Ring in the Holidays With Style

Date
Oct, 30, 2010

A gift should reflect the relationship you have with the recipient. Giving a truly great present speaks volumes, but how can you be sure to find the one that will perfectly suit the person you’re shopping for? The following tips are a guide to savvy gift-buying.

DO . . .

Strategize. When selecting gifts for a friend or business associate, consider a twist on the golden rule. Don’t look for the gift that you would like to receive, but the gift that you think or know the individual recipient would like to receive. This means knowing something about the recipient, and the kinds of things he or she likes. Long before the holiday season, ask yourself where that person works and plays. Does he or she garden, play golf, go hiking? What is that person’s taste (conservative? flamboyant? What are some of his or her favorite things?

Choose the Unexpected. A sure-fire way to give a gift with impact is to choose something different and unusual. This season, try “function with flair,” from the kitchen to the home office: purely functional items that can also be works of art. For example, beautiful linen napkins that can be used as place mats, or office supplies or kitchenware with designer flair.

Let the Gift Speak for Itself. Image is important, from what you choose to how you present it. Quality wrapping indicates that thought and care went into your present, and will leave a lasting impression. Instead of using last year’s reindeer paper, try an art supply store for unusual paper sheets, or wrap a gift in brown parchment paper tied with a red bow.

DON’T . . .

Become a Cliché. Fight the urge to give a gift card or gift basket. While they are both easy and safe, they will be forgotten in a few weeks. Instead, take the extra time this year to search for gifts in new places, such as on vacation. If you keep your holiday list in mind throughout the year, you can purchase presents whenever you see the perfect item. But you don’t really even need to go out of the house—catalog and online shopping are convenient and open 24/7.

Dismiss Your Intuition. Someone once told me that great gift giving is 70 percent inspiration and 30 percent fieldwork. If possible, get out of your regular routine to inspire some great gift ideas for 2010. Try a new street or area in your city. You’ll be surprised at what you find. Museum book and gift stores have some wonderful items sure to please, too. Let your intuition guide you to the best finds!

Be a Slave to Labels. Why pay more for designer names, especially in this economy? If your dream gift has a designer logo, terrific, but most people appreciate gifts that are reflections of their taste—from style to function to color—with or without a famous label.

Unique Gift Ideas

1. Make a donation to a charity in the name of the recipient, but do your homework first to find out which causes he or she supports.

2. Purchase an American flag from your local congressman or woman. They are under $20 and come with a certificate stating that it has been flown over the nation’s capitol.

3. Offer to take a friend’s small children for an afternoon or a sleepover. The gift of time is priceless!

4. Decorate a holiday wreath and deliver it in early December so your giftee can enjoy it all month long.

5. Homemade gifts such as preserves and pickles are always welcome, and the giftee can share them with family and office mates.

http://37.60.249.202/~expertet/wp-content/uploads/about-lisa.jpg Lisa Mirza Grotts is a recognized etiquette expert, an on-air contributor, and the author of A Traveler’s Passport to Etiquette. She is a former director of protocol for the city and county of San Francisco and the founder and CEO of The AML Group (Lisagrotts.com), certified etiquette and protocol consultants. Her clients range from Stanford Hospital to Cornell University and Levi Strauss. She has been quoted by Condé Nast Traveler, InStyle magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the New York Times. To learn more about Lisa, follow her on Twitter.com/LisaGrotts and Facebook.com/LisaGrotts

Follow Lisa Mirza Grotts on Twitter.

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