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Original poster

Gift for 50 year old

30 replies

OutToGetYou · 27/04/2017 22:33

Friend's 50th, glam black tie party (might be back to discuss dresses) - I've been thinking what to buy her and I think I've decided on a pretty clutch bag.

Is that too personal? Odd? OK? Lovely?

She's a bit bohemian and likes bright colours. I thought this pink one was nice:

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/bags-and-luggage/biba-foldover-clutch-bag/244776742.pd

Comes in sparkly too:

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/bags-and-luggage/biba-foldover-clutch/d728951.pd#253314183

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
neveradullmoment99 · 27/04/2017 22:55

Thats lovely. It is personal but i suppose it depends how close you are. I really like the pink one.

neveradullmoment99 · 27/04/2017 22:57

If she is bohemian, she may love this jewellery:

www.chambersandbeau.com/

I especially love the charm earrings.

neveradullmoment99 · 27/04/2017 22:58

www.chambersandbeau.com/jewellery/small-hoop-charm-earrings/

BackforGood · 27/04/2017 22:59

I don't think it is too personal a thing to give to a friend IYSWIM, but it is a personal taste thing.
If you see her out and about with similar clutch bags, then it would be fine, but owning a 'pretty little clutch bag' is a particular taste, which none of us will be able to tell you if she has or not.

BeachysSandyFlipflops · 27/04/2017 23:10

My best 50th present was a bottle of Chanel red nail polish. It felt like such a luxury and I've used it on my toe nails ever since.

I think a handbag is quite personal and may not go with her style/colours/clothes etc

PickAChew · 27/04/2017 23:12

Late 40s and like neither of those.

Surely you know your friends's tastes, though?

PickAChew · 27/04/2017 23:15

Also don't like that jewellery.

Get me a case of really good red wine and I might invite you to my 60th, mind!

polyhymnia · 27/04/2017 23:54

I think bags are very much a matter of personal taste and I really wouldn't like anyone to buy one on my behalf any more than I'd like them to get me perfume or cosmetics.

LadyLapsang · 28/04/2017 06:39

Have you seen her use a clutch bag? I have been given a number as gifts but I don't use them as unless they have a shoulder chain / strap I am worried about putting them down and losing all the contents.

Yewtown · 28/04/2017 07:03

I quite like the pink one but as I am 51 I find clutch bags difficult. If she uses reading glasses will it be big enough for those plus other stuff. Also what colours does she wear, if she likes blues or greens for instance will she actually use it.

burnishedsilver · 28/04/2017 07:23

I'm late 40s, I'd like either for my 50th.

oldwife · 28/04/2017 09:23

You know your friend better than we do.

Fwiw I will be 50 very soon and I do like the clutch bags and the jewellery.

Gifts can be tricky - I often get given items that I dislike. It's more upsetting that I think the giver doesn't know my taste.

Recent 50th gifts I have given have been vouchers for beauty salon that I know she uses, champagne (decent stuff as a treat)

Original poster
OutToGetYou · 28/04/2017 09:27

I don't think that jewellery is 'bohemian', I think it's very ordinary, practically the same as Pandora (which I personally dislike). Maybe bohemian means a different thing to me.

A case of good red wine is considerably more than I was intending to spend. :)

Chanel nail polish is lovely, but it's the kind of thing she just buys herself so wouldn't be a treat. (is it a treat? My assistant at work was telling me about a Chanel nail varnish she bought the other day)

I don't really go to events with her where I might see her use an evening bag (except this one coming up!). I just thought it was a fun thing one might use now and then, not a practical thing someone might use every day (it is big enough for reading glasses, though she wears actual glasses so I doubt this is necessary). I tend to think they need to be big enough for phone, keys, lipstick and money. She does like pink.

But, consensus seems to be no. I shall rethink!

OP posts:
Original poster
OutToGetYou · 28/04/2017 09:32

Champagne is just too boring, even 'decent' stuff. Properly decent stuff, i.e. worth bothering with for a gift, is actually above my price range (and still too boring). I am thinking around £50.

At my sister's 25th wedding anniversary she asked for no gifts and they got about 40 bottles of champagne. (I didn't buy them champagne, but what I did buy I mentioned on here on another thread and got laughed at, so I shan't say, even though my sister and bil love it!).

I don't really like giving vouchers, it's just money people have to spend on a certain thing, but it's still just money. We're not talking about someone who struggles for money here.

OP posts:
neveradullmoment99 · 28/04/2017 18:25

There are also plenty of choices on not on the hight street. Some jewellery that you might like.
Bohemian to me means ethnic and slightly hippy. I do think the earrings with the transferable charms are beautiful and quite quirky. Not to suit all tastes i suppose.

www.notonthehighstreet.com/gifts/shop-by-recipient/for-her

Etsy is also full of lovely things jewellery wise.

www.hairygrowler.co.uk/

but £££

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 28/04/2017 18:30

I had a clutch bag for my 50th. I think it's a great present. You need to know her taste though. Mine isn't to mine so I don't use it a lot, but I do think it's a great present if you get it right.

blueskyinmarch · 28/04/2017 18:31

I am in my early 50’s and i really like that clutch, especially the silver one. I remember Biba first time round so it would be very nostalgic for me.

OCSockOrphanage · 28/04/2017 20:29

Silk pillowcases, according to my DSis, are THE present for middle-aged ladies. A colour that will work in her bedroom, to help with skin and hair problems. A small luxury, for which I am told, she will bless you forever.

Blogwoman · 28/04/2017 20:35

I like the sound of a silk pillowcase! How about a basket/other container she'd like with things you've selected for a 'spoil yourself' evening - book, special bath stuff, choc, something alcoholic etc according to her taste.

InfiniteSheldon · 28/04/2017 20:55

Please buy her Clarins hand its cream stupidly expensive but worth every penny and fantastic on old hands. I have about seven clutch bags bought for big birthdays by friends I don't really love any of them.

OlennasWimple · 28/04/2017 20:59

Yy to the hand cream!

A bag is lovely if you are certain she will like it (or can easily exchange it, if you include a gift receipt)

Jewellry is far more personal in my mind, and much easier to get wrong

Original poster
OutToGetYou · 28/04/2017 21:22

50 isn't old, I am 49 myself.

She doesn't have 'skin and hair problems' that need solving with silk pillow cases (nor do I!). I don't know what colour her bedroom is anyway. I've just read about them, apparently they prevent hair getting knotted and tangled - does people's hair really get knotted and tangled in their sleep? Mine certainly doesn't.

Clarins hand cream might be good and expensive but most of my friends already use it or can afford to if they want to. Hand cream is just.....hand cream.

I agree jewellery is too personal. I'd def not get that right.

Hmm...I'm going to have to ask some other friends what they are buying.

OP posts:
neveradullmoment99 · 28/04/2017 21:27

I am also 49 and not sure a present for old hands would be a great gift reallyHmm It did make me giggle though.

blueskyinmarch · 28/04/2017 21:33

Hand cream is an okay gift but not special. I have loads of Clarins hand cream as i use loads of Clarins products and get them as free gists. The bags is lovely. I would like it better than hand cream. I have hand cream on the go at all times. It is so not special.