Fashion notes: Guys, don't let gifting get too complicated

Tiffany-T diamond. Courtesy Tiffany

Some women struggle to buy presents for male friends, partners and family members. Shopping for fellow females, on the other hand, is a piece of cake – or at least it should be. But if there's a certain fashion girl in your life whom you just can't seem to please, take a look at this list of potential presents. If the gifts have made their ways onto my wish list, they're probably on hers, too.

Unless you’re hours away from the big day, in a state of sheer desperation, try to refrain from resorting to gift vouchers. Though they’re inarguably practical, I find them too impersonal. Keep them at the back of your mind, only to be bought as a backup.

So, what do girls want, you may ask? Stereotypically, pretty new shoes make the ultimate gift for a woman – we all dream of finding a box of brand new red-soled Louboutins under the Christmas tree. But even if you know her favourite brand or style, the obvious problem posed with gifting shoes is size and comfort, so unless you’re sure of her size with a particular brand, it may be better to stay away from this category. However, if she fancies the gym and already owns a pair of Nike trainers, for example, then by all means check her size and buy her a new – or, better yet, limited-edition – pair.

While every girl has a special place in her heart for shoes, footwear doesn’t come close to the appeal of jewellery. Now, guys, don’t let your collective hearts sink after reading that – buying jewellery doesn’t necessarily mean you need to take out a loan or empty your pockets on a Tiffany piece. If you can’t afford real jewels, there are plenty of other options, but if you are blessed with a rather large budget, there’s one designer that should be on your radar – Suzanne Kalan, who stocks at S*uce Rocks in Dubai. Her diamond baguette ­bangles are simply divine, and her range of bedazzling cocktail rings with different gemstones are equally tantalising.

For a more delicate, minimalist look, check out ­Monica Vinader’s pieces (there are quite a few that retail for less than Dh1,000). They can be found at Boutique 1 stores in Dubai and Abu ­Dhabi. ­Comptoir 102, on Jumeirah Beach Road, is another haven for niche jewellery, stocking brands from Paris and Los Angeles. If you have a special woman in your life and want to really treat her, you can’t go wrong with these fine jewellery brands.

For less-expensive options, head to Boom & Mellow in ­Dubai to shop for quirky brands such as Amber Sceats and Benedicte Mouret, or purchase some bracelets from the cult American brand Alex and Ani at Bloomingdale’s in ­Dubai.

While cosmetics aren’t all that cheap anymore, they can also be great stocking stuffers – we girls will appreciate practically anything from Sephora, whether it’s a set of new brushes or a package of face masks, through to the latest fragrances or eyeshadow palettes.

If the above options just aren’t working out for you, then head to a shop that’s already in your comfort zone – Virgin ­Megastore. You may be surprised to learn that there are a ton of cool gifts for girls there, too. If she’s into tech, she may find a Hello ­Kitty-shaped Polaroid camera or an electronic plant terrarium delightfully amusing. If she’s a baker, she may find a pretty cupcake stand or a cake mould that spells out “love” in Arabic pretty useful. And if she’s an avid stationery lover, like I am, I’m sure she will be more than happy with a couple of notebooks by the French stationary brand Christian Lacroix Papier.