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I like to think of myself as a professional girlfriend. I held the title for nine years before becoming a fiancée, and to this day, I believe that my excellent gift-giving abilities had something to do with keeping us happy and in love all those years. My strategy is simple: Pay attention and be specific. Did she recently decide to join a cookbook club? Easy, another cookbook or cooking-adjacent accessory like a sheet pan. Does she go on about how much she loathes the “big light” in her office? Amazing, get her a nice-looking lamp. The key here is to customize things to her taste and listen for the little things. But I get that that can be easier said than done, so I’ve compiled gifts based on what girlfriends (yours included) could like, broken down into very specific things she might be into like Ultrafragola mirrors or traveling or gold grills.
To make your search even easier, all the gifts on this list are available on Amazon (though we’ve included links to other retailers when a gift is available elsewhere, for those who like to shop around). We’ve also organized everything by price, so you can find a great gift that won’t bust your budget. (If you still can’t find something that’ll make your girlfriend smile, check out our exhaustive list of over 60 gift guides, too.)
Update on October 25, 2024: Added lots of new gift ideas, including Mya Gelber’s favorite Samba alternatives, a pared-down Theragun, and a throwback digital pet. Checked prices and checked stock for all other products.
Gifts under $25
For the girlfriend who loves a page-turner
In this thriller, a woman operating under an alias starts to catch feelings for her mark.
For the girlfriend who always loses her lip balms
A five-pack of the Laneige lip masks — so she can put one in each of her bags.
For the girlfriend who loses everything
Lots of my friends refuse to travel without an AirTag — it comes in handy for keeping track of baggage, especially when flying internationally. But it’s tiny enough to slip into a purse or wallet, too.
For the girlfriend who’s serious about her bath routine
Stock her shower with this nice-smelling body wash, which is packed with vitamins C and E and simultaneously cleans and moisturizes skins.
For the girlfriend who’s redecorating
A book of color schemes from Sanzo Wada, an artist, teacher and kimono designer who had a massive impact on color theory.
For the girlfriend who still talks about her Nintendo Dog
For the girlfriend who loves a shiny lip
For an option that’s both hydrating and super shiny, nothing beats the Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil. The beloved formula has become so popular among beauty enthusiasts we’ve called it “The Telfar of Lipgloss.”
For the girlfriend who’s always losing her earrings
For the girlfriend who started a new retinol
This mineral sunscreen is a favorite of dermatologists, who like that it uses physical blockers and also moisturizes skin.
For the girlfriend who longs for the Ultrafragola
For the girlfriend who loves a late night
For the morning after, a set of eye patches that will keep her under-eye moisturized and de-puffed. They’re also Instagrammable: My feed is currently lousy with people wearing them outside.
For the girlfriend who’s obsessed with caring for her cast iron
She’s right, it does make everything taste better. To make cleanup easier, this chain-mail scrubber is designed specifically for cleaning cast-iron skillets and makes quick work of even the most burnt-on bits.
For the girlfriend who doesn’t believe in unscented candles
This candle really fills up a room and burns super-evenly thanks to a soy-wax blend.
For the girlfriend who’s more of an incense girl
Papier d’Arménie has been selling burning papers for over a hundred years, and they remain a cheap, yet effective, way to scent a room. It works similarly to an incense but burns much faster and feels a bit more interactive because you have to create these tight accordion folds before using it.
For the girlfriend who says she’ll read more this year
Nothing says “hot girl reading” more than a book about a love affair between a dancer and a woman she meets at a party.
For the girlfriend who’s also a bibliophile
This book light is a hit among Strategist staffers and bookworms alike. Its bendy neck, amber lighting, and long battery life (you can go about a month between charges) makes it a perennial favorite.
For the girlfriend getting into hiking
Every avid hiker’s favorite socks brand, made from cozy (and odor-defying) merino wool in Vermont.
For the always-snacking girlfriend
Stasher bags aren’t cheap, so she might not buy them for herself. But they are long-lasting and dishwasher safe, making them a gift she’ll actually use over and over again.
Gifts under $50
For the girlfriend who likes a no-screen activity
These flowers last forever and will offer a few hours of fun.
For the girlfriend who likes to host
We asked stylish New Yorkers about their equally stylish tablescape essentials, and author and TV host Ali Rosen recommended this three-tier cake stand from Strategist-favorite Yamazaki, which she likes because it adds height to any spread.
