Moms can be hard enough to shop for, and if yours has expensive taste, the process can be even more nerve-wracking. You could blow your budget on something super expensive from a high-end brand that she loves. Or, you could do a little more digging to find a less expensive, equally delightful gift from the same brand (in packaging bearing the same fancy logo), which will also ensure you have money left over for everyone else on your list. To help cut down on that digging, we rounded up some of the cheapest stuff from the most expensive brands that we think any discerning mom would be tickled to receive. Read on for the Prada soap, Hérmes notepad, Chanel hand cream, Missoni hand towel, Le Labo lip balm, and 21 other things we found. (For more cheap, nice gifts from fancy brands, click here — and for many, many more gift ideas, head on over to our 2019 gift-guide hub.)
Editor’s Note: Since we are now in the final surge of holiday shopping, we’ve checked this post to make sure everything is in-stock and should arrive before December 25. But prices and stock are subject to change, so check to make sure your gifts will ship in time.
We think this makes a foolproof gift for two reasons: hand cream is far more universal than other skin-care products (so you don’t have to worry as much about the formula), and it says Chanel.
This lip balm from cult-y perfumer Le Labo will get her through the winter without cracked lips. And maybe next year you can save up to buy her Santal 33.
We love how McCartney’s logo is just noticeable enough embroidered at the top of these socks, which mom can wear for lounging or light workouts.
Toothpaste packaged so nicely that she might make your dad buy his own, so her tube lasts as long as possible.
A Smythson fountain pen costs more than $700, so might we suggest this refillable gold pencil instead? Because it’s reusable, it’ll likely last longer than any of the brand’s (also more expensive) notebooks and agendas.
Receiving one of her to-do lists will be far more pleasant when she writes it on the paper inside this fancy Hérmes notepad.
More fancy paper, but this time to line her drawers. Her socks or delicates will never smell better. The roll includes five pieces, so it breaks down to about $19 a sheet, which seems a very reasonable figure considering Lemaire’s clothes can cost thousands.
Tiffany’s silver is expensive, but this mug — which sports the brand’s signature blue — is far less so.
So even her nails can wear a designer label.
If Kate Middleton ever had to carry her own umbrella, we think she might choose to carry this one from the British heritage brand Barbour. The plaid print looks just like the lining of Barbour’s more expensive waxed coats that your mom has probably been eyeing.
A tiny handcrafted vase from status maker Heath Ceramics would look nice on her coffee table whether she puts flowers in it or not.
It’s understandable why some might not want to buy mom Agent Provocateur lingerie, and not just because it can costs hundreds of dollars. A just as indulgent — but more versatile and affordable — idea is the brand’s luxe silk sleep mask, which she can use on a plane, train, car, or even just in her bed. The fabric promises to be extra-gentle on her hair and skin, and the extra-large surface area will ensure no light will disrupt her beauty sleep.
Let dad foot the bill for Le Creuset’s Dutch oven, and instead surprise her with a status egg cup that’s just as nice to look at.
She’ll feel like she’s at the Ritz every time she steps out of the shower and onto this bath mat from the luxury linens maker.
Byredo’s candles can set you back 80 bucks, and its fragrances, a hundred or more. This rinse-free hand wash, however, will not break the bank, but its notes of tulips will smell just as heavenly as any of the brand’s pricier scented offerings.
If you bought her an inexpensive jade roller to help apply her lotions and potions last year, why not upgrade to this Dior cream applicator to make her nighttime routine seem a bit more posh.
You might have seen big boxes of these everlasting roses on Instagram and thought they’d make a cute gift idea, but one box of 16 will set you back a couple hundred dollars. A single rose, meanwhile, goes for less than $40, will last just as long, and still comes in the fancy packaging that makes Venus et Fleur so giftable.
When her friends ask, “What’s that smell?,” she can reply with one, envy-inducing word: Gucci.
If mom’s into clean design, this sleek yet sweet bottle opener would make a wonderful complement to her collection of minimalist glassware and plates.
She can place this handmade-looking bowl trimmed in 18-karat gold next to her front door, and never worry about misplacing her keys again. It’s just as nice-looking as any of the $500 bowls she might covet from Aerin.
This Louboutin eyeshadow itself is nice, but the packaging is even better: there’s nothing quite like applying makeup with a gold brush that recalls Lady Liberty’s torch. Plus, when she’s not using it, the bottle will stand out on her vanity.
While a $9,000 Egg Chair from Design Within Reach would be a very nice gift, this $45 hedgehog doorstop would make for an equally noticeable, design-y addition to her home. It doubles as a shoe brush, so it would probably even get more use than said chair.
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.
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