Great Gifts for Your SharpWoman
Submitted by SharpMan Editorial Team on Sunday 10th October 2010- What holiday gifts do SharpWomen really want?
- Gifts to avoid.
- Getting her stuff she’ll love (i.e., getting brownie points).
It’s that time of year again. Yup, time to break out the old (soon-to-be-much-slimmer) wallet and join the droves of other bedraggled SharpMen prowling the stores for holiday gifts for their beloveds. Oh, the joy of schlepping through the packed-tighter-than-a-can-of-sardines mall; of fighting little old ladies for the last parking spot within binocular distance of the store; of waiting ‘til the last minute and desperately hoping there’s still something decent left.
If you’re like most SharpMen, buying your significant other’s gift is a mixture of confusion and hassle. To avoid both and score holiday points, check out these SharpDating holiday gift-giving dos and don’ts:
Gifts to Avoid
While most SharpMen can probably come up with logical reasons why the following are good gifts, to women, gift-giving is less a logical thing than an expression of feeling. She sees your gift as a symbol of your level of affection toward her. Therefore, some commonly-made bad choices are:
- Clothing. Women love clothes, so many men mistakenly think this is the way to go. But if she hasn’t specifically told you what she wants, your main problem lies in making sure you’ve got the right size. Sizes vary between clothing lines. One size too small, and she’ll feel embarrassed that she can’t fit into it. One size too large, and she’ll think you’re saying she’s fat. It’s waaaay too easy to lose with this one, dude.
- Beauty Products (i.e., high-tech hair removers, curling irons, makeup kits, etc.). These items can get you into trouble because they insinuate that you’re not satisfied with her looks and that she needs to improve her beauty routine. (On the other hand, kits that relax and pamper her, like luxury bubble bath or aromatherapy, are good. Just don’t confuse the two categories.)
- Lingerie and other sexy items. While these are great gifts for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and spontaneous giving, they don’t work as well for holiday and birthday gifts-giving. Why? Because – and let’s be honest, here – these are gifts you’re actually giving to yourself, not her. You buy lingerie because you want to see her in it, not because she just adores wearing crotchless feet pajamas. This time of year, give something you think she’ll enjoy with or without you.
- Practical household items (i.e., toasters, blenders, irons, or end tables). Most of you know this by now, but there may still some holdouts out there who truly believe their SharpWomen would love something they can use around the house, like a new frying pan or hand vacuum. Regardless of whether her goal in life is to attend to the care and feeding of her SharpMan, these types of gifts are totally inappropriate.
- Gift certificates. Lame. They show you haven’t given any real thought to her gift. Plus, she’ll know how much money you spent on her, which is never good: if she spent less than you, she’ll feel guilty; if you spent less than she did, she’ll think you’re cheap. (Gift certificates for something specific, like a spa treatment, massage, or "day of pampering" at the salon, are the only ones women actually like, but these are best given as stocking stuffers.)
- Exercise equipment. Unless she specifically asked for that dual-action stairclimber, as with grooming aids, you’re heading into that sure-to-doom-you "you need to lose some weight, honey" territory.
- Anything picked up at the last minute, or that you haven’t given thought to. Again, always remember that she considers your gift to be a symbol of your love for her. If you give her something you chose at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve because it was the last thing left on the shelf at Eckerd’s, it’ll be obvious to her. She’ll be hurt and – worse yet – she’ll translate your lack of thought for her gift into a lack of consideration for her and her feelings in general. You’ll be in the doghouse. Plus, all her friends will know about it within a matter of hours.
Still don’t know what to give her? Consider some of our recommendations, designed to accommodate any budget:
The Right Holiday Gifts for SharpWomen
In SharpMan’s search for this year’s gift recommendations, we reviewed thousands (literally) of items in order to provide readers with representative gifts appropriate for any SharpWoman. The following are our favorite SharpWoman-Approved holiday gifts:
Pearl Earrings
Why they're cool: Let’s start with the most obvious: Women love jewelry. In fact, a majority of SharpWomen participating in our poll indicated that a gift of jewelry – any jewelry – reads "romantic." The key is getting jewelry that (a) isn’t size-sensitive (i.e., bracelets, necklaces, or rings, unless she’s with you to try them on) or (b) contrary to her taste. Our advice? Pearl earrings are the way to go. First, with earrings, one size generally fits all. Second, pearls are classic, and generally give you a lot of bang for your buck. Look for pearls without poke-marks on a simple stud or try something a little different. We found a pair that incorporates sterling silver (another classic) that tested particularly well in our product survey because the earrings could be worn with both business and casual outfits.
