Some of us have hairdressers we’ve gone to for a very long time and would be reluctant to try a new one. Icebreakers has really neat machine washable wool things that honestly have natural antimicrobial treatment so they don’t smell, even if you go awhile between washings. I love my things from that brand and they sometimes have sales and are sold under their own brand store as well as many outfitters. I have purchased thermals, a vest and several sweaters and most recently a pair of slacks. They have tshirts, undershirts and many other things as well.
Oh I would definitely choose a place where the person already goes…for hair, nails, etc. not someplace new!
A handmade paper mache decorated jewelry or trinket box with some jewelry in it or a giftcard.
http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Paper-Mache-Trinket-Decoration/dp/B00HY6UDNW/ref=sr_1_13?s=furniture&ie=UTF8&qid=1443317546&sr=1-13&keywords=paper+mache+boxes
Here is another beautiful one.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UFQEX7A?psc=1
Here is one made of marble.
Although the OP hasn’t responded (I don’t think) in a while on this thread…she does mention at the beginning that she has no style nor cares that she doesn’t …so…I think that something like a GC or some other type of no-brainer gift is best. Face it, we all have different taste and unless we ARE the person she’s buying for, we cannot vouch for anything that might be right!
Funny how different we all are. I really hate gift receiving - weird I know, but it’s true! I really, REALLY just prefer to buy clothing, scents, decor - EVERYTHING - on my own. GC are wonderful even at age 56! Hopefully if you know me, you at least know a store I like to shop at! I would not wear a scarf. I would not wear a shawl.
I often will give a gift card along with just a little something. A gift card and some scones from a local bakery. A gift card and an insulated drink mug. A gift card and a bag of flavored coffee (if I know the person likes coffee!). So there is a little more thought into the gift than just picking up one up in the check out line at the grocery store but not a waste of $$.
@abasket- I agree! I like to shop for myself. I wouldn’t wear a shawl or scarf either. I think a gift card tucked into something small like abasket suggested is perfect. I also think it is tough for me as a 60 year old to pick out any kind of clothing/purses etc. that a 20-30 year old would want to use. I remember being that age and shopping w/ my Mom or MIL and them saying ," isn’t this cute?" and me thinking, well, yes, for you but I would never wear that!
There is a law in WA state that requires GC to not expire. So that’s not an issue here. I don’t understand why anyone would amass hundreds of dollars in GC and let them expire. Even if they don’t need the money, surely they could give them to their kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc. or even donate them. It seems odd and selfish to do otherwise.
For spas, restaurants, anything like that, I’d only get a GC for one of those if I knew the recipient actually went there. People are really picky about food and personal care. I’ve done gift baskets I’ve assembled myself based on what the person likes, but only things I know they’d use.
I think the problem with “things” is that they become clutter. For example, I already have a nice jewelry box. If I received the things linked to above, however nice they are, I would have no need and would wind up giving them away. I really don’t want other people buying me jewelry unless they really know me well. I’ve decluttered most of my costume jewelry so I don’t really want more. And I’m at a computer most days so even the loveliest bangle bracelet would go unworn. This is why I think consumables, experiences or GCs come into play as options.
If living in a cold climate, Smart Wool items tend to be appreciated by all ages. I give a lot of their socks at Xmas. You would want something more significant, scarf or gloves or whatever depending on the relationship.
I need to think on this, as my new dau in law lives in a warm part of the country.
Amazed at the price for that little backpack posted above. D has one, and they look rather prosaic. Apparently they are a thing!
Ive gotten gift certificates to places I’ve never been (massage, etc) and while I think I eventually tried it, it felt a little weird. I would never use a gift certificate to a hair place Ive never been. And if I were to do a gift card (dont really like them) Amazon or a credit card type might be a consideration, but it feels like just giving $. Just reading the comments here indicated the differences in opinions about gifts One gift we got once that was fun was a weekly delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables from a local co-op or something. Loved it. We could go on line and modify the items we were scheduled to get that week. Really enjoyed that.
For my kids’ birthday, I bought them a voucher for an indoor skydiving experience that they will do together when they are home at Thanksgiving I’m not suggesting skydiving for someone you don’t know well, but are there other “experiences” the person might like?
Gifts for our immediate family is, IMO, easier than for a s’s gf or wife.
I have bought my son’s girlfriends a lighted magnifying makeup mirror. You can get them as cheaply as $25 at Costco or as much as hundreds in some places. The girls that have become wives still have them in their bathrooms. They all loved them though. I know I still love mine.
I leave jewelry to son to buy for his girlfriend. Would never buy a spa card or personal clothing.
Found a great lightweight painted totebag that I gave to GF for her birthday. Sort of multi-purpose.
Thinking about some pet related gift (just got a dog)
.D loves GC (they don’t expire) to StarBucks and movie theater. Says those are things she wouldn’t normally splurge on so having a card really is a present.
Luggage? Lightweight, cabin-friendly pieces are usually appreciated in our experience. Tumi and Le Sportsack make nice travel totes and duffels.
Just curious (not that it matters):
After you have given your s’s gf a gift, do you think her parents would know what gift you have given her relatively quickly?
I think most likely they would if his gf communicates with her parents very regularly (say, a few times a week.)
I am aware that DS and his GF have exchanged gifts with each other. (However, I only knew about it long after DS had received the gift. He just did not bring up this kind of topic during our call.) But I think her parents have not given him anybgift yet (as far as I know.) i heard that, in her culture, just to meet the parents is a quite significant event. Exchanging the gift? The young person had to give the gift first, and it is never the other way around.
Mcat,
I don’t give a whit if the gf’s parents know anything about the gift we give. It’s not for them, It’s for her. Please do yourself a favor and try to let go of worrying about what these people think of you. If you are buying her a gift for the purpose of it being relayed to her parents, you are buying it for the wrong reason.
You edited your post after I responded, Mcat, to add the paragraph about some old custom. It must be painful to be so locked into this kind of thinking and obsessing over every move as if it were a chess game.
jym626,
I think I have learned and adopted the way of thinking here (at least I have tried) and I am also quite confident that DS’s gf is also quite americanized (she’s one generation younger than me when she was first here after all.) We only “met” each other on a video chat once though.
Re: Editing after my post: I do not know whether other CCers have the same “problem” I often have. I often found all sorts of “mistakes” in what I had typed after my first post (typo, grammar errors, incorrect use of words) so I had to go back and correct them as much as I could.
Then for heavens sake let go of all this cultural protocol angst and worry about what her parents think or don’t think. You will sleep better at night.
Mcat, stop worrying too much. It’s not healthy for you. You’ve raised a good son and let him figure things out.