For the girlfriend who always has a cracked screen
A surprisingly stylish and cheerful laptop sleeve that will keep her devices protected.
For the girlfriend who wears sneakers with every outfit
While on the hunt for Samba alternatives, writer Mya Gelber came across the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66, which she says are popular but not “overexposed.” She brought them on a recent trip to Italy and was pleased to report they held up to 40,000-step days.
For the girlfriend who has gotten into bullet journaling
This design-forward notebook is a favorite of stationery enthusiasts and has blank, unlined pages she can design however she wishes.
For the girlfriend who drinks iced coffee in winter
Constructed from glass and steel, this easy-to-use infuser makes for an elegant kitchen-counter piece.
For the girlfriend who leaves the house with 10 percent battery
She’ll really appreciate it when she’s down to 5 percent with no plans of going home any time soon.
Gifts under $100
For the girlfriend who never skips a SolidCore class
A pair of comfy-but-compressive leggings with convenient pockets.
For the girlfriend who needs a new wallet
Coach is renowned for its leather and at $75, this feels like a steal. It can hold up to five cards and has a center pocket to hold cash.
For the girlfriend who loves a Mary Poppins purse
This surprisingly roomy Baggu purse is reminiscent of a nylon Prada bag and can fit a few books and a laptop.
For the girlfriend who loves her everything shower
Our favorite fluffy bathrobe that, according to our fashion writer Ambar Pardilla, is a true bathrobe. “I go straight from wearing it to lotioning up without needing a towel to wipe away leftover water.”
For the girlfriend who has a hard time falling asleep
A light-blocking face sleep mask that wraps all the way around to completely block out light.
For the girlfriend who lives for a moment
Small enough to take anywhere, the Polaroid Go takes surprisingly great pictures. And yes, there’s a timer for taking selfies.
For the girlfriend who’s an adult LEGO fan
This box shaped like a giant LEGO brings a hypebeast-meets-kindercore vibe to her space and holds a ton of bricks.
Gifts under $200
For the gym-rat girlfriend
This handheld Theragun is the perfect complement to heavy lift days and, according to Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa, the triangular handle makes it easier to target hard-to-reach areas like the back.
For the medium-distance girlfriend
A brightly colored (and durable) duffel bag for weekend overnight trips. I’ve been using the larger size bag for the past two years and can attest that it holds up despite my overstuffing.
For the skin-care obsessive
This nifty red-light wand helps with everything from hyperpigmentation to fine lines and will round out her skin-care routine.
For the girlfriend who’s sick of Sambas
These Keen sneakers are a Strategist staffer favorite and are comfortable and stylish in a gorpcore kind of way.
For the girlfriend who loves a lazy Sunday morning
We’ve been recommending Eberjey’s buttery-soft pajamas since 2017. They’ll look elegant and beautiful, even after she rolls straight out of bed — because the modal-jersey fabric never wrinkles.
For the girlfriend who has everything
You can’t go wrong with a nice pair of sheets. This interior-designer-approved sateen-cotton set from Brooklinen has a study, luxurious feel and holds up in the wash.
For the girlfriend who just got a new apartment
A set of dishwasher-safe wineglasses from Strategist-approved Riedel, perfect for full-bodied reds.
For the girlfriend who burns the midnight oil
This lamp is apparently the inspiration for the iconic Pixar logo, and according to architecture critic Alexandra Lange’s husband (who’s an architect), it’s the “black T-shirt of architect desk lamps.”
For the girlfriend who has been wearing the same pair of slippers since you met
These UGG slippers are a longtime Strategist favorite and will keep her feet toasty. Their thick rubber sole provides a good amount of foot support, and they’re even sturdy enough to wear outside the house.
Over $200
For the girlfriend who lives near a subway
I tested these out recently at a Best Buy and was impressed by how effective the noise canceling is (almost too quiet, honestly). I ended up buying the cheaper XM4s, which do a good job of silencing city sounds (I live right next to a train and under a flight path) but aren’t quite as silent as these.
For the girlfriend who’s cutting down on screen time
For the girlfriend who only shoots film
When I asked musician 6LACK about the things he can’t live without, he put me on to this Contax camera, which, while admittedly expensive, he says is worth the splurge. It’s well-designed and with point-and-shoot functionality, easy to use.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, bed sheets, coffee makers, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
