Whether given as a not-so-subtle hint — no more mom jeans — or with ulterior motives — can I borrow that? — buying presents for mothers always carries special significance. Here, some alternatives for the holiday season.
Name: Sarah Neely
Age: 26
Daughter’s home: Austin, Tex.
Mom’s home: Austin
Gift: J Brand Pallatzo wide-leg jeans.
Bought at: Nordstrom
Cost: $218
Why: “I’m tired of my mother wearing saggy bottom pants that do not fit and are always too short. She needs a fashionable pair of jeans that do not embarrass me!”
Name: Natalia Duke
Age: 25
Daughter’s home: New York
Mom’s home: Key West, Fla.
Gift: A Lululemon yoga top.
Related Articles
Bought at: Lululemon
You May Also Like
Cost: $48
Why: “I am trying to encourage my mom to get healthier and thought a great exercise top was a nicer message than a gym membership.”
Name: Kristen Hardeman
Age: 25
Daughter’s home: New York
Mom’s home: Miami
Gift: Christopher Fischer cream-colored cashmere zip-up sweater.
Bought at: A Christopher Fischer sample sale.
Cost: $50
Why: “It was originally a $300 sweater, and I have Champagne taste on a beer budget!”
Name: Lee Heffner
Age: 24
Daughter’s home: Washington
Mom’s home: Naples, Fla., and Louisville, Ky.
Gift: “An Hermès scarf and/or pocket square — I’m a last-minute shopper.”
Bought at: Hermès
Cost: $110 for a pocket square, $325 for a bigger scarf.
Why: “She’s really into wearing the scarfs for a pop of color in her usual outfit of all black. We like buying accessories for each other so that we can share them.”
Name: Colin Smith
Age: 26
Son’s home: New York
Mom’s home: Sturgis, Mich.
Gift: “A Triple Band ring: two bands each with my foster sisters’ names on it (one band saying Gabriel, one saying Alexis) and one band that says Mom and Dad.”
Bought at: Nelle and Lizzy (Fort Worth retailer, from
Web site).
Cost: $98
Why: “My parents have acted as foster parents for two children, Alexis (five years old) and Gabriel (about to be three years old), for the last two years. Given that we’re hoping formal adoption is official sometime soon, I though this would be an effective way of reinforcing to the girls that they’re a part of our family by seeing their names intertwined with my parents.”
Name: Rob Sebastian
Age: 25
Son’s home: Chicago
Mom’s home: Moorestown, N.J.
Gift: A silk purse.
Bought at: Jim Thompson House in Bangkok.
Cost: “About $80, which is a lot in Bangkok.”
Why: “I wanted to get her something unique that would help remind her that I traveled through Southeast Asia, and, per her request, came home alive.”
Name: Olivia Ha
Age: 31
Daughter’s home: New York
Mom’s home: Westchester County, N.Y.
Gift: An American Apparel brown rectangular tote bag with gray straps.
Bought at: American Apparel
Cost: $34
Why: “I have one, and she liked it.”
Name: Patrick Burns
Age: 23
Son’s home: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mom’s home: Dallas
Gift: A handmade bronze necklace with green stone.
Bought at: Friend and jewelry designer Yuko Torihara of AllezHop NYC (allezhopnyc.com).
Cost: $70
Why: “Because it will make my mom’s boyfriend jealous.”
Name: Adam Nagorski
Age: 27
Son’s home: New York
Mom’s home: Pelham, N.Y.
Gift: A Coach Edition Canon PowerShot 950IS digital camera.
Bought at: “The only place I could find that still had it in stock: PCNation.com.”
Cost: $408
Why: “I know my mom will like the camera’s small size and technical specs, but it was the Coach carrying case that came with it that made me confident she’ll love it!”
Name: Kristin Holligan
Age: 25
Daughter’s home: New York and Southampton, N.Y.
Mom’s home: Darien, Conn.
Gift: “A rainy day around town” basket with a cashmere scarf from Coach, a massage from Red Door Spa, a certificate for a manicure/pedicure, movie coupons and other little throw-ins.
Bought at: Coach, Red Door Spa and other places.
Cost: About $500.
Why: “It covers entertainment and something cool to wear, and the massage is something she loves but never treats herself to.”
Name: Erica Peppers
Age: 26
Daughter’s home: Scarsdale, N.Y.
Mom’s home: Scarsdale
Gift: Tory Burch Serena ballet flats and La Mer The Eye Concentrate.
Bought at: Neiman Marcus
Cost: $225 (shoes) and $160 (eye cream).
Why: “My mom has very small feet and loves how the Tory Burch flats fit, and this particular pair will look adorable with her jeans for ‘dress down Friday’ at work (she might be the only person left in the school who observes Fridays as the only dress down day). She is also in love with her La Mer face cream, so when this eye cream got rave reviews, I thought I would indulge her and get a jar.”
Name: Tom??s Harlan
Age: 41
Son’s home: Los Angeles
Mom’s home: Cuernavaca, Mexico
Gift: Chanel No.5
Bought at: Chanel.com
Cost: $260
Why: “It’s her favorite and a tradition with us. I have purchased this every year for her since I was 14.”
Name: Sashie Nichols
Age: 29
Daughter’s home: New York
Mom’s home: Hong Kong
Gift: Sugar lip gloss.
Bought at: Fresh
Cost: $25
Why: “My mom doesn’t wear makeup — she is a natural beauty and only needs a little gloss. She travels a lot, so it’s a perfect size and also the right amount of color for her (she doesn’t wear lipstick).”
Name: Sheryl Arrich
Age: 28
Daughter’s home: Brooklyn
Mom’s home: Rockledge, Fla.
Gift: Bare Escentuals makeup.
Bought at: Sephora
Cost: $60
Why: “She lives in Florida, so having SPF in her skin care regimen is essential. Plus, she does not like a lot of makeup so with this she has total control of the amount of coverage.”
Name: Jane Gruber
Age: 30
Daughter’s home: New York
Mom’s home: Syracuse, N.Y.
Gift: A gift certificate for highlights with Tammy Sherman.
Bought at: Frédéric Fekkai, Fifth Avenue
Cost: $350
Why: “She chose it. She’s impossible to surprise and incredibly practical.”