Help me with a gift for DSs GF

[LarkaSwyft]

My DS has a relatively new GF, they started dating in August but it's got quite intense quite fast. She won't be spending Christmas with us as she is going to her family in Canada. However my parents have organised a bit of a gift exchange and lunch out the Sunday before as they also are going away for Christmas. My parents, my brother and his kids and my husband and I and our two sons will be there.
DS has asked if he can bring his girlfriend and we've all said yes but now myself, my sister in law and my mum are all struggling to know what to get.

My mum and sister in law have set budget at £50, I've set mine closer to £100.
She is 19, studies fashion management and marketing. DS says she's a bit of a minimalist doesn't like being overwhelmed by choice. She is also very well off, so she wants for nothing. Apparently she loves sustainability and hates waste and doesn't really drink at home or eat much chocolate etc.!!

I'm thinking she's impossible to buy for !!
My son is getting her tickets to see a show in Brussels in march, plus some things he knows she wants to unwrap. He's said he has used all his ideas and she wont care if we don't get her anything.
My mum and sister in law are saying they will get her something and can't just not get anything. I feel the same.
We try to avoid vouchers and money (especially as money is no object to her I think £50 in a card would mean very little to her).
I'm totally lost on what to get and what to suggest to my family to get her. She's a lovely girl and I want her to feel welcome in the family.

Any ideas for a 19 year old sustainable fashion advocate who has everything and wants for nothing?

Turtle Doves recycled cashmere pieces

Something from Charlotte Tilbury. I'll always remember my MIL getting me the gorgeous Magic Cream one year and it's still up there with one of my favourite gifts. The packaging is gorgeous 😍

Ahh I'm a little nervous about getting anything cosmetic, I don't know if DS is overhyping it in the typical male way or if she really is but he says she's "particular" about what goes onto her skin.
He would find the most difficult to buy for GF!!!
My older son's gf is getting an Oodie, a book and a nail polish set. So easy!!
Was going to do the same for DS2 gf but "she wouldn't wear an oodie, only reads on her iPad and gets her nails done professionally every fortnight"
Exhausting buying for someone you don't really know !

What about a voucher for her nails @LarkaSwyft? Is there a salon near you that is high end and she could get two appointments out of it? I'd be really chuffed with that and you know it will get used!

she probably goes to the same nail person every time so I wouldn’t do a voucher for somewhere else. Could you find out where she goes?

A massage voucher?

A class to learn something crafty/experience?

restaurant voucher?

Or you could even get a nice little Zara clutch bag and pop the nail voucher inside? I know you said about trying to avoid vouchers 😊

@babythreeincoming
I wouldn't do this. Generally you have to stick to the same salon, as many places won't infil someone else's work. She obviously goes to the one she goes to for a reason, and would be a hassle to change for a couple of sessions.

A huskee cup and some good coffee if she drinks it?

I’d bring the budget down and just buy a token something , it’s way too much for a very new relationship . Is she buying for all of you because I’d be mortified to turn up at a meal and get given £200+ of presents .

My son told me they've gone in joint on gifts and she's paid half, including for my parents, my brother/sister in law and for us.
I'm conscious I've spent about £100 on my other son's girlfriend and they will be both opening gifts together so I want it to be even.

Cashmere fingerless gloves
bracelet
Neom or diptyque candle

I’d pay for a long weekend away

Ohhh I think she is more of tea drinker but this could be a good idea for my parents!

What about a scented candle or a notebook? Very easy to spend upwards of £50 on either of these.

Or something like a Chanel lip balm? Or the Dior lip glow?

I'd have a look at the Liberty site for inspiration as well.

The coffee and cup set is a good call, or a lovely set of posh tea, depending on what she prefers.

A nice candle? Cashmere scarf or gloves? Something art related? Ticket for her and your son to go to something- exhibition? Nice lunch somewhere?

