A fun alternative to bringing wine.

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A great way to summarize her college years. 

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Transiting with a hostess gift can be tricky... Chocolate...it might melt. Wine...TSA regulations. Housewares...too heavy. Cosmetics...TSA regulations. The list goes on.

Therefore, by process of elimination, soaps and stationery are really great bets! We love these Clause Porto soaps because they are hand-packaged in beautiful wrapping inspired by old labels and patterns found in Claus Porto's archives.

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She probably poured over every invitation detail for quite sometime...so make sure she has one preserved and available forever. A decoupage wedding invitation tray will look great in a dressing room, bathroom or guest room. Right after you receive her invitation, send the invitation to Marye Kelley to get her custom decoupage tray started (it takes 4-6 weeks). This way, it will arrive in due time.

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A very practical gift that will get a ton of mileage! At $30, this Neiman Marcus embosser definitely gets you a lot of bang for your buck!

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This bag was designed for the working girl.  Every compartment has been micro-analyzed to ensure it fits her lifestyle!  Gifiting this on her graduation day, or before an important work milestone is very apropos! 

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Every time you purchase a "One Hope" product, a portion of the proceeds will support a specific charity associated with that particular bottle.  These glitter collection bottles all help fund charities that benefit children. Giving this bottle as a gift is a very nice way to give back while celebrating.  

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For monumental events, classic jewelry is the perfect gift. It will remind her of the event and YOU for years and years to come!

Buying jewelry from an established retailer like Tiffany or Cartier is always a great option if doing so is within your budget. The guaranteed quality and timelessness of their styles can be worth the premium when gifting. We particularly like these pearl earrings because although they are quite expensive, they are very substantial! We listed some less expensive (and also beautiful options) in the expandable section below!

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A very special, one-of-a-kind, timeless, and memorable gift. Make sure she is a monogram-type-of-girl before going forward with monogramming the shoes...Stubbs and Wootton also has adorable non-monogram options. Please be mindful of the long lead time on this item! Additionally, we love the idea of topping the gift off with this card! 

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Sending a blue box is always well received.  We love this bank because it is at a Tiffany & Co. entry-price-point and is an extremely timeless gift.

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These luxury soaps she/he might not splurge on for herself, but will be delighted to receive as a gift.

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Gifting guest towels is a sweet and sophisticated gift, especially when they are high-end hand made ones from Julia B. Couture.

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This gift is not necessarily about the spa experience, but your acknowledgment that you know he/she is about to embark on a very exciting (and sometimes stressful) time!

You might get more bang-for-your-buck at an alternative spa, but in terms of delivering a special experience, you can't beat a Four Seasons spa experience. 

Note: due to the expensive price-point of this gift, consider purchasing this as a group gift.  

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A "down-the-fairway" champagne that is feminine, understated, and of good quality.

If you have the time, pick up this bottle from your local liquor store.  If you are in a pinch, order this bottle from Drizly.com and have it delivered to your home!

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The next best thing to coming over and cooking her/him the soup yourself!

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This vase is always a good call! It's a little modern, a little classic, and comes from a brand known for quality and sophistication. The perfect gift to give a mother-in-law when you don't want to misstep in any way!

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Blast a ray of sunshine into his/her day with these adorable, whimsical, tasty, and fun cookies.  From end to end (packaging to product) The Rounds NYC is most definitely one of our favorite delivery companies!   

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These bespoke card cases allow you to imprint a personal message (in your own handwriting). This way, the recipient will always be mindful of what you write (and you) whenever they are using the item! Gift this item with money or alone.

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The perfect cleaning kit she needs right now! 

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You know him/her better than us...therefore, we are not necessarily suggesting you buy the coffee table book "Fashion In Film" but rather, gift a book for this occasion!  Think of a hobby, topic, or destination he/she really likes!  Some of our favorites are listed below.

• Fashion in Film
• American Beauty
• Celebrity Pets
• Annie Leibovitz

If you don't want to mess with wrapping, we recommend buying directly from Assouline, as their packaging is impeccable (as shown in image #3).    

We've scoured the web for the best engagement gift box, and this is one of our favorites!   

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Chosen By: tastemaker name

Tastemaker Bio

Yes, $35 may seem outrageous for paper, but this gift is not about the paper, it's about the "please save me" vibe that the card suite exudes.  This card will no doubt end up in their keepsake box if you write something sweet.

