The Art of Gift-Giving – Part 2

Last time we went over some gift-giving tips about listening to her and to tread lightly when it comes to the “what to get girls” template. Here are a few useful tips to help you get started.

If she’s studying and you know she likes to make summaries, get her an exam pad, some post-its/flags, highlighters, things she may need. Or write a little good luck note. Maybe some calming music to help her sleep after a hectic study session, or get her a massage voucher to help her relax.

Buy her a KitKat or maybe some sweets that she likes. It’s okay to nibble when you study. Quite natural, actually. Your brain needs the energy.

Unless you know her size and taste exactly, do not buy her clothes and shoes. And if you do, keep the receipt. Just because she says, “that dress is so adorable” doesn’t mean she actually wants it or will wear it.

If you really want to buy her a nice dress or item of clothing and don’t want to take her shopping (as in go shopping with her and buy what she wants) then you may have to ask her best friend for advice. She’ll know exactly what to do.

The same goes for jewellery. Unless you’ve picked up on her style and know without a shadow of a doubt that she’ll love it, leave it. Or maybe you saw something that reminded you of her, then go for it.

My boyfriend bought me a watch. It was one of those super girly charmed bracelet type watches. Would I buy it for myself? No. I don’t think I’d look at it twice if I saw it in the window. But I love hearts, and all the charms on this bracelet watch are heart-shaped and each one has “love” on it in a different language.

And even after the battery died, I wore it. It makes a noise, and I don’t care, because I heart it. In Italian, German, French, Chinese and some other language. Ha!

Perfume. Ai yai yai. That thing that sales people do in the shop when they ask “What is her personality like?” doesn’t always work.

I’m that girl in the shop that asks if she can help you even though I don’t even work there.

If she hasn’t ever mentioned what scent she likes, you’ll have to be a bit sneaky. Find out what perfumes she currently wears. This usually gives those perfume sales assistants (the really good ones, anyway) an idea of her taste, and they’ll be able to make a few suggestions. Smell their suggestions and pick the one you like the most, or the one that smells most like “her” to you.

So, if you want to be a great gift giver:

1. Be a good listener. If she mentions something that she likes, make a note on your phone if you have to. I do this all the time and when it’s time for gift-giving, I have a list to work from.

2. Ask her friend.

3. Make it personal. It doesn’t always have to be the most expensive thing you can think of. The more personal things will stay with her forever.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask her what she wants. If she doesn’t know or says “nothing”, revert to points 1, 2 and 3.

5. If all else fails, use the template.

Last year, my man person bought me blush. A MAC blush. Makeup. A man bought me, his girlfriend, makeup. Could’ve gone horribly wrong, but he got it spot on. The PERFECT colour blush.

He’s also bought me maps of places I may have mentioned that I’d like to see someday, as well as phrase books for the language that’s spoken there, I found these in a suitcase he got for me.

He’s bought me DVDs of movies and series he knows I like, a dictionary (and he had highlighted words in there for me, and flagged the pages) and even a gross smelling tube of hand cream, but it reminded him of me. I used it, and finished it ASAP. I’ll thank him for you, for all these ideas. 😉

And what did I receive on our first date? A highlighter in one of my favourite colours in a pretty little box, with a ribbon-tied bow. Simple and personal. I had mentioned that my highlighter had died and I was bleak in an SMS, apparently. I don’t recall this.

About the author: Elana Bailey is a blogger, professional music video watcher and RubyRoyal. This is part 2 of her Be That Guide for Gift Giving. Apparently it’s so simple.