Ugh 13 year old girls. Gift help please!

[sellotape12]

Realised that I’m completely stuck on what to get my nieces. They’re from two different families and both just turned 13. One niece is bookish, very much into fantasy novels and Greek mythology, couldn’t give a toss about what she looks like. Would like to live in a library. Hard to get her books as she’s read so much.

My other niece is sporty, big into gymnastics and dance, really into high-end perfumes and cosmetics (which I’m slightly judgemental for, but hey not my kid). Would like to live in a Nike store. Last year I got her the Uniqlo cross body bag that everyone has which I thought was cool but she turned her nose up at it. I’m particularly stuck on this niece. If anyone is more familiar with what’s cool in Yr 8, please let me know! Thanks

Vouchers.
Book vouchers for one, for somewhere that sells Nike clothing or her preferred make up brand for the other.

My teen would much rather get a voucher than the wrong book or clothing item (even the one that doesn't like clothes and choses them based on practicality)

Do you spend time with them? We live very close to my sisters so they gave a voucher to DD for a trip out with them to buy DM's of her choosing bought from both of them. They made a day of it and went out for lunch etc. That may not be within your budget solo but if you do spend time with them you could give a voucher made up to look nice to take them out individually for a hot chocolate and shopping.

Would the bookish one love to spend some time browsing in a nice big bookstore? Otherwise a voucher is safe one for a book shop that they can access in person or online and for the other a voucher for a shopping centre nearby?

Such a nice idea. It makes me wish we were closer. The sporty niece is 150 miles away so I only see her a few times a year.
The bookworm is closer but her parents are very strict so they might not love that. I can try tho. I think she’d love a girls day out because she has three brothers.

I sympathise! DD13 asked for a Uniqlo cross body bag so that would have been a hit here! But teens are all so different and so specific. I haven't met a teen however that doesn't welcome cold hard cash... (which you could add a little bookmark or lip balm to as a token cheap 'gift' to open?)

For your bookish niece, the Lord of the Rings Adventure Book board game and/or a Penguin Books tote bag

My DD in year 8 is both a bookworm and into make-up/perfume/cosmetics. What's the budget?

A personalised book embosser was a very popular gift. They are available on Etsy. Not sure on lead times this close to Christmas though. Or simply a book voucher. Or have a browse on the Literary Gift Company website. I bought my DD a stocking filler from there that is a pencil case covered with Shakespeare's insults!

In terms of cosmetics/perfumes, Sol de Janeiro body sprays are super popular at the moment or some skincare from somewhere like Bubble. Not cheap though so budget-dependent.

A book subscription might be nice for DN1, you can tailor it to her reading preferences by adding in some books she has read and the company will pick some books out based on that. I’ve tended to find the books are more obscure or by lesser known authors, but still good reads, so the chances of her having read any will be less.

For DN2 I’d recommend either an urban outfitters voucher, cult beauty voucher or a gift set of skincare like ‘The Ordinary’ or ‘La Roche Posay’.

@sellotape12 I'm finding it hard to sort my own DD out this year!

The book embosser and subscription sound like very nice ideas. There are also magazine and comic subscriptions/ beauty boxes for the other DN. don't have to be a year, I think you can get 3/6 months.

Has she read any of the Natalie Haynes/Pat Barker series based on Greek myths? They give a female perspective and the one on Medusa is brilliant

Bubble and SdJ are not high end for DN2.

I would recommend a Phlur gift set for DN2. You can buy it from Space NK.

For DN1, I suggest two Anne Carson books: Autobiography of Red and If Not, Winter. She probably won't have read these and they are challenging but extremely good.

(Anne Carson is an exceptionally talented female writer with a deep specialism in the classics.)

I'd get both Costa and cinema vouchers if you can't take them out yourself. They'll soon start venturing out themselves just double check which coffee shop and cinema chains are in their areas.

They are considered “high end” for a lot of 13 year olds. If you buy adult high end and it isn’t “Tik Tok popular” then they are unlikely to thank you for it.

I’d just ask them.

I’d love to surprise my daughters, but it’s a waste of my time and money. Now what I do is I ask them what they’d like! Or give them a few options to choose from. You’re on a hiding to nothing trying to read their minds.

When I’m out shopping, I take photos of gift displays and ask if anything catches their eye. I find they enjoy choosing and looking forward to opening it far more than a surprise.

@JadeJelly What I suggested is TikTok popular The problem with SdJ is that it's become entry level so even nine and ten year olds want it now. That's not to say that no thirteen year olds want it at all but it's like... "baby's first fancy body spray". Easy for the OP to get wrong because she won't know which ones are the newest, for example. I doubt she follows TikTok trends or which SdJ scents are new or she wouldn't need to ask for help!

I agree with PP that a Phlur hair & body mist set from space nk would be nice. I have two teen DDs who have asked for that. Also Laneige sleep lip masks, Charlotte tilbury contour wand, Korean skincare from Olive Young (surprisingly fast delivery too). Rapunzel hair syrup if she is big on looking after her hair.

Oh, these suggestions are so fantastic, can’t thank you all enough. I’m really enjoying reading them all.

When I was 13, I was just like your DN1. Nothing hit the mark like books, money for books, or book vouchers (effectively, money that's ring-fenced for books.) Not much has changed, but bookshops nowadays also have a lot of book-related merc - tote-bags, diaries, mugs etc. Would DN1 be interested in a book token and a mug or something else associated with books or a favourite writer?

Another thing that's changed is that shops selling clothes, make-up, sports-kit etc have vouchers. Whether they are sporty or not, teenagers love choice and agency. So I'd be inclined to go with a voucher for DN2 as well, with something smaller to open on the day, like a nice mug or chocolates.

I got my dd who loves reading a personalised book stamp for her last birthday

What about tickets for an event at a literary festival with a favourite author speaking?

Thanks everyone we’re going to get DN1
one of the books suggested here, maybe Greek mythology from the female perspective or the Anne Carson one.

For DN2 I just morally can’t stretch my budget or brain to go to spaceNK for a kid who’s only just turned 13 haha. I’ve made her up a little box with Sol de Janeiro spray, Laneige sleep mask, those weird yellow face pimple patches and a few other bits. Vouchers is also great shout. I now remember just wanting vouchers from aunt and uncles when I was that age.