Boden Founder Johnnie Boden on His Tasteful British Essentials

“This blazer is a celebration of everything that makes life worth living. It’s bold, colorful and beautifully cut, and you know you’ll feel absolutely amazing when you wear it. Isn’t that what clothes should do?”

“I have become slightly obsessed with smells and scents in recent times and have been experimenting with lots of candles. In a crowded field, this one really stands out. It’s fresh and uplifting and instantly transports me to the English countryside.”

“This is—quite seriously—the best English novel ever written. It’s quite hard work, but much easier to read than Shakespeare and the characters are even more compelling. I revisit it every year and I won’t rest until all of my friends and family have read it.”

“I love the fact that Adidas has collaborated with a brilliant British designer and I’d like to own a pair of these shoes in every color of the rainbow. You can wear them with anything. And I do.”

“Each pair of these slippers is unique as they’re upcycled from Berber rugs. Believe it or not, I wear these every morning when I bring my wife Sophie a cup of Earl Grey tea in bed. They always make her smile.”

“I’ve always been partial to stripes and they’ve become an important part of Boden’s brand DNA. I can’t have enough of these cushion covers. They jolly up any sofa.”

“This is a serious piece of metal hardware. It’s really sturdy and made to last forever. It’s also beautiful. When I gave it to my daughter the other day she felt the weight of it in her hand and cried with joy.”

“When it comes to cooking, Ottolenghi is my go-to. The man is a genius and I love everything he has ever created. This may be the best cookbook ever.”

“I’m still haunted by the time I headed to Heathrow airport with my wife’s iPhone in my pocket. But there’s no chance of that happening with this personalized phone case. It’s a gorgeous color and leather makes it feel a bit luxurious.”

“I still get excited when somebody reinvents an everyday object. This vase is so beautiful. So interesting. So affordable. And so timeless.”

“[British artist] David Shrigley is such a talented man, I think everybody should get to know his work. I’m lucky enough to have some of it hanging in my London office and find it a constant source of inspiration.”

“These cotton bathrobes are made in Portugal with a thick terry pile. I own two of them and have discovered that they can make a hangover feel like a holiday.”

“I really admire Cubitts. They went into business to make beautiful glasses affordable and they’ve succeeded. I like a pair of bold frames and these are particularly fetching.”

“A trip to the Floris shop in Jermyn Street is a joy for the senses. They’ve been making Londoners smell lovely for nearly three hundred years. I always go back to this bath essence. Nothing has ever beaten it.”

“I suspect my obsession with trays is a British thing. We had a lot at home when I was growing up and I’ve continued the tradition. This is my favorite tray at the moment. Charmingly nostalgic, it manages to stand out against some pretty stiff competition. But I’m always on the lookout for something new.”