"Alternative" gift for an "alternative" girlfriend, any ideas?

November 26, 2010 6:01 PM

"Alternative" gift for an "alternative" girlfriend, any ideas?

She's quite an alternative girl (at least, in the context of our society). She's an art historian, interested in paleochristian art and aesthetic. She is not impressed by design. She loves vintage clothes and historical stuff, as opposed to new and shiny. Old Books; cCassical instead of contemporary; Eastern instead of Western (she's Czech). You get the idea. I think she love me because i'm a rather primitive and simple guy.

So, her birthday is near. And i'm literally in panic. I have fear of her overdeveloped good taste.

I thinked about a vintage ring, but i don't know. Any ideas, something special?

P.S.: sorry for my poor english.

posted by - to clothing, beauty, & fashion (18 answers total)

A gift certificate to abebooks.com could be really great for her. They have a good selection or rare and old books that academics appreciate and the gift certificate will let her pick something she'd really like.
posted by oddman at 6:09 PM on November 26, 2010

Does she like poetry? You say she likes old books. If you suss out a local antiquarian bookshop, you can drop in and ask them for help. Every good old bookshop has a collection of books kept around for their beauty as much as their content - maybe an illustrated collection of poetry, or a reproduction of Arthurian romances? Something with a lovely leather binding, marbled lining paper, that sort of thing. Trust your bookseller - if they love books properly, they'll be able to guide you to the right thing, or at least give you ideas. I'm sort of like your girlfriend in terms of taste, and I'd love to get an "herbal", which is basically a reproduction of botanical prints, annotated by physicians and monks over the centuries. It's not particularly romantic, but they're all about the preservation of knowledge and fascination with the natural world, and I find that sort of thing very romantic indeed.

She might also like an "experience" sort of gift. Tickets to the symphony? Opera? Visit to the country complete with picnic and languid kissing among a scenic view? That sort of gift is timeless.
posted by Mizu at 6:12 PM on November 26, 2010

there's lots of lovely vintage jewelry sold on etsy. Keep an eye on what colours she wears, and find something old a pretty that will match them.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:14 PM on November 26, 2010

How about beautiful flowers in an antique vase? You could also pick out something basic in a beautiful, soft, fabric, like a cashmere scarf, which can fit in with her vintage style. I wouldn't go for jewelry though -- too hard to pick out on your own. You could ask a friend of hers or her sister to go with you to pick something out, because they'll know her taste.
posted by yarly at 6:14 PM on November 26, 2010

Don't give her a ring! It could cause confusion, if she thinks you're proposing marriage.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:23 PM on November 26, 2010 [4 favorites]

It's hard to wrong with expensive alcohol. Exotic tastes? How about a top-shelf absinthe or sake?
posted by 7-7 at 6:44 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

If you're looking for jewelry you might want to search for Byzantine Jewelry. It isn't quite the same, but it's similar to paleochristian. Etsy has some nice things.
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:46 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

While I wouldn't go quite as far as fire&wings there, you are overthinking this. As long as you're not getting her The Popular Thing (I dunno, something Twilighty or just generally from Hot Topic), then you can use her reaction as a pretty good gauge of how the relationship will go: if she hates it and tells you she hates it, then you will (eventually) live in terror of displeasing her in some way. And you will eventually displease her in some way.

Definitely not a ring, though. Some other piece of jewelry, sure, especially if it's obviously something old.
posted by Etrigan at 7:00 PM on November 26, 2010

so looking through the vintage lewelry, here's a few things I thought were nice


http://www.etsy.com/listing/45293175/victorian-griffin-pearl-pin
http://www.etsy.com/listing/40186278/deco-elegance-antique-rhodium-and?ref=cat2_gallery_13
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63027736/vintage-french-bracelet-heraldic-symbols?ref=cat2_gallery_18

something to look out for is that a lot of the jewelry there is rhinestone, and gold-tone - some people might not like those materials as much as actual silver, gold or precious stones, so be aware of what you're considering buying.

another idea - there are a few jewelry boxes there - you could get her a vintage box

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61974263/vintage-wooden-lion-head-treasure-chest?ref=cat2_gallery_28

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62687235/miniature-novel-turns-into-trinket-box?ref=cat2_gallery_9

and then a few pieces of interesting inexpensive costume jewelry to go in it

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63017698/damascene-brooch-pin-vintage-costume?ref=cat2_gallery_36
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53402475/holiday-sale-edwardian-pin-with-royal?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=edwardian&ga_search_type=category&category=vintage.jewelry&ga_page=&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=vintage&filter[1]=jewelry
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:02 PM on November 26, 2010

Maybe something like hand-painted goblets (or do them yourself) and a bottle of wine; something that you can get on other important occasions - creating a tradition for you two to share.
posted by lemniskate at 7:03 PM on November 26, 2010

Normally I'd suggest what others here are, picking out a book or a piece of jewelry that you think she'd like. But if you're panicking and choice-paralyzed because you're afraid that your choice of book or jewelry or whatever won't live up to her taste, maybe it's better to keep things simple. Either (1) get her a nice but not-too-specific thing that almost no one would reject, or (2) have the present be an experience rather than a thing. So I have two ideas for you:

1. Traditionalist aesthetes almost universally like stationery and pens. Get her a nice fountain pen (maybe a Pelikan M200, for the nice old-fashioned feel) and a bottle of J. Herbin or Noodler's ink. Or order some letterpressed or engraved stationery, like a set of notecards, with her name on them (e.g. Crane's, or look around Etsy for letterpress). Or:

2. Take a birthday trip to a museum; buy her a nice dinner and talk about what you saw. Perhaps even say in advance that her birthday present will be her choice of any one item from the museum shop, as a memento of the day. Bonus: next year, you'll know more about what art she likes!
posted by RogerB at 7:09 PM on November 26, 2010 [7 favorites]

since she's Czech, I would suggest something puppetry related (see e.g. this ... not recommending this site particularly (though who knows - it might be good) but just pointing out the explanation of why puppets are a major arts genre in Czech culture - also note how the preferred marionette puppet style is different from typical US sock/glove puppets; something like the puppets in Being John Malkovich might be ideal ) or something camping-in-the-forest related (another major Czech passtime for historical/political reasons).
posted by Bwithh at 7:26 PM on November 26, 2010

.. not recommending this site particularly (though who knows - it might be good)
oops.... I wasn't clear here. I meant to say that the site's history info looks decent but I'm not necessarily recommending buying from the site (although it might be good, I don't know)
posted by Bwithh at 7:27 PM on November 26, 2010

also... the Czechs, I believe, consider themselves to be part of Central Europe, not Eastern Europe...
posted by Bwithh at 7:28 PM on November 26, 2010

I'm focusing on the vintage clothing. You could notice her favorite colors, and get her a silk, crushed velvet, or brocade scarf or shawl. Or a necklace. Or a small vase. Czech glass and beads are very beautiful. You could give her the gift at dinner, after a visit together to the museum of her choice.
posted by Ellemeno at 8:10 PM on November 26, 2010

When I read your question, an image of an ornate silver mirror immediately popped into my mind. So I vote fancy old mirror.
posted by cyndigo at 11:15 PM on November 26, 2010

you are right, The corpse in the library.
Thank you all for suggestions! Any others idea?
posted by - at 2:00 AM on November 27, 2010

Just as another suggestion, may I recommend something antique such as a typewriter? I'm also a fan of antiques (mostly antiquated technologies) and I know that I use my typewriter all the time. If she likes to write I have to say there's not much more satisfying than type-writing a letter to someone.
posted by Isos at 11:47 AM on November 27, 2010