After many years of giving and receiving gifts, I have some tips to impart to help you out this holiday season:
1. Give from the heart.
If you're being stingy, it shows. People know when they've been given a strange $5 item and would much rather you just hadn't bothered. If you're giving a gift, do it right. Giving is just as fun as receiving (um... this is beginning to sound dirty) and can make you feel so good inside.
2. Always include a gift receipt.
Yes, you may have searched long and hard for what you think is the perfect item, but you might have fallen upon something they already have or aren't that thrilled with. And when giving, isn't it about giving people what they want and what makes them happy?
3. Round down.
Clothing is a tricky item if you don't actually know someone's size. Nothing is more offensive than getting a size 12 item when you're a size 8 (I'm speaking from experience here. I don't really look that big, do I?) So if you're between the large and the medium, just spring for the medium. You save hurt feelings and might even flatter a larger friend/relative. And when giving clothes, especially when fudging sizes, see tip #2.
4. Wrapping is like makeup.
I've gone on and on about how makeup is the great finishing touch on a perfect look. Well, wrapping paper is to gifts what makeup is to your ensemble. A well-wrapped gift pulls the whole thing together, makes it seem like you care, and adds to the unwrapping excitement. A little ribbon can go a long way.
5. Gift cards are not impersonal.
I have heard many people poo poo the giving of gift cards as impersonal. I am here to disagree. You can show how well you know the person and his/her interests by your choice of gift card. Got an avid book reader? Instead of buying a book it turns out he doesn't want, why not get a Borders gift card? Got a friend with a new place? Instead of buying that decorative bowl she'll actually think is hideous, why not try a Crate & Barrel gift card? And you can be saved from the embarassment of wrong-size giving by just giving a gift card to her favorite clothing store. So not only have you shown that you know this person well by knowing where she'd like to shop, but you've also shown that you know she'd rather pick out something on her own.
6. Lists are helpful.
Odds are if you're stumped finding gifts for people on your giftlist, they're stumped too. Why not help them out with a list of things you'd like. They'll love it and hopefully return the favor.
Happy holidays, everyone!
xoxo,
EWP
