The Prelude

Let me guess…you have someone special in your life that has a birthday coming up and you want to get them the best gift possible. Well not only are you in luck (because I give stellar advice), but I also give unique gifts as well so I have a bit of an advantage with the tips I’m about to share. Just so you know, I’m a wardrobe stylist and this is a fashion blog which means that my advice is going to be centered around fashion and style. Nevertheless, I plan to give you some good ideas and a variety of options that cater to different price points so you can choose which gifts work best for your budget. Please note that I’ve categorized the gift ideas into three categories low tier ($0 - $50), mid tier ($51 - $100), and high tier ($100+) to give you an idea of what you can expect to spend on that particular gift. With that being said, let the birthday shopping commence!

10 Unique Birthday Gift Ideas | Fashion Edition

1. Gift cards (price: mid tier to high tier). Since this is a common gift I thought it would be best to get it out of the way…so here we are. Even though gift cards are common and come across as a bit less thoughtful to some people, they are slowly becoming more popular due to inflation. Gift cards are a great gift for practically everyone because everyone needs clothing (even if it isn’t at this exact moment). To make your gift card a little more personal, I recommend pairing it with a thoughtful card (a humorous one if the gift recipient likes to laugh or a heartfelt one if they are a sucker for kind words). Then tailor the gift card to an interest or specific need (for example, if you know that the gift recipient loves luxury brands then get them a gift card to their favorite luxury retailer, or, if you’ve been hearing them complain about needing a new work wardrobe then get them a gift card to a retailer that specializes in work wear fashion). Don’t forget to put the card in a nice envelope with your name and their name on the front.

2. Dinner with an outfit (price: mid tier to high tier). With the rising cost of food being gifted a free meal is a luxury. However, what will make this gift extremely luxury is an outfit that’s already picked out for the gift recipient. If you have a good idea of what type of clothing, shoes, and accessories the gift recipient likes then this should be an easy task for you. The hardest part will be putting everything together to create a nice outfit, but you have a few options that can help lighten the burden. You can either solicit the help of an associate at the retail store that you’re shopping at, look for fashion inspo online using specific colors or the article of clothing that you plan to purchase, or hire a wardrobe stylist to put a look book together for you (that way all you have to do is add the pieces to your cart). With this gesture, the recipient will be delightfully surprised and they can focus on soaking in the memories and savoring every moment of their birthday.

3. Sponsor a style box subscription (price: low tier to mid tier). We all know that one person that HATES shopping so why not help alleviate their stress by gifting them a style box subscription (depending on the website style box subscriptions can last for one month, one week, or it can be a one time purchase). With this subscription the gift recipient will be able to get a curated selection of clothing based on their style, budget, and body type. The best part is the box will be curated by a style expert and the gift recipient will only pay for the clothing that they decide to keep. I would recommend gifting this if you can’t afford a stylist right now. On the other hand, if you are going back and forth between this option and hiring a professional stylist then I encourage you to check out my article “Subscription Boxes vs. Personal Styling. Which One Is Better?” (I’m certain it will help you make a decision).

4. Book them a style consultation (price: low tier to mid tier). Sometimes people need a little push to start getting serious about their goals. If the person you’re gifting has been showing interest in working with a wardrobe stylist then help them achieve their goal by taking care of the first step (a style consultation). Some stylists offer free consultations while others offer paid consultations. Regardless of which option you choose, I’m sure the gift recipient will be grateful that you took the time out of your day to find the perfect stylist for them. If you need help with selecting the right stylist then check out my article “How To Find a Good Fashion Stylist.”

5. Gift them a closet cleaning session (price: mid tier to high tier). Between working, maintaining relationships, caring for children, staying healthy, and learning new skills…cleaning can easily fall on the backburner. So why not help take the load off by gifting a closet cleaning session? The features that come with a closet cleaning session vary by service provider, but at the very least, every service includes closet organization. This gift is impactful because you have the opportunity to help the person you’re gifting declutter their mind, create outfits with ease, and fall in love with their wardrobe again.

