The hardest part of buying a gift is not the budget, it is guessing what will actually be used rather than put in a cupboard. Here is a practical list for weddings, Eid and birthdays, organised by who you are buying for, with a note on what tends to go wrong.
What makes a gift get used
Three things, in our experience of what people come back and reorder:
- It does not need a size. Anything that has to fit is a gamble unless you know the measurements.
- It replaces something they already own. People use a better version of a thing they use daily.
- It is not so precious that it gets saved. A gift kept "for a special occasion" is a gift never used.
For a wedding
A gift set carries better than a single item, because it looks considered and arrives ready to give.
- A boxed perfume set. Works for a couple, needs no size, and gets used daily.
- A matching watch pair. Formal enough for the occasion without being extravagant.
- A shawl or stole. Useful for months of the year, and a good one is remembered.
For Eid
- Unstitched suit lengths. The safest clothing gift, because the recipient chooses the fit. Pick the fabric for the season rather than the print alone.
- Perfume. A reliable Eid gift across ages.
- A wallet or a handbag. Replaces something worn out, and needs no size.
For a birthday
- A watch. Still the gift most likely to be worn every day. Our guide to watches under Rs 3,500 covers what to expect at that price.
- Jewellery. Earrings and chains are safer than rings, which need a size.
- A good cap and neck warmer set, if it is a winter birthday and they travel or ride.
For children
Buy by height rather than by age, and go one size up — they grow through a size in a season and a slightly long sleeve is a far smaller problem than a jacket that stops fitting in January. A fleece tracksuit and a pair of shoes are the two things parents reliably need.
Our kids' size chart by height takes the guesswork out.
For parents and older family
Warmth, comfort and nothing that needs managing:
- A heavy shawl, which is used daily all winter
- Knee or leg warmers, which cost very little and are genuinely appreciated
- A wool cap and neck warmer set
What to avoid giving
- Fitted clothing, unless you have the measurements. Jackets and stitched suits are the most common gifts that get quietly exchanged.
- Shoes, for the same reason, unless you have measured the foot.
- Anything that needs a charger or an account, if the recipient is not comfortable setting things up.
Ordering a gift for someone else's address
We deliver cash on delivery across Pakistan, so if the parcel is going to the recipient rather than to you, the person receiving it pays on the doorstep. For a gift that is usually not what you want. Tell us at the time of ordering and we will work out the simplest way round it.
Message us on WhatsApp at 0345 6650894, and if you are unsure between two things, describe the person and we will tell you honestly which one tends to get used.