What do I get her for X-Mas

December 15, 2005 9:18 PM

Okay, I'm stumped. I have no idea what to get my girlfriend for Christmas. I got her some nice jewelry for her birthday in October, and I got her art last Christmas (shortly after we started dating). I'm not ready to be buying any rings, but don't want to trod down the same path giftwise.What do I do? Any ideas (she has an iPod) would be welcome!
posted by trox to human relations (23 comments total)

if you're not going to give any details about her, what she likes, what you do together, special events, or the like, you may as well ask Gooooogle first. there's metric tons of "idea lists" out there including on our very own metafilter.
posted by kcm at 9:24 PM on December 15, 2005

You can almost never go wrong with more jewelry...just don't get the same kind twice (ie. if you got her a necklace, don't get her another necklace...try a bracelet or some earrings, since you ruled out rings).

But I agree with kcm...if you want more specific answers, we need more details...
posted by johnsmith415 at 9:45 PM on December 15, 2005

Maybe a first edition or a signed copy of her favorite book?
posted by Windigo at 9:53 PM on December 15, 2005

Does she have an iTrip for her ipod? I'm not a "stuff" person but I'd love one of those and I'd use it all the time.
posted by fshgrl at 10:02 PM on December 15, 2005

Cashmere sweater, matching necklace, matching earrings.
posted by bonheur at 10:05 PM on December 15, 2005

If you're someplace cold, Smittens!
posted by brownpau at 10:13 PM on December 15, 2005

If "She has an iPod" is not there just for the sake of it, buy her some music from iTunes store . At this point you probably know what kind of music she likes but does not have yet. You could even buy her the latest iPod model and give it to her already loaded with the new music (in this case you can even use downloaded mp3s instead of DRMed files).
posted by nkyad at 10:22 PM on December 15, 2005

Some general ideas: Nice headphones/earbuds, workout armband, iTrip, iTunes express thingy, more jewelry, framed print or original art, teapot and lovely selection of tea from around the world, plane tickets somewhere, series of framed prints from your photos over the past year (make them all black/white, cropped to perfection, of abstract/meaningful places/times/people), new cool duvet cover and pillowcases (lots from Dwell, etc.), wall decorations (Blik, etc.), LCD monitor, new yoga mat and series of classes, snowboard, new lens for her camera, gorgeous leather journal and fountain pen.

But what does she like to do?
posted by fionab at 10:47 PM on December 15, 2005

I've never known a girl who would object to more jewelry.
posted by cribcage at 10:49 PM on December 15, 2005

Massive gift guide list from a few days ago.
posted by teleskiving at 10:50 PM on December 15, 2005

Other MeFi Christmas ideas like Jewelry.
posted by fionab at 11:04 PM on December 15, 2005

You know...not all girls like jewelery. I mean, I like 5 dollar hoop earrings from claire's, but I would be uncomfortable in anything more than that. i would feel very much like my boy didn't know me if he got me a necklace that cost more than than a video game.

If you want to know what she likes, walk around in a store for a bit with her and watch for her eyes to light up or her breath to quicken.
posted by nadawi at 11:20 PM on December 15, 2005

If "She has an iPod" is not there just for the sake of it, buy her some music from iTunes store

Assuming she likes good music, spend your money at emusic.com instead. You'll get way more for your $ and no DRM. Buy her a year's subscription (you didn't say your budget) for about $190. For that you get 1080 tracks downloadable in 90/month installments. At about 17 cents per track, it's an awesome deal. If she likes independent music (the only kind emusic sells), she'll think it's the most wonderful time of the year!
posted by dobbs at 11:37 PM on December 15, 2005

If you want to know what she likes, walk around in a store for a bit with her and watch for her eyes to light up or her breath to quicken

Seriously, what she said, except it's not restricted to when you're shopping. In day to day life, there is something that she speaks about with measurable enthusiasm. If you're really stumped, steal her cell and copy down her best friend's phone number. Call and ask. He or she would be delighted to help and would give a lot better (re: personal) advice.
posted by hindmost at 12:39 AM on December 16, 2005

More art. I am not your girlfriend, nor am I a girl, but if someone bought me "art" instead of whatever money-sink crap they could come up with, I would be floored.
posted by hototogisu at 12:59 AM on December 16, 2005

Jewellery case? Make-up vanity case? A heart cushtie? Make something?
posted by Chunder at 1:30 AM on December 16, 2005

Agree with hindmost's ask the best friend... if that doesn't happen.. I agree with the new headphones idea.

If she only listens on the go, Etymotic earbuds are stellar. If she likes to kick back and get lost in the music, grados are awesome.

I spend many nights falling asleep listening to the wonders of great music from my grados -- it is astonishing how much is hidden by typical headphones/speakers (like iPod come-withs).
posted by SpookyFish at 2:15 AM on December 16, 2005

I'll second SpookFish on the sound quailty of both the Etymotic earbuds and Grado headpones. However, some people never find the Grado 'phones comfortable to wear (they sit on, not around, your ear). They are truly awesome, though -- both are good enough that a significant number of mp3s become unlistenable while wearing them, because you hear all the encoding artifacts and flaws.

Warm works, unless she's one of the very few females who isn't cold all the time. Warm things that aren't typically worn outside are safest, since you don't have to worry about style as much (Thus, the hyperwarm robe gift. Only works once, but it works well.)

(My theory -- the genetic process that makes the Y chromosome is exothermic. This is one of the reasons the women have killed us all yet. )
posted by eriko at 5:17 AM on December 16, 2005

Don't get her anything material.

Sign her up for something she'd enjoy but wouldn't otherwise do on her own. Balloon ride, glider ride, scenic sunset flight on a small plane, a day on a sailboat, a ski weekend, SCUBA lessons, dance lessons, those bagpipe lessons she's always wanted, a wine class, a cooking class, a cooking with wine class, etc.

These types of gifts are the ones my wife always enjoys the most.
posted by bondcliff at 6:35 AM on December 16, 2005

I don't know this woman, but for me, I do NOT like getting jewelry again and again, even if it is different. Jewelry is like the quintessential "I don't know what else to get you" girlfriend gift. If you buy your girl a lot of jewelry, it becomes boring. If you buy your girl jewelry very rarely, and take care to pick out the piece that's perfect for her, that's when jewelry is a good gift. I think it's good general advice that if you are having trouble thinking of something, jewelry is the last thing you want to resort to--because if you can't pick out something other than jewelry, then chances are you won't pick out very good jewelry.

Something creative! (I like the "experience" idea) Or something she can be creative with--camera, art class, cool cooking gadgets...?
posted by lampoil at 7:00 AM on December 16, 2005

Mercykits (from a previous mefi thread)
posted by shoepal at 8:26 AM on December 16, 2005

Travel.
posted by scazza at 10:24 AM on December 16, 2005

Day at the spa.
posted by UncleHornHead at 1:16 PM on December 16, 2005