Clothing Gifts for Impossible People
Perfect clothing gifts for even the pickiest clothes horse
I used to hate getting clothing gifts from my mother-in-law. They were always hideous monstrosities, and I was too polite to ask for the receipt, so they wound up in the back of my closet -- unless she came to visit, in which case I frantically dug them out again.
My mother-in-law's gift giving skills have improved, but from here, I learned some very important things about giving clothes gifts.
1. Always include the receipt
Don't take it personally if you haven't hit on the exact clothing gift your friend loves to pieces. Clothing is a very personal expression of our tastes and styles, and it's almost impossible to predict exactly what someone will like.
Don't make them go through the embarrassment of telling you they didn't like your gift, though: include the receipt in an envelope with the item. Most stores can do gift receipts, which don't include the item's price.
2. Shop based on the person's style, not your own
That might sound obvious, but we're so used to charging for the stuff that catches our eyes we sometimes forget we're shopping for clothes gifts. Before you start shopping, think about the recipient's style. Do they wear lots of bright colors, pastels, or neutrals? Do they seem to enjoy blue jeans, or would a skirt be more their style?
If you carefully consider the person's style, you'll be sure to find something that actually suits them -- and they'll be much less likely to return it.
3. When in doubt, go basic
There are a few things that appeal to just about everyone regardless of style. A warm hooded sweatshirt (as long as it's not fluorescent green or something) tends to find a grateful recipient anywhere. You know what brands and items are the most popular in your community, so stick with the basics if you don't know what else to buy.
With all of this trouble, it might not seem worthwhile to buy clothing gifts. However, if you approach it correctly, a clothes for a gift can actually make a welcome present, especially if the recipient really loves clothing or just can't afford to buy many new things for themselves right now. And hey, if the idea of clothing gifts really makes you shudder -- well, there's always a gift card!