Tips for Buying Clothing as a Gift

Jun 27, 2023

Clothing can be a great gift for a friend or loved one if you get it right; however, many things can go wrong when you buy clothes as a gift. You should follow these simple and helpful tips to make sure you don’t buy something that doesn’t fit or an item the person won't like.

Only buy clothes for people you’re close with

Clothing is a very personal thing, which is challenging to get right when buying as a gift if you’re not close to that person. Buying clothing for a colleague or distant relative you don’t see very often is unlikely to work well. You’re better off buying other gifts for people you don’t see on a regular basis. However, your best friend, sister, parent or partner are close enough that you’ll be able to find something they’ll love, wear and appreciate. The only exception is if you’re buying joke clothing such as a funny t-shirt or novelty socks. These gifts can be purchased for almost anyone, regardless of how close you are to them personally.

Get their size right

Sizing is critical when buying clothing for someone else, buy an item too small, and they won’t be able to wear it. Too large, and you could even offend them in some cases. The best thing to do is to take a peek at the size they already wear in a garment similar to the one you’re planning on buying. This should be easy if you’re close to them and see them on a regular basis. Alternatively, if you don’t mind blowing the surprise, you could ask them directly what size they are; this can however take some of the fun out of buying a gift for someone else. If you’re unsure of the size, don’t buy the item; put it back and find something else that you know will fit them well.

Choose quality clothing

Quality clothing made from fine materials or designed by their favourite designer makes a much better gift than cheap, poor-quality clothing. You want to purchase something that the person will love wearing and feel great wearing. Things like pure cashmere jumpers make excellent gifts; they’re luxurious and something the person may not have considered buying for themselves. In addition, cashmere, when looked after, can last for many years, and the individual can keep wearing it throughout the years. Jumpers are also a good choice because there is often room for them to be a bit large; this won’t necessarily impact the style and aesthetics of the jumper if you get the size slightly too big.

Take note of their style

If the person you’re buying for typically wears dark colours and plain outfits that cover their body, they’re unlikely to wear a short floral summer dress. You must take into consideration their personal style preferences and the type of things they usually wear on a day-to-day basis. You may think certain items will look great on them, but that’s your opinion; it's much better to buy something that suits their current style of dress. If you struggle to work out their style and what they’d like, then perhaps consider an alternative present.

Purchase for that season or an occasion

Buying yourself summer clothing in the winter to save money is very frugal and a great way to update your wardrobe. However, clothing out of season doesn’t make a great gift; people expect to be able to wear the items immediately and use them as part of their current wardrobe. The exception is if someone has a holiday planned in the near future, you can buy them new clothing for the holiday and don’t need to worry too much if it will be too cold for them to wear it when they’re back home.