What do I buy someone I’ve never met?

[T00ManyBooks]

I’ve just been informed that my brother is bringing his new girlfriend for Christmas. I’m woefully underprepared for this, have never met the woman (they’ve been together about eight months, but we live far away).

What do you buy someone you’ve never met? I feel like she may not have got gifts for us but I want to be prepared because she obviously KNOWS we were going to be there and I’ve only just found out. I have a feeling she’ll bring gifts because she sent my parents both amazing birthday presents and has met them literally once.

Posh socks.

She could be teetotal or allergic to stuff, so I'd avoid booze/chocs.

But a nice pair of 'more expensive than you'd buy for yourself' socks is fairly universally acceptable (& a useful re-gift if she's fussy about socks).

All for one voucher.
Argento voucher

Most women fit into the standard '4-7' sock...I'm an 8 and these are fine for me, my 5'0" SIL is a 3 and they fit. 🤷‍♀️

No...just no 😵‍💫

I'd never use a random notebook. A nice scented candle and some posh chocs would be my go to.

You don't like crystalised fruit? Such a delicacy!

Buy her something completely random. How about a cactus or Randall Munroe's book What if?, which is a lot of fun. Or a Rubic Cube?
You might discover an interesting side to her character...

Booker prize novel. We really have to stop reducing women to generic chocolate snaffling, candle sniffing, bath taking clones in our gifting practices.

If someone handed me a nice candle, a pair of fluffy socks, some lovely choc and a nice bath oil or beauty treatment I would be delighted. You can enjoy beautiful things and not be a total moron you know. 90% of all women like those things ffs

Couple of sheet face masks. They seem to be appreciated even if they end up being passed on

Fluffy socks yes, because I live in a chilly old house. Anything smelly, particularly candles, no. Makes me feel nauseous.
And statistically it's not safe to say 90% of women like candles etc... maybe women of your acquaintance do, but mine would probably prefer walking boots or a set of D&D dice, or a reptile. 😁

A nice candle, chocolates, hand cream etc

Fgs you and the gang are the 10%...and even you like the fluffy socks 🙄

It would be quite surprising to turn up at someone's house at Christmas who you've never met before and be given a reptile!

Hmm I’d go the other way and say we need to start including men in our chocolate
-snaffling, candle-sniffing, bath-taking gifts. The whole human race can enjoy simple sensory pleasures (just as we can enjoy intellectual pleasures) and not assume they’re lesser because they’re associated with women. No one ever assumes that man who enjoys a good bottle of whisky can’t also enjoy a good novel- the reverse if anything).

I always give the women in my life books but that's because I know them and what they read and like. It's my most common gift. I wouldn't give someone I've never met a book, you don't know what they like and it's a bit 'here's something you ought to have read'.

A navy pair of winter gloves.

A pretty mug and some Cocoba hot chocolate flakes.

Definitely not a candle. And personally I find it weird to gift a stranger socks!

I don’t think it’s necessary to buy a gift. You’ve never met her. She will be enjoying your hospitality

We are also giving the men in our house hand-crafted chocolates. It's mayhem in here!

What age is she ? I would buy differently for a girlfriend of 22 than I would someone of 32

Budget ?

Anything from:

Chanel compact mirror
Jo Malone handcream or lip balm
A poem for every day of the year book
Cashmere scarf or wrist warmers
Sheet masks
Aesop handwash
Aromatherapy associates selection of bath oils (can also be used in shower)
Mandala colouring book and pack of colouring pens
Air tag and keyring
Clarins Eau Dynamisante
Leather coin purse in bright colour

@SoNiceToComeHomeTo

twentysevendresses
No...just no 😵‍💫

You don't like crystalised fruit? Such a delicacy!

Sorry I don't...all that sugar sets my teeth on edge. My Nan used to always have bowls of it on her sideboard, and would try to force everyone to 'have a piece' 🤢

I'd rather just have the fruit.

I'd say nothing tbh, short term girlfriend you've not met.

I'd just share my Christmas/goodwill with her this year.

But the same applies to smellies and candles, we all like different things!

It's just infuriating how women are reduced to this generic mass by the gift industry.