Gift Guide – Jewelry.

Yesterday we covered clothing, and so now we move onto the accessory that needs a post all to itself: jewelry.

Yes, women like jewelry because it tends to sparkle, but I’m informed that there are more sentimental reasons that aren’t also shared in common with a cat: they like jewelry from you because it can often be worn daily so it reminds her of you every day. If y’all are dating/married I’m going to go ahead and assume that’s a good thing.

The message sent by jewelry is usually that of a more serious relationship, so tread carefully if this isn’t the signal you want to convey. It should go without saying that you ought to avoid giving rings unless it’s SUPER serious.

Necklaces and earrings are great buys, since all girls love them. The great thing is that if you shy away from the precious metals, you need not spend a ton on quality and unique jewelry.

Now for the ideas:
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The answer to any question about jewelry typically can be made with one word: Tiffany’s. This is because every woman will tell you that if comes in a little turquoise box with a white ribbon, she’ll love it. If you’re not totally banking it, they have some surprisingly inexpensive items that still look great.

Tiffany’s stainless steel studs ($80):

This is a super cool necklace by Elsa Peretti ($195).

For independent designs, the website Etsy is a huge treasure trove of ideas. The site is jam-packed with a ton of items, so at times it can be difficult to sift through, but it’s often worth it for handmade, unique products. Utilize their search features, and keep in mind that large bold necklaces are in.

Here’s a really cool gold pendant from a designer out of Austin ($99):

You can’t go wrong with a simple, classic diamond pendant like below. I’m told you can find coupons and get it for $400.

Supermarket is another site similar to Etsy, where independent designers sell their wares. There’s less stuff there (and I think quality control is higher), so it’s a bit easier to find things. Here’s a cool set of jewelry made out of wood and handpainted ($75):

Gold popout earrings ($50). The earrings come affixed to the gold sheet, so you get to popout the design.

Necklace made out of reclaimed copper ($58.00).

The benefit of items purchased through sites like Supermarket or Etsy are that not every single one of her girlfriends will have seen these before, either in a catalogue or in one of the big box retailers. That makes the gift infinitely more personal.

Topics for next week: gifts for the techie/design girl, pampering subset, thoughtful gifts (some that don’t cost $$), and other gifts that the Female Brain Trust has devised that you would never ever think of.

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Give the Gift of Awesome.

As I get older, it seems that the time available for Christmas shopping gets shorter and shorter, while gifts get more complicated. There just isn’t enough time to sift through all the offerings, while coming up with a gift that is both thoughtful and unique.

PG, after polling some fashionable, in-the-know ladies, has put together a brief, yet extensive gift guide. This will help you to come up with a stylish, and thoughtful gift, without all the superfluous thinking. This is especially handy if you have multiple significant others to shop for (*jackpot*).

I’ve broken it up into categories, and will be posting throughout the upcoming week. Some are ones you may have thought of, others are original, and not all cost money.

So read on for tips on not only what to buy, but what specifically to look for.

Clothing
The universal consensus was to tread lightly in this category, but not to eschew it all together. I say be a man and go for it, because it’s a gamble that could pay off with loads of brownie points you can store away for a rainy day. However, if you are to embark on this journey you have, have, have to know her size. Do some sleuthing, and pick up one of her favorite items and check the sizes.

If you’ve been following along with PG you’re starting to get a pretty good eye for all things style, so why not exercise that a little bit. Pick out something you’d like to see her in. As long as it’s on-trend and fits her style, you’ll earn some serious check-out-what-my-boyfriend-got-me lovin’ because you’ve shown her all the hallmarks that girlfriends/wives expect: that you pay attention, that you care about her appearance, and that you have good taste.

If you’re going to go shopping for clothes (or just about anything else), get to know the saleswomen. They’ll be super helpful, and typically know what they’re talking about. Ask them what the most popular styles are. In my experience they’re usually very forthcoming and don’t just point to the most expensive item. But, definitely buy what looks good to you.

There is one exception to all of these, and that is pants. Do not attempt to buy pants for a girl. It will almost never work out properly.

Dresses are really iffy as well, with skirts being easier to purchase (provided you know her size).

However, things that do work well are shoes and accessories. The latter more than the former. At first shoes may appear to be difficult, but here are some great ideas to help you navigate the waters.

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The “bootie” is a current trend, though I’m told don’t spend too much on it because the trend won’t last. Booties are essentially ankle boots, and to be honest I don’t get the fad, but chicks do. On the plus side, you get to say “bootie” in an atypical forum.

Here’s a formal example of one.

A less expensive bootie.

Button bootie that I think looks pretty cool, especially for the price.

Right now, and just about every fall/winter, tall boots are hugely popular. These will typically set you back some more coin, because you want to get a higher quality leather. Cheap leather will seriously kill this look, and more importantly make you look cheap. As with guy’s shoes, keep the boots simple. They should be classy and refined.

Here’s a pretty traditional, yet stylish tall boot with a heel.

Traditional English riding boots are definitely in, but in my opinion they’re super hard to find the right pair, so I’d avoid them. You can, however, go with a more modern take on the riding boot, because it gives you more stylistic leeway:

There are also Western-inspired tall boots.

Frye, a classic, always-fashionable brand’s take on the riding boot

Coats are great garments to purchase for girls, because it’s easier to find something that looks cool and that fits her. Also, frequently there will be some good sales on outerwear. I’ve been told there is a recent resurgence in the classic trench style in colorful fabrics. Look for something that is slightly metallic/crinkled, and not in the typical British khaki. 

This isn’t a trench coat, but I think it looks awesome. I’d wager 90% of the women would as well. Though, I’ve been told if the girl is top-heavy (good work), or curvy, double-breasted coats can be a little bit tough to pull off.

Another great suggestion from reader/commenter jc, was that if you have a particularly strong tie to a collegiate team, to get her some college gear that she’d be comfortable in. This does not mean going down to Champs, or shopping online for some jerseys or shirts that you like. It means, finding some clothes that are made for women that she’d actually be proud to sport. Apparently Victoria’s Secret has a new line of clothes for women that are licensed through several different universities. So, definitely check them out.

Boyfriend blazers are also in style now. They’re just slouchy, ill-fitting blazers, and are best for the girl who dresses more urban.

A great idea was that if she likes designer items, but times are a bit lean for you, find the designer she likes and get something small from them. Like small card cases or key pouches. These usually go for about $120 – 250, and show that you pay attention to the things she likes. Another tip: remember to get the nice gift wrapping from these designer stores, it’s an added touch that goes a long way. If you’re anything like me, when you wrap gifts by yourself it just looks like you tried to do it with boxing gloves on. Or were drunk.

Here are some examples.

Oversized men’s gold watches are also in (gotta say I’m not sure I’m feeling this trend of girls dressing like dudes). Brands like Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors are good ones. I like these, because the watches are cool, and carry a designer name (which most girls love), but they won’t break the bank.

Also, white ceramic watches are in style now, Toy makes good ones:

This ought to get you started. More to come soon.

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