WWF adopt an animal (pack and small cuddly toy to open)
Yeti water/hot drink bottle
Decent hot water bottle (cashmere cover)
Bubble tea kit
whittards tea selection with a decent mug and posh biscuits
Gift set of her favourite perfume with body lotion
I know you don’t want vouchers but you can’t go wrong with John Lewis ones - can buy clothes, household stuff, beauty stuff etc as well as nice food from Waitrose so it won’t get wasted

If she's sustainable conscious I'd avoid anything that you're meant to keep. I know I have more than enough well meant coffee travel mugs as gifts.

How about some really nice tea and an experience or similar? Bird and Blend do some nice ones, you could check with your son that the date works. I'd be conscious you don't want the other son's girlfriend to feel really basic next to her!!

Those gloves look lovely@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo ... tempted to buy them for me!

Are there any fashion books that have recently come out? You can get some beautiful and expensive coffee table books - could check the new releases.

Book from the kinfolk range?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kinfolk-Travel-Slower-Ways-World/dp/1648290744/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=20KHIZ2OV5YRX&keywords=kinfolk+book&qid=1701370531&sprefix=kinfolk%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-2
they have lots of different ones

Plain cashmere jumper or blanket

Falke cosyshoes

chunky gold link necklace or bracelet - it’s a fashion item so no need for it to be real https://www.oliviaburton.com/uk/shop-watches/honeycomb-gold-link-necklace-24100087.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgqGrBhDtARIsAM5s0_lGwnGc3mhyrxsh-8BttMwmtqZtReMKqlzUlNk3A5nYYpO-ASROjugaAvb3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Maria Tash voucher for a piercing?

home bits from Anthropologie https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/powder-colour-glass-vase?color=030&inventoryCountry=GB&countryCode=GB&utm_content=&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_kxconfid=vx65edeg7&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgqGrBhDtARIsAM5s0_mVdxLZvBALyJKPcWvPSYZJSCC3eODigfspA4Ccemd7QlemXuqquq4aAnCaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&type=REGULAR&size=One%20Size&quantity=1

diptyque candle

she sounds quite grown up (dare I say even a bit like she’s playing house/too grown up!) and design led so I’d lean in to that probably. Forget about trying to get the perfect gift and get her something non naff that she can send back if she wants.

If you are near London Taschen do some amazing fashion books. Collectors items. For example
https://www.taschen.com/en/books/fashion/44862/fashion-designers-a-z-updated-2020-edition/

We aren't a tea drinking family, anyone have ideas of where my parents could get her some nice tea?

I think I'll do some cashmere bits, maybe a little headband that covers her ears in the cold? Since she has Canadian family?- possibly in lieu of the oodie other sons girlfriend is getting? I'll probably do two other things just not sure what yet, my DS has suggested we avoid mugs/bottles as she has plenty of

Also not sure what to suggest to sister in law quite yet

Either Mac honey love lipstick or Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk lipstick.
Perfume
Earrings if pierced ears

Have you actually met her yet OP? I agree with @Floralnomad, it's absolutely far too much too soon. August was 3 months ago! Your son's put everyone in a difficult position by buying joint gifts - DH and I are doing our first joint gifts for family this year, our 7th Christmas and first married!

Fashion and sustainability don't tend to go hand in hand... I know you say you avoid vouchers, but you don't really know the girl so something like a Space NK voucher would probably be appreciated. If she's Canadian she'll already have her cold-weather gear sorted I imagine, and it'll be better than anything we can get here so I wouldn't bother with ear muffs

I'd also get your DS to do a bit more leg work - have a nosy at what brands of toiletries, perfume, make up she wears and let you know. My family think I'm fussy about what I put on my face - but it's mostly that my mum would be outraged about what I spend on skin care, and I favour make up brands that she would find a bit pricey. If you know what she uses, might help find something that would work as a gift.

Is she into exercise or fitness? Something from lululemon or sweaty Betty?