted with movable arms and legs, it’s finished with metal hardware and an engraved logo at the clasp for a refined, elevated feel.
Buy Now for £290
M&S Dream Satin™ Heart Print Revere Shortie Set
If you’re after sleepwear that balances style and comfort, this heart-print pyjama set is a lovely option. Made from M&S’s Dream Satin™ fabric, it’s designed to feel cool, breathable and free from static, with a relaxed short-sleeved shirt and matching drawstring-waist shorts that are perfect for cosy nights and slow mornings.
Buy Now for £30
Cutter & Squidge Lunar New Year Hamper
If you’re marking Lunar New Year in style, this beautifully curated hamper is one I’d be adding straight to basket. Wrapped in a stunning sleeve designed by Georgina Leung of Chop Stick N Poke, it’s packed with festive favourites – from caramelised sesame peanuts and fragrant clementine tea to a showstopping line-up of seasonal bakes, including yuzu raspberry blondies, dark chocolate mandarin brownies and a classic red velvet cake – plus eight gold-dusted brownie bites for an extra touch of luck. It’s a thoughtful, joy-sparking gift that feels every bit as celebratory as the occasion itself.
Buy Now for £72.99
Biscuiteers Chinese New Year Biscuits
To mark the Year of the Horse, I’d be snapping up these beautifully hand-iced 2026 biscuits as a sweet way to send a little New Year luck. Decorated in traditional colours and finished with an intricately detailed horse design in biscuit form, they’re almost too pretty to eat – but far too delicious not to.
Buy Now for £25
Laura Mercier Lunar New Year 2025 Blush Colour Infusion 6g
Think peonies in full, glorious bloom — romantic and impossible to ignore. Inspired by themes of love, prosperity and good fortune, this limited-edition collection lands just in time for Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, reimagining bestselling beauty favourites with a striking peony motif that makes every swipe and sweep feel like a little nod to being lucky in love.
Buy Now for £31.50
LEGO® The Spring Festival 40813 Lucky Cat Figurine
This playful LEGO® Lucky Cat set makes a charming little display piece, complete with a pendulum‑style paw that mimics the classic beckoning motion said to bring good luck. Once built, it comes to life with sweet details like its smiling eyes, whiskers, rosy cheeks and tail, and you can finish it off with either a golden coin or a good‑fortune message on its tummy. It’s a small but joyful build designed to brighten up a shelf – and hopefully your luck, too.
Buy Now for £25
Barbie Celebration 2026 Lunar New Year Fashion Doll 33cm
The Barbie Celebration 2026 Lunar New Year Fashion Doll comes dressed in a vibrant red gown detailed with gold peonies for prosperity, designed by Joyce Chen and finished with a fan‑inspired bodice, sheer gold shawl and statement earrings for an elegant festive look. Confirmed as part of Barbie’s Lunar New Year line, this 33cm collector‑style doll blends cultural symbolism with display‑ready polish – a bright, celebratory keepsake for welcoming the new year.
Buy Now for £70
Mulberry Heritage Check Scarf
This season, Mulberry’s Heritage Check makes a cosy comeback in the form of a beautifully soft, fringed scarf that’s made for wrapping yourself up in. A classic print with an easy, everyday feel – the kind of accessory that instantly warms up any winter look.
Buy Now for £145
Elemis Pro-Collagen Black Cherry Cleansing Balm
The Black Cherry Cleansing Balm delivers a juicy cherry, almond and vanilla scent while its balm‑to‑oil‑to‑milk formula melts away makeup and hydrates in one go. Packed with nourishing oils, marine algae and floral waxes, it turns a simple cleanse into a soft, comforting, spa‑like treat – all in a mineral‑oil‑free blend.
Buy Now for £52
Marshall Emberton III Lunar New Year Edition 2026
Emberton III is built to go wherever the celebrations take you, making it the perfect companion for ringing in the Year of the Horse. Its tough, travel‑ready design delivers full 360° sound, giving you all the power you need to turn any gathering into a Lunar New Year blowout.
Buy Now for £179.99Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
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