She's already made one great choice. Don't make her question it.
Photography: Beth Sacca; Design: Haley Bradley; Courtesy of Chanel, Comme Si
A good gift is one thing. A gift that makes your girlfriend feel like you really get her? That's the good stuff. To assemble this guide to the best gifts for girlfriends, I canvassed a few good partners around the GQ office, compared notes with some particularly discerning pals, and threw in a few personal favorites for good measure.
Whether you've been together for years or are caught up in a whirlwind romance, the goal is the same: find something she'll love, preferably something she wouldn't have thought to buy herself. Flowers are lovely, of course, but we're aiming a little higher here. From little luxuries to the occasional grand gesture, these are the gifts we'd be delighted to give (and, in many cases, receive).
Feeling generous? We've got plenty of good ideas where those came from. Browse the rest of our gift guides, and sign up for the GQ Recommends newsletter for a steady stream of excellent things worth giving (or keeping for yourself—we won't tell).
The Gifts for Girlfriends Hit List
Shop by Catgegory
Style Gifts
Coach
Chelsea Shoulder Bag 30
I have a soft spot for people who know exactly what they need and leave the rest at home. Coach’s Chelsea bag speaks to that particular brand of pragmatism, with an elegant, understated silhouette and proportions that feel just right.
Massimo Dutti
100% Wool Argyle Knit Sweater
Argyle is enjoying a well-deserved renaissance, much to the imagined delight of the late Vivienne Westwood. Massimo Dutti's 100% wool rendition comes in a particularly lovely colorway for the festive season.
Akila
Psyche Sunnglasses
Akila makes excellent eyewear for remarkably reasonable prices. The Psyche sunglasses are especially well-proportioned, with a shape that belongs to no particular decade and, for that reason, should look just as good in the next one.
Polo Ralph Lauren
Foulard Wool Fringe Scarf
There are few things more useful in a wardrobe than a scarf with personality. Polo Ralph Lauren’s wool foulard offers a tasteful jolt of pattern, and can be knotted, drapped, or just tossed over a shoulder—whatever they're into.
Comme Si
Cashmere Trio
I maintain that there is no greater luxury than a pair of cashmere socks. Comme Si makes a lovely case for the indulgence, which is well worth the investment but infinitely more satisfying when someone else is picking up the tab.
Sperry
Sammi Deconstructed Boat Shoe
This little number recently set the GQ Recommends group chat ablaze, because look at it. It's like Bally’s plume loafer and the Row's soft loafer had a baby, and that baby grew up summering in Newport learning to sail before it could drive.
Beauty Gifts
Chanel
No 5 Eau de Parfum Purse Spray
Chanel No. 5 is about as unimpeachable as a fragrance gets, but I’d argue this chic little purse spray has the edge over a bottle. All the glamour of an all-time classic, now with the added pleasure of taking it everywhere.
Sofie Pavitt
Temp Check Hot & Cold Therapy Mask Duo
The formidable facialist Sofie Pavitt has a new trick up her sleeve: a two-step mask treatment that exfoliates first, then replenishes with a generous dose of hydration. A little temp play, courtesy of one of the most astute minds in skincare.
Gohar
Hair Comb Heart
Italian acetate, French craftsmanship, and a heart-shaped silhouette that does all the sweet-talking for you. Who said romance was dead?
La Bonne Brosse
The Care & Detangling HairBrush
If you haven’t heard of La Bonne Brosse, chances are she has. And if one of the French brand’s rather exquisite hairbrushes hasn’t yet found its way onto her vanity, you’d be wise to remedy that.
Dries Van Noten
Refillable Lipstick Case
I once watched someone produce one of these Dries lipstick casees from their bag midway through a crowded cocktail hour, and I’ve thought about it ever since. Gift them one and they can let the room know who they are without having to say a word.
Typology
Lip Care Duo Tint & Hydrate
Chapped-ass lip season is officially upon us, and former GQ Grooming Award winner Typology has come prepared. Its lip care duo puts in the night shift with a nourishing overnight mask, then hands things off to a daytime treatment that keeps lips soft around the clock.
Tech Gifts
Bose
Noise Canceling Wired Earbuds
Bose has finally made its first wired noise-canceling earbuds. Expect them to be a hot commodity among the wired-headphone evangelists, who can now tune out the world without compromising their principles.
