I use the term “girly girl” because that is what we call two of our three daughters. Another popular term to describe them would be “princess.” These are the young ladies who relish in being female and young. They have to shop, even if they have no money. They will not leave the house without make-up, jewelry and perfectly cute outfits. When they travel, even for a weekend, they need a separate vehicle to carry their belongings.
I have always had great success in finding the perfect gifts for my girly girls, and here is a top ten list of some of my biggest hits.
1. Sex & The City & Shoes Gift Box
Last Christmas, I put together a Sex & The City & Shoes Gift Box for my twenty-year-old daughter. I bought a season of the TV show that she was missing from her collection. I found a cool shoe-themed desk calendar that came in a mini shoebox. Themed calendars are in kiosks in every mall in America. I got the Sex & The City traveling board game from Toys R Us. To that, I added a high heel shoe keychain I found at Icings, one of those trinket boutiques. Of course, I had to get a gift certificate from her favorite shoe store as well. I put everything in a beautiful gift box that can be reused for decorative storage. She still says that was the best gift she has ever received.
She’s twenty-one this year, so I am going to mix it up with a cosmo theme instead of shoes. I am looking for a calendar with a cocktail theme. Every major department store has cute cocktail glasses and shaker sets. A book on mixing drinks would be perfect for this box. She still has several missing seasons, so Sex & The City should help me out for the next few years!
2. Antique Items
Antique items do not have to cost a fortune. Adorable antique hair pins can cost as little as $2 or as much as $20. Every antique shop has them, and you’ll find porcelain hair pin holders too.
Other antique items girly girls love are silver plated dresser sets, jewelry boxes, costume jewelry pieces and make-up train cases.
3. Magazines
Girly girls have to have their magazines. I have seen my girly girl forgo chocolate in order to have the four bucks she needed to buy her magazine in the checkout line. This is why buying a magazine subscription is a fantastic gift for your girly girl.
My favorite online magazine store is Magazines.com. I have used them for over five year. I have tried other magazine companies, but never had the level of customer service and satisfaction as I have encountered at Magazines.com.
The most popular teen magazines that girly girls pick up at the local newsstands are Seventeen ($12.00/annually at Magazines.com), Cosmo Girl ($8.00/ 10 issues at Magazines.com), J-14 ($14.97/ 10 issues at Magazines.com), M Magazine ($14.97/ 10 issues at Magazines.com) and Teen Vogue ($12.00/annually at Magazines.com).
4. Make-up
Every girly girl loves a gift of make-up, and as long as you’re not buying foundation, it does not have to be expensive name brands. Many discount retailers sell popular teen brands such as Bonne Bell, Smackers and Wet & Wild. Great items to give as gifts are things like body glitter, lip gloss, eye shadow and nail polish.
Bare Minerals has become the new “it” brand for tweens as it does not clog pores and is easily washed off. America’s Next Top Model has made Cover Girl another popular choice among young women.
5. Lighted Vanity Mirror
Giving your daughter a lighted vanity mirror is also a gift for yourself. If she is using her vanity mirror to apply her make-up in her bedroom, then the bathroom is free.
A vanity mirror is a necessity, and is useless unless lighted. This is the perfect gift for any girly girl.
6. Pamper Basket
Find a decorative basket or container, preferably one that matches the décor of her bedroom. Fill it with pamper items such as scented candles, bubble bath, lotions, body wash and shower gels. Most malls have bath stores which sell scented bath products, and these are great places to find the ingredients for your basket. You could purchase one of their pre-made baskets, but then you lose the personalization of doing it yourself.
Consider adding a loofa, bath scrunchy, bath mitt or bath pillow. Add in their favorite perfume or spritz and a pretty ribbon.
7. Plush Robe and Slippers
When I was younger, the worst gift you could receive would be a robe and slippers, but that is no longer the case. Girly girls ask for soft, plush robes and cute fuzzy slippers.
When I was purchasing early Christmas gifts just before Halloween, the young cashier caressed the plush robes I bought for my daughters and commented on how pretty and soft they were. That is how I knew I made the correct choices.
8. Decorative Pillows & Throws
Last year, this was my big win. I bought all three of my daughters a couple of throws, rugs and pillows for their bedrooms. I gave each of them five pillows, three in one box and two separately wrapped. They were thrilled. I was amazed at their reaction.
This year, my daughters have been begging for more. Apparently, a girly girl cannot have enough pillows on her bed. My youngest daughter, thirteen, keeps picking up plush throws in every store we visit. She wants to make sure I know how important that gift would be to her.
9. Hats, Purses & Hat Boxes
Not every girl likes to wear hats, but most girly girls love to have them. They love to play with them when their friends are spending the night. Trinket shops such as Claires and Icing have just the right hats, such as pink cowboy hats with the word “princess” across the front.
Purses are an accessory that girly girls cannot have enough of. If you are unsure of the style to purchase, go with a small clutch purse in any color. If the purse has charms or embroidery with sayings like “sexy,” “cute,” “princess,” “babydoll” or “love to shop” that is the one to buy. Initials are another great find on purses.
Hat boxes make great decorative storage for a girly girl’s room. She needs at least three to stack in a corner. They love to put their make-up, hair ties and accessories in them. A great tip is to use the hat box to wrap another gift.
10. Jewelry
Jewelry is always the perfect gift, but how much do you have to spend? Not as much as you think. The secret is to go to your local jewelry stores and sign up for their mailing lists. Several weeks before every major holiday, jewelry stores have special “preferred customers only” sales, and the people who find out about them are the people on their mailing lists.
I made it a family tradition to buy rings for my daughters once they reach sixteen. Several times a year, I get a postcard from Kay Jewelers about a gemstone ring that is on sale for their preferred customers only, and they range in price from $30 to $50. I almost always like the style, purchase the ring, and put it away for their birthday or Christmas.
Another idea is to look only at the clearance section at the jewelry store. There is nothing wrong with the items in the clearance section. Those items are only there because the stock has almost sold out. I have found some beautiful rings and bracelets for less than $50 by doing just that.
