There are lots of leather shops in India. Leather jackets are very popular over there with teenagers and college kids. I even have a relative that has a very successful leather business over there. I will have to ask about that.
Is she from India?
Just a cautionary note about cosmetics and body creams & lotions. Some of us (including D, SisIL & myself) are HIGHLY allergic and can’t tolerate the scents and contents of many, many lotions and creams, even those touted as hypoallergic, so I shy away from ever purchasing things that one applies to the body, especially anything with any scent or that involves personal tastes that may differ. I like consumables–tea, coffee, if she’s over 21, perhaps a nice bottle of Moscatto or other wine that she and your S might enjoy, a bracelet or pendant. Pashmina scarves are inexpensive and very nice in India, I understand, so that might not be an ideal gift. Maybe something from Costco, so she could return if it isn’t her size/preference?
Alcohol can be a highly problematic gift, even if the young lady is 21. (Many, many Hindus don’t drink.) I’d stay away from it.
The Indians I know all wear/use leather. I don’t believe that would be an issue.
OK, I stand corrected. Didn’t know that about alcohol. Is jewelry OK for Indians? I think it’s a nice memento, personally.
I think giving jewelry is pretty universal 
And Indian women are often beautifully bejeweled.
As far as cooking, after taking into account any dietary restrictions she might have like no beef, I would just cook what I normally do, which would mean cooking the kids’ favorites for them while they are home. If I was a bf or gf visiting I’d be interested in my significant other’s favorite foods and holiday customs. It would show me another side of the person I love.
Many of my Indian coworkers don’t eat beef. I also know one who does not eat pork.
Ok, maybe I’m alone in these thoughts - please feel free to dispute me…
- You’ve never met her but you are going to get/give her up to $200 in gifts?! That seems excessive and COULD BE uncomfortable for her to accept. One or two things could suffice.
- You MUST find a way to figure out some of what she likes. Don’t give your son the excuse to not be able to help with ideas - he’s dating her, he must know her likes/dislikes/hobbies/habits!!! I hate gifts for the sake of having something to open. A scarf is no good if she doesn’t wear them. Same with jewerly. Or most anything else either. Study some pictures of her, ask son what she does in her spare time, does she have any allergies, etc.
The idea of spending that much money without having a clue what she would need or enjoy just isn’t in my wheelhouse!
It sounds like you getting to know her will be the best gift of all on this visit.
I agree that I’d be uncomfortable receiving gifts of $200 in gifts from parents of a BF. I didn’t get presents from any of y BFs (even ones I dated very seriously for years) until H & I announced our engagement. I’d keep any gift giving minimal and maybe consumables in your area that your S says she may like–coffee, tea, hot chocolate mix, etc. Probably wouldn’t spend more than $20-30 or absolute max of $50. I would have been very uncomfortable if any of the parents of my BFs gave me gifts that cost more than that, even if they could easily afford them. I did meet the parents of several of my BFs over the years, including BFs I dated seriously for several years and we had talked of marriage.
Exactly how I felt, but you phrased it a lot better.
@abasket, I’m totally with you on the presents. I thought I was in the tiny minority because from reading the "comfortable shoes"and other threads, I think I’m on a different income level. $200 is just a lot of money to me. I may spend that amount on my husband but that’s all.
Welcome the woman into your home. Talk to her, get to know her without fretting too much about food (but know any and all dietary restrictions!) and gifts. You’ll find out what she likes and dislikes over time. If time allows and you mesh, go shopping with her (ostensibly for your son, her boyfriend). That will give you time with her and a hint of her tastes.
You don’t need to cook Indian food. I would definitely check if she’s vegetarian or not. All my Hindi friends don’t eat any meat at all, no chicken no fish.
I don’t like getting hand lotion or make up - except lip gloss or other sample size things in a stocking. Then anything goes. A nice wool scarf unless you are in a part of the US that is always warm is a possiblity. I love getting nice leather gloves since I’m always losing them. You’d have to find out how big her hands are though.
Edited to add, $200 seems like a huge amount to me to.
DS’s girl fried did not get anything from us last year. She wasn’t here. But we’ve seen her almost eveyr other weekend in the last year and we like her a lot. I’m thinking about getting her a Mark Bittman cookbook as she likes to cook for us, but isn’t that good at it yet.
I would stay away from jewelry - it is your son’s place to buy her jewelry if he wants - not yours. I like the idea of cold weather stuff - gloves, hat, scarf, bootie slipper-socks (generally one size fits all), etc.
I agree with others to stick closer to $35-50. If you want to be lavish buy them tickets to something for the both of them!
You can make vegetarian food but don’t try Indian. Many pasta dishes will work. Also pizza, salads, etc.
$50ish is more like what I would spend. I like the idea of tickets or a shared experience gift for both of them if you want to do something more.
1214mom- Our DD’s partner for several years is the son of Indian born, Hindu parents, raised in the U.S. Our family is neither Hindu nor Indian. While his family eats no meat, he does, but only when out. Our daughter continues our family’s vegetarian ways (no religious reason). Most meals here are vegetarian; only a few have Indian roots. I don’t attempt to cook Indian food for BF; his mom has that covered. I just serve what I know everyone likes.
I concur that in most cases, the risk of discomfort with BF/GF gifts early on in any relationship is over doing. We are “gifty” types, but sit on our hands with kids SOs for quite awhile. I follow my kids take on what is appropriate.
But OP, you have such a great opportunity to get to know her - enjoy! And maybe if she is willing/interested to share her culture - maybe she will cook for you all one night!
Is she Indian from Singapore? I wouldn’t make any assumptions on what she eats or likes, it is too easy to stereotype in the wrong way. Better to consult your son.
So your son gave you 1 suggestion but it was out of your price range. What was it? Did he come up with it on his own or did he ask her? Maybe if you told us what it was we could offer suggestions about something similar but less expensive?
Well, I might cook Indian food while she was visiting, but then I cook Indian food all the time anyway. My S’s Chinese GF was here for Christmas, and I didn’t cook Chinese food, even though I do fairly frequently, but she decided to cook lunch for us. (And enlisted the help of S as sous chef, which he would never do for ME. )
I don’t know if I’ve posted it on this thread before, but after much crisis, I found an interesting silk scarf on line depicting the flower that is the meaning of her name (Blue Lotus), we got her a pair of earrings from Lovell Design that are very Maine-y, and I bought her an interesting vegetarian cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi since I know she is interested in cooking and has views on eating healthfully that involve eating a lot of vegetables. BTW, @mathmom, I got my son Mark Bittman’s new book “How to Cook Everything Fast,” which appeared to have great recipes set up well for a comparatively novice cook, especially a young person with a job who isn’t yearning to spend hours at it.
I don’t know what I’m going to do this year, though.