CMF By Nothing
Speaker M
Nothing’s sub-brand CMF has made its first portable Bluetooth speaker, a peculiar little contraption that bears an uncanny resemblance to a milk carton. Which, in a sea of anonymous black cylinders, is the point.
Polaroid
Mod Instant Camera
The future of tech, it seems, is looking increasingly analog. Polaroid’s newest instant camera, the Mod, makes a persuasive case for the old ways, with built-in creative modes and the singular pleasure of a photograph you can actually hold.
Native Union
Pop Phone
Our low-key obsession with nostalgia has made us unlikely converts to Native Union’s Pop Phone. The transparent version, in particular, looks suspiciously like something she might have owned back when the family computer lived in the living room.
Nimble
SharePower Portable Charger
Most power banks are designed for one. Nimble’s Share Power splits into two separate chargers, so you can both keep your phones alive without fighting over the last few percent. A gift for her with a little something in it for you.
Satechi
OntheGo 5-in-1 Multiport Adapter
Satechi’s clever little 5-in-1 multiport turns a single USB-C port into five connections, letting her plug in more gear without constantly swapping cables.
Home Gifts
Matias Moellenbach
Oba Soap Bar
Leave it to a young Danish design studio like Matias Møllenbach to turn the humble bar of soap into a work of sculptural art. Quite possibly the year’s most covetable bathroom accessory.
Bodha
Smokeless Incense
I happen to love the atmospheric pleasure of incense smoke curling through a room, but perhaps she feels differently. Enter Bodha’s smokeless incense, a clean-burning set of four scents that sets the mood without the haze.
Hommey
Short Sleeve Shirt
Let's hear it for a good pajama set. There are plenty to choose from these days, but Hommey's are as cute as they are comfortable, with a price that won't keep you up at night.
Parachute
Turkish Cotton Slipper
Head to Parachute for your linens, sure, but don’t sleep on the rest of its home goods. These cotton slippers are a treat for anyone who takes the business of being cozy seriously.
Kinto
Water Bottle
If they, like me, have a passion for a good water bottle, Kinto’s is worth a look. Made from recycled materials with the clarity of glass, it’s just a nice thing to carry around all day.
Staud
Henry Duster Set
That robot vacuum does a fine job, but you'd be surprised how often you'd reach for a duster if you had one handy. This set from the perpetually cool Staud is almost too good-looking for housework, and doubles as a piece of art on the shelf.
Wellness Gifts
Woop
Meridian Band
Whoop's new Meridian band is a welcome reminder of where fitness trackers are headed: they no longer need to look like fitness trackers. An elegant little upgrade for anyone who wants to keep tabs on their health without advertising the fact.
Drowsy
Featherweight Sleep Mask
There's a reason Drowsy's sleep mask gets all the flowers. It's silky, exceptionally comfortable, and, unlike so many of its competitors, actually adjustable. Not bad-looking, either.
Stakt
Adjust Hand Weights
They don't need a pair of hulking dumbbells to get a good workout in. Stakt's adjustable hand weights pack plenty of versatility into a compact little package
Hercule Studio
Mar Yoga Mat
Hercule Studio's fitness mats are pretty hard to resist. Few brands are marrying utility with good taste quite so convincingly right now, and these are the rare pieces of workout equipment they might go ahead and leave out.
Kate McLeod
Palo Santo & Vetiver Pebble Solid Bath & Shower Oil Set
This set from Kate McLeod of solid bath and shower oils puts cocoa butter and jojoba oil to work, delivering a generous dose of plant-based moisture without another bottle cluttering the tub.
HigherDose
Seratonin Soak
In these dark times, we could all use a little shot of serotonin. HigherDOSE's bath soak is just the ticket, preferably with the door locked and nowhere else to be.
Production Credits
Photography by Beth Sacca
Set Design by Louisa Fulkerson
Michael Nolledo is GQ’s commerce director, where he leads operations for GQ Recommends and oversees coverage for all things menswear and style. Prior to GQ, he led editorial programs for several publications, including InsideHook, BuzzFeed, and Business Insider. Originally from Chicago, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can ... Read More