Five easy tips on buying fashion-related gifts

Whether it’s an itchy sweater, ill-fitting shoes or earrings totally unsuited to the style of the person receiving them, it’s so easy to land a dud when scouting for gifts in the clothing department. Luckily, though, it’s just as easy to get a present the recipient will love. If you follow these five tips, there’s not much that can go wrong.

1. Don’t take any risks on sizing

It’s difficult enough finding clothes or shoes that fit you – despite the fact you know pretty much everything about yourself. So, trying to land something great for another person when they haven’t tried it on and you don’t have all the necessary information is quite the gamble. In most cases, I’d advise against buying clothes in specific sizes as gifts.

Instead, go for accessories or jewellery that’ll fit any size, such as scarves, bags or necklaces. If you do opt for clothing, choose pieces that are slightly more forgiving in terms of fit. Think loungewear, pyjamas, oversized-look garments and clothes made from stretchy materials.

2. Play detective in advance

With something as personal as style, there’s no room for guesswork. So pay particular attention to the person you’re buying for in the weeks leading up to the special occasion. Have they mentioned anything they’d like or talked about a particular brand? Hints like these are worth their weight in gold. If you haven’t picked up on anything yourself, don’t be afraid to ask a close friend of the person for advice. In my experience, this really pays off.

3. Go for high-quality, functional basics

If the person you’re buying for doesn’t have any specific wishes, I’d recommend getting them high-quality basics. Items with minimalist designs, no striking patterns and great materials are usually well received and last a long time. Okay, I know you’re probably thinking «booooring». But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In my opinion, one of the greatest fashion-related gifts you could ever give is a cashmere scarf. Luxurious, timeless and functional, it’s a safe, but no less exciting choice.

4. Think twice when buying for fashion-conscious people

It may seem obvious to give your fashion-loving friend clothes or accessories. However, if you ask me, it’s a bit of a tricky one. People who put a lot of thought into how they dress are often very picky. This makes it a lot more difficult to find something to their taste. On the other hand, if you’re buying something for your dad, who only wears clothes for the sake of not being naked, you’ll have a lot more leeway. To sum up, only buy clothes or accessories for fashionistas if you know for sure what they want. Otherwise, follow my next piece of advice.

5. Don’t hesitate to give vouchers as a gift

I’m strongly pro-gift vouchers. They’re only thoughtless presents if you put no thought into choosing them. If you choose wisely, gift vouchers are a wonderful way to get around the issue of finding the right size. They also give the recipient the freedom to choose their present, while still showing that you’re thinking of them. That you pay enough attention to know their favourite store or that you were listening when they mentioned in passing how much they want to order from a particular website. Or that you’ve noticed how often they wear jewellery from a particular brand.

A gift voucher looks all the more personal if you put some love into preparing it. Looking for inspiration on how to spruce up a voucher? My colleague Pia Seidel has some for you: