What to buy a girl for her 21st?

[MadMadCow]

Distant cousin, don't really know her! But invited to her party. Medical student, quite pink and girly going by her fb page. £50 approx and something she can keep. Handbag maybe?

Posh notebook?

www.katespade.co.uk/en-gb/home/notebooks-diaries/

Jewellery, bangle, bracelet, silk scarf

I just recently bought my niece a book called This is Going to Hurt, written by a junior doctor. It’s supposed to be funny and touching at the same time. I know you said something to keep but if she’s dealing with the stress of medical studies she might love a facial or massage.

Earrings
Bracelet
Medical student - ink pen?

A nurses watch? Stethoscope?

www.funkynurse.com

This website has some pretty cool bits for medical persons :)

Thanks all I was thinking jewellery but not sure of allergies etc but I suppose if it gives her a rash she'll know what to do

My DD turned 21 just before Christmas. She didn't want a keepsake present. What she wanted was to have a drinks party in a nice venue for her fellow student friends. This was a massive deal for DD as she hadn't had a birthday party since about age 12 as she is fairly quiet and never liked being the centre of attention. At uni she has really come out of her shell socially and this party was a bit of a defining moment for her. We gave her the money to have her party and she got her friends to take pics on her instamatic camera so she has a lovely keepsake reminder of the event. Sometimes memories are better than objects.

I would spend perhaps a tenner on something - an item such as a book, necklace. However I think a chunk of cash would be great - she can put towards something like a holiday or a car? I haven't honestly used keepsake type gifts that I have been bought. Perhaps a spa voucher if you prefer not to give straight cash?

A voucher.
If you don't know her very well it's probably not a good idea to choose a bag or jewellery as you probably won't get it quite right, and it's quite a lot of money to spend on something for it not to get used.
Let her get something she actually likes.

An urban decay or Marc Jacobs eyeshadow palette, a Michael Korda card holder, a YSL lipstick.

Don't do a handbag if you don't know her style, and £50 is cheap for a handbag but expensive for a lipstick...

Kors*

Pandora voucher

What about a charm? Girls seem to like pandora and they're packaged really nicely

A line a day five year diary. Bottle of champagne?

And a voucher or cash to top it up.

If you're not prepared to ask her parent(s) what she might like (and they might not know!) I'd stick with money. As a pp has said, £50 is a lot to waste on the wrong thing.

Sorry only just realised this is for a relative not your DD!

I'd be a bit wary of handbags... they are very individual! My sister bought me a really expensive Osprey handbag once for a special birthday and it's so not me, it's lurked in my wardrobe for years instead of being used.

I'd go with a voucher for John Lewis so she can buy perfume, make up or a nice purse etc.

Thanks all. I'm thinking a John Lewis voucher would be good!

Really good champagne flutes are my never-fail present for 21st presents.

I wouldnt go for twee jewellry. She is a hard up student and shed probably appreciate a voucher for a beauty/ relaxation treatment more, rather than you guess her taste in a bracelet that`ll fester in a drawer. A voucher like JL would allow her the choice of lots of lovely stuff.