<p>S1 is totally clueless about what to get his g/f for Christmas. He is 23 and she is 21, they have been dating just over a year and are fairly serious. Last Christmas they had been dating just over 3 months. He got her a stuffed animal and a music box with a picture frame on top in which he put a picture of the two of them. She got him a GPS. To quote S2, “Fail!”</p>
<p>She likes designer things, so for her b’day in July he got her Tiffany earrings. Score! She liked that. Now it’s Christmas. She has a diamond necklace from her parents that she wears all the time, and earrings are obviously out. He was going to get her a nice piece of luggage because they like to talk about the places they want to go someday, but he called her mom to ask her about it, and her mom said she got a nice set for h.s. graduation.</p>
<p>Their relationship has just become a long-distance relationship, as he has reported for Air Force flight school, and she is still in college.</p>
<p>Sounds like she likes jewelry…a bracelet from Tiffany’s since that’s where he got her earrings from ??? or anywhere really. My designer loving Ds love purses and scarfs. What about being pampered at a spa for the day?</p>
<p>I was going to suggest to my son he buys a matching set necklace, earrings and bracelet (about $300 total) and he would be set for xmas, birthday and valentines day…if he didn’t forget where he stashed them.:)</p>
<p>Interesting jewelry from museum of modern art
brookstone–softest blankets, slippers
cashmere sweater & t-shirt (were 75 at banana republic)
keychains from Gucci (150); looks like a miniature shoe. Keychains probably available at tiffanys, too.Coach had keychain heart (25 a few years ago)
burberry scarf</p>
<p>Perhaps a serious discussion of gift-giving is in order? The kinds of gifts mentioned here seem a bit pricey for a guy in the Air Force and a girl in college. An agreement not to spend more than a certain amount on gifts for each other might be worthwhile.</p>
<p>My 22 year old son has been pondering the same issue. 2-yr relationship with 22 yr old gf. Sax made a point about the holiday-birthday-valentine’s day gift cycle to which we can add anniversary. I encouraged him to think outside the jewelry box. I second the cashmere sweater idea and would like to add North Face fleece in a luxurious color (white, high pile) or a pretty giftable color.</p>
<p>Does the weather get cold where you live? A light-weight cashmere pashmina and warm gloves (Uggs makes very nice sheepskin ones that can be found at Nordstrom’s) will keep her warm in the upcoming weeks And a girl can never have too many gloves and pashminas.</p>
<p>Good ideas! Keep them coming! She lives in Texas, so we don’t get a lot of cold weather, but it’s cold right now. :)</p>
<p>The reason for it being so expensive is that she is accustomed to nice things and he wants to get her something that she will really like. I happen to know that she is getting him a golf shirt and maybe golf shorts, too. Her family are all golfers, and she got him clubs for graduation, so he has been learning to golf. It’s something they’ve gone to do together several times. She may be getting him something else too, I’m not sure. I can’t tell him what she’s giving him, of course, but I could tell him that it’s less than $100.</p>
<p>If she’s in Texas, then she’s probably familiar with James Avery jewlery. Lots of lovely crosses, etc. but also lovely secular pieces. You can get it in gold or sterling. The sterling is nice because it’s “real” but doesn’t break the bank.</p>
<p>How about some kind of golf themed jewelry? Like a silver necklace with a little ball, etc. Or a charm bracelet, as someone mentined.</p>
<p>Most girls like jewelry from BF’s. Your son can play it safe by going more for “dainty” then a big statement-y piece. My D treasures the delicate little necklace with the tiny little crystal drop that her BF gave her.</p>
<p>Um, gifts are not my forte, but does she like her cellphone? Perhaps it could use an update, with an elegant case.</p>
<p>She’ll associate him with her phone. It certainly fits the theme of long distance relationship. </p>
<p>But again, I only know about practical gifts and am not so good at jewelry. Maybe giving a tech-gadget is like giving me a can opener and calling that a gift (now who did that??!!)</p>
<p>If she likes nice things, like my daughter, then I think she’ll want quality rather than quantity. Girls do not want anything practical from their boyfriends, that’s what parents are for. </p>
<p>I would consider a nice pair pearl stud earrings. If your son wants to splurge there is always Mikimoto or south ea pearls, but a pair of nice quality pearl earrings is something a girl could wear everyday - day or night. Later, when he has more money (as the relationship grows), he could then get her a string of pearls.</p>
<p>Judith Ripka has some nice jewelry reasonably priced. Gilt.com is having a sale now, 2-300 for a ring or earrings. Not sure if you could see this if you are not a customer, it a dangling heart shaped earrings for $165.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I disagree with some of what’s been said. I am out of college, but I graduated just a little over a year ago, so I still remember what it’s like. I do not come from a rich family by any stretch of the imagination (lower middle class, maybe), and now I work to support myself with no help from anyone (I have to be very careful with money and can afford very few ‘extras’). However, I disagree that a discussion about the price of gifts is in order. If someone said that to me, I would find it kind of offensive. I believe in giving nice gifts to family and people close to me (like a boyfriend). I think that holidays/birthdays are rare enough that you can save up $150-200 for a nice gift. College kids spend a lot of money on takeput and other extras, and I think a part time job would more than cover a GPS or a nice necklace.</p>
<p>If the person I was dating, didn’t have or couldn’t spare the money, that would not be a problem, and they wouldn’t need to have a talk with me. I would still get them a great gift - it’s doesn’t have to be of equal value to theirs, and I would know they did the best they can, which is what counts. I know some may disagree, but I just think special occasions are when you go all out (something that you save for and plan).</p>
<p>These are kind of classy. Nice shoe bags to protect your shoes when you travel (these are pretty high end, $50 for the bag and little stuffers that match for the toes of the shoes). I am getting some for D for Christmas (she always borrows mine, but now that she travels from college sometimes she is missing them…).</p>
<p>They can still ship in time for Christmas. So even if she has nice luggage, these are a nice addition. Packing cubes are also a great travel-related gift (keeps everything organized in that nice luggage!).</p>
<p>Does she have a nice digital camera? D1 got one from her BF and she loved it. It’s a nice gift if they are long distance because she could take pictures to send to him - every time she uses it she’ll think of him.:)</p>
<p>We parents have enough things to worry about, timely. Let your S figure this one out. If I had known my BF’s parents were the ones trying to figure out what he should get me for Christmas, he would have been my ex-BF. You will be doing him (and her) a favor long-term if you let him sink or swim on this on his own.</p>
<p>When I opened this thread, I assumed it was a mother asking for suggestions of what to get for her adult female friends for Christmas.</p>
And a girl can never have too many gloves and pashminas.</p>