Top Tips for Buying Gifts for Women This Holiday Season

When buying a gift for someone we care about, we do our best to get it right. We’ve all felt the disappointment of unwrapping a gift that doesn’t scream “me”. We babble an awkward thank you, then stuff the ugly jumper into the depths of the cupboard, until it’s retrieved a few years later and re-gifted to the charity shop. 

Buying gifts for the opposite sex can be tricky and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choice when shopping for women. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps to selecting the ideal gift. Read on to learn how to pick the perfect Christmas present for the women in your life. 

Pay attention to hints

A woman will never tell you outright when she finds something she wants you to get her, but she will absolutely drop a hint or two. Pay close attention if you see her pining after a piece of jewelry or leaving the browser open on that same dress you’ve seen her look at a dozen times.  

If you want to have a little fun and throw her off the scent, play around with the way you present the gift to her. Put a heavy object in the wrapping with her new book or put a necklace in a larger box instead. 

Avoid classic housewife gifts

If your mum wants an apron, she will go out and buy one. Unless she specifically requests a new frying pan (and trust us, she won’t), don’t buy her a gift which is really an upgrade for the kitchen. 

If she genuinely loves to cook you could acknowledge her passion for food with a new recipe book. Where possible, choose one which fits her interests best. For example, if she loves to bake, a cake recipe book would be perfect. However, if she prefers to make healthy vegetarian dishes, don’t get her a baking book, even if you have a sweet tooth. 

Look for something which connects you

Ignore Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. If you ask most women, you’ll probably find a sentimental gift means more to them than a piece of jewellery (unless you’re taking about an engagement ring, but that’s a different story). 

If you and your partner have an inside joke, an anecdote, or a special memory from when you first met, now is the perfect time to acknowledge it. For example, if you had your first date at an Italian restaurant, you could learn to cook some of the dishes from that night.