Why we chose it: Every woman needs a pair of pearl stud earrings—they’re a wardrobe basic. And the ring of sterling silver surrounding the pearl in our pick gives them a really cool twist – making them unusual and unique – not just your basic blah pearl stud. Plus this item has guaranteed next-day delivery for those last minute shoppers.
Personalized Wine
Why it’s cool: For guys with wine enthusiasts on their SharpWoman shopping list, consider getting her a bottle of wine personalized with her name and for her tastes. What a clever idea. The sommeliers at Wine.com have put together a large assortment of high quality vintages for which you can select the label and a personal message. Something romantic for the lady, perhaps?
Why we chose it: Personalized gifts ensure that you get additional points because it’s clear that you had to think ahead in order to make them happen. We highly recommend them. If she’s a wine lover, this gift idea will tickle her palette and earn you big brownie points. Note that because this gift won’t last long, you may want to pair it with something she can hold on to long after the hangover.
Personalized Romance Novel
Why it’s cool: Okay, this sounded totally cheesy to us too, but then we checked it out…and couldn’t believe the astounding gift potential! These adventure romances feature information you provide about yourself and your SharpWoman, including your names, hometown, hair and eye color, pet name for each other, and so on. There are many novels to choose from, in "mild" and "wild" versions. For women who can’t get enough of romance novels starring people she doesn’t know, this gift is a sure winner.
Why we chose it: First, the highly personalized aspect of this gift ensures that she will not think that you picked this gift up at the last minute. Second, talk about a pay off. Just think: your gift plants the seed for a night of romance. Need we say more?
Paraffin Footbath – And You
Why it’s cool: When women get manicures and pedicures in the salon, a paraffin wax dip (where their hands or feet are moisturized by submerging either in a well of hot wax) is an extra-special treat only included (or even offered) by high-end spa salons. A home paraffin footbath will let her do the same thing at home.
Why we chose it: Women recognize that paraffin wax is the ultimate skin softening treatment; it feels great and is incredibly relaxing. We suggest pairing this gift with a hand-made "certificate" for a foot massage from her favorite SharpMan. (If you’re not a foot-rub expert, check out our tips in Giving a Great Massage.) This gift incorporates all of the points-building elements – something she can use for her own benefit and a personal touch from you.
Pashmina Shawl
Why it’s cool: Most guys have no idea what pashminas are, but most women know and drool over them; they’re luxury cashmere shawls that are very soft and warm, and can be tied in a hundred different ways. They come in every color imaginable (pick her favorite or the one she looks best in) and because of their warmth, they are particularly well-suited for winter gift-giving.
Why we chose it: While uber-fashionable big city women may already own ten of them (the pashmina "fad" came in several years ago, now it’s kind of a staple scarf alternative), this cold-weather perk represents quality, good taste and ultimate portability for SharpMen who must travel to celebrate the holidays with their SharpWomen. For guys with no time to hit the stores in search of the fabled pashmina, we’ve found a dark berry-colored one (other colors available) that’s quite large (it’s all about size), well priced and guaranteed for next day delivery.
Personalized Photo Stamps
Why they're cool: Got a photo of you and your SharpWoman that’s worth showing off? Send them to Special Delivery Gifts to create small stamp-like stickers for your SharpWoman – perfect for sealing holiday cards and featured in Martha Stewart Weddings. You can even include a small inscription like "True Love," etc. on the photo stamp. The same company can also use your photo to produce personalized photo return address labels, cards, magnets, and more.
Why we chose it: Again, the personalized stuff gets you tons of points with the ladies. And let’s face it, anyone who’s ever spent time with a woman will tell you that women (or the little girls they used to be) love (a) couple photos and (b) stickers. This product combines both in a manner "cute" enough to make a grown man hurl – and his SharpWoman swoon. Perfect. Plus, they’re incredibly well-priced, can be delivered quickly and definitely say "I went out of my way for you." They make ideal stocking stuffers, too.
Happy shopping!
This article last updated on Sunday 10th October 2010