Mission impossible! What to buy for very rich, exacting, posh old aunt?!

[LifeOfPee]

We're spending Christmas at her big posh house too so it can't be something token.

I'm completely broke, living off stat mat pay, so it can't be expensive.

Great options, huh? I am at a complete loss

[PurpleJellyDisc]

If you have children get them to make some biscuits and put them in a nice tin, or if you don't, make them yourself.
My elderly relatives always like if when I buy them an amaryllis in a box.

[chartreuse]

Great suggestions here but what I would like if I was your aunt is a photo of herself and your mum, and/or other siblings in a nice, plain silver frame. My mum is 70 and has pretty much everything she could ever need or want and she loves presents like this.

[DumSpiroSpero]

Pet photoshoot

Beautiful book from The Folio Society

Definitely worth looking in local second hand bookshops or on ebay for the latter.

[HerlockSholmes]

What about a little compact mirror? you can find some very pretty vintage ones on ebay and just by googling. i bought my gran one and she carries it everywhere- she is not posh but likes getting useful gifts- ie. not something she already has.

[SthingMustBeScaringThemAway]

Pleased to see a move away from the ancient and vintage....

I'm certain that if I live to that age I will not want endless, endless little mementos of some previous golden age. I shall want to be living in the moment and looking to the future.

In fact I'd view any "backwards" looking gift as a rather insulting suggestion that I'm too old to enjoy the present day...

(Adore The Folio Society but I expect by that age there would be a severe danger of duplication unless she had specifically mentioned a "lost" book.)

[Pantah630]

OP are you just there for the day or for a couple of days? If the latter I'd go with a nice plant, box marron glacé or cherry liqueur type gift and offer to cook one of the meals. If the former just the plant and sweets would surely be enough, a plant as a keepsake and something to eat.

[NightCircus]

Maybe bath oils

www.theukedit.com/aromatherapy-associates-ultimate-collection/10854334.html

[Syllabubble]

Stationery - lovely notebook or diary - RHS do some nice ones.

[Syllabubble]

Or a Persephone book - Katherine mansfield's Diaries or some Mollie Panter Downes - beautiful editions

[ancientbuchanan]

And the fortnums chocolate covered orange and lemon peel go down well too.

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

A few people have mentioned TKMaxx & soap. I was there yesterday & they have some nice soap - 2 big bars, of scents like jasmine and verbena - in a musical box with little legs. Choice of different designs & tunes (eg Swan Lake, Ode to Joy, Fur Elise). Really lovely but only a tenner

The box is made of strong board, not wood, so it won't last forever.

[roslet]

notonthehighstreet have vintage book cover kindle cases (e.g. Peter Pan, Great Expectations) for £25.

[janeyjampot]

You don't say how far you live from your aunt, but do you have any kind of local luxury? In your shoes I would buy some expensive chocolates, beautifully wrapped, or another kind of luxury you can't buy anywhere, like infused olive oil, natural soaps etc from somewhere local to you.

Something like this

[ancientbuchanan]

Paper white narcissi or hyacynths blooming in a nice pot, scented and out, are always a fabulous present, no matter how rich.

[sadsometimes]

She has basically said she doesn't want anything! Buy her some cheese and have done with it

[WholeNutt]

Why not get her some lovely leather gloves with cashmere or silk lining. Less than £50 :)

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

Nice gloves always useful

Some gorgeous (but reasonable) ones \link{http://www.southcombe.com/gloves-for-women/c9\here}

[WholeNutt]

Like the gloves! Asked dh for driving gloves..he pissed himself laughing

[PigletJohn]

perhaps you are not yet old enough to be driving a partially-restored ragtop TR around, wearing stringback gloves.

[Lavenderhoney]

You can get personalised kindle covers, just googled it:)
You could get one with " money bags" on it or " bugger orf, I'm reading"
Or " posh totty" :)

[GeppaGip]

Gosh don't buy dog stuff. There is a thread running currently about gifts you hate getting and a recurring theme is people with pets being inundated with 'pet related' paraphernalia. As the owner of two cats I agree. I like cats not cat 'stuff'.

My mum is not as rich as your aunt but likes the finer things in life. This year sh is having Jo Malone bath oil which comes beautifully boxed and wrapped. Previous gifts have included deco style earrings from 1928 collection, pink champagne and champagne truffles, posh candles etc. Try john lewis also for fancy chocolates and booze. My mum likes luxury consumables rather than more objects to find a home for. hth.

[CaroBeaner]

A fun stocking.

A small tube of good hand cream
A pair of nice knickers
A small jar of caviar
Does she read? A good book of short stories
A DVD of the kind of film she likes
Something fun
A small attractive flask for carting cold drinks in the car when she is in France, or hot coffee when travelling in this country like this or this

or
A box set of comedies or other series or films she might like

or

Tickets for an exhibition or a show