6. Hire a personal stylist to help them identify their style (mid tier to high tier). As a stylist you wouldn’t believe how much I hear people confess not knowing their style. It’s a real problem and there’s a high chance that the person you’re gifting is going through it as well. To figure out if they are or not, you can discreetly ask the gift recipient this question “if you had to describe your clothing style what would it be?” If they’re having trouble answering your question then ask them if they have ever considered working with a stylist to help them figure it out (I recommend doing this months before their birthday). If they are receptive to the idea then gift them an all inclusive package to help them figure out their style. However, if they aren’t receptive to this idea, then it’s best to choose something else from this list.

7. Book a body shape analysis for them (price: low tier to mid tier). Much like style, people being unaware of their body shape is also common. When a person doesn’t know their body shape not only is it a hinderance to their confidence, but it can negatively impact their finances, alter the appearance of their outfit, and create clutter in one’s wardrobe as well. What’s so unique about this gift is that you’re gifting them a lifelong skill that’s both useful and fun to learn.

8. Schedule a color analysis for them (price: mid tier to high tier). The last thing that most people don’t know is what colors look the best with their skin tone (and there’s a strong chance the person you’re gifting doesn’t know either!). Similar to figuring out your body shape and style, choosing the perfect colors for your skin tone breeds confidence. Color analysis services are very flexible offering both online and in person options (allowing you to purchase this service as a gift for anyone no matter their location). What’s more is you can even make this service a bonding experience by asking the service provider if they’re willing to accommodate both of you for a session (it will be a fun memory that lasts a lifetime!).

9. Set up a personal shopping trip with a personal stylist (mid tier to high tier). How many people can say that they spent majority of their day shopping with a personal stylist? Not many. If you have the funds, this gift will have the gift recipient in pure bliss! They’ll be able to spend a few hours relieving stress via retail therapy, get the perfect items for their wardrobe with the help of a stylist, be matched with perfectly fitted clothing (which boosts confidence!), and perhaps even score some exclusive deals (if the stylist has a partnership with the brand). If you’re considering this option it might be helpful to know that some stylists charge hourly (and require an hourly minimum) while others charge a flat rate fee with a description on what the service entails. It’s also important to note how the gift recipient shops (ex: do they like to take their time browsing or do they like to shop quickly?) this will help you determine which pricing model is the best choice.

10. Get one of their valuable items repaired (mid tier to high tier). Nothing lasts forever, but sometimes a lifeline can be prolonged for just a little bit longer. Has the person you’re getting a gift for reached the end of the road with their favorite wallet? Perhaps you can get it repaired for them or gift them a leather conditioner to prevent further damage. Do they have a favorite piece of clothing that they love but can’t fit anymore? Perhaps you can get it tailored so they can create more meaningful memories in that garment. Through careful listening, you can figure out what the gift recipient values the most and be proactive by finding the right service provider to restore their most precious items (bonus points if you can discretely get the item from them and then gift the finished product back to them).

11. Gift them a photoshoot (mid tier to high tier). This gift idea is perfect if you have entrepreneur friends because running a business is expensive and brand photos are necessary! With this gift idea you can be flexible and even split it into four separate gifts. Brand photos are needed at least once a year so you can get creative and sponsor a different part of their shoot each year. For example, one year you can sponsor a photographer for them, the next year you can hire a wardrobe stylist, on the third year you can can take care their makeup, and during the fourth year you can sponsor an outfit that aligns with their brand.

Which Gift Will You Be Giving?

Okay so you’ve just went through a list of 11 unique ideas that are probably going to earn you the title of the “best gift giver.” Just know that once you earn the title you have to keep the best gifts coming (It’s an unspoken law. So you’ll probably want to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it next year). Now out of curiosity…which gift are you giving this year? Let me know in the comment section below.