Love this idea but seeking something a little less expensive?  We've listed some awesome alternatives below! 

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Society 6 has hundreds of unique phone covers to choose from.  Find something that channels her style.

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Who wouldn't want to slap one of these adorable return address labels on their outgoing mail?  Secretively, ask your hostess for her address before arrival, and custom order these for her!

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When you want to impress a certain gal-pal in your life, get her some extra special stationery like the one shown here! 

While there are hundreds of stationery options out there, this set is extra special.  Why?  The packaging is ADORABLE! and the quality is top-notch (i.e. the paper ply is THICK and the icons are hand embossed revealing extreme detail).  No wonder this company has been around since 1880!

Please pay special attention to the delivery time for this gift!  Because it will be coming from Paris, it has one of the more lengthy lead times on the site! 

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Chosen By: Erin Banta & Kelsey Brown

Founders, Pepper Home

Selected by our guest gift-spotters Erin & Kelsey! Lake pajamas come in a colorful palette of pastels and are made of the softest pima cotton. 

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It's always great to gift something she might not splurge on for herself like these cashmere bedsocks!  

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Whether they are a vice-president of something, or aspire to be a vice-president of something, this is a cute gift to give! It will subtly stroke his/her ego and be seen as quite clever. If they are already higher than a vice-president...opt for a different gift on the guide.

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Phalaenopsis orchids are the perfect gift...they can be gifted for many occasions!  However, as you can see here, we think they make particularly great hostess gifts! 

Since you might not always know the decor of your hostesses home, we suggest you pot the orchid in a plain glass base (as shown in image #1).  And, for added creativity (and when gifting for a more elaborate affair) you can even pot an orchid in a crystal/silver ice bucket so they can use the gift for years to come.  

In regards to where to buy your orchid? Head to your local Home Depot, Trader Joes or local grocery store.  To ensure a perfectly professional look, head to your local florist...Phalaenopsis orchid's are a staple! 

This bud vase is one of the entry price-points within this high-end french crystal line.  Additionally, the aesthetic is relatively transitional - allowing itself to look good in a variety of interiors (traditional, transitional, country, coastal, shabby-chic, mid-century).

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File this under "gift to give when you want to make a big statement!!!!" While expensive, this GIANT candle will keep giving FOREVER! It's definitely one of those items that someone wouldn't buy for themself, but will definitely use and appreciate if given to them!

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Keep her comfortable during her recovery.  Monograming is an extra $10, which we highly suggest in order to make the gift feel more personalized! 

Note: due to the expensive price-point of this gift, consider purchasing this as a group gift.

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The coolest thing to ever happen to reading glasses! We recommend buying directly from the Izipizi website due to the variety offered and excellent customer service.

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A gift almost every woman is sure to find useful! Gift her something that will come in handy prior to her next big date, interview, meeting, or party!  This also makes a great engagement gift since it can be used during all the upcoming festivities! 

NOTE: there are over 40 drybar locations nationwide…make sure a drybar location is located in her town prior to purchasing!

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These theatrical slippers will be fun for her to wear all year, during the wedding weekend, and as a reminder of the day for years to come!

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These letterpress cards are both classic and cool.  The minimalistic nature of these cards are distinguishable...in a good way.   

Please note the dimensions of these cards are 5" x 3.75", which is slightly smaller than your standard greeting card.

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This card will no doubt end up in her keepsake box if you write something sweet.

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Flowers are always a good idea.  For an enagement, send a flower arrangement in a champagne bucket!  If you live in the LA area, order a champagne bucket flower arrangement from Beverly Hills Orchids.  If you live outside of LA, drop off a champagne bucket at your local florist and have them makeup the arrangement in your recently purchased vessel!

Give a gift that future guests can enjoy! These classic cloth notebooks will allow future guests to jot down notes, and also make very handsome bedside table accessories!

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This leather portfolio is great for housing resumes, tablets or important documents!

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A gift that really wows! Most likely she hasn't caught wind of this company yet, and will be excited to receive these unique and beautiful chocolates!

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We've scoured the world-wide-web for the best gift box, and this one is one of our favorites!

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Imagine waking up on your wedding day and before all the craziness begins, taking a yoga class with your best friends! We think this is SUCH a great way to kick-off the day, and gifting your friends these customized yoga mats will make the experience even THAT much more memorable and special!

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Sometimes tradition wins out! You can't go wrong with gifting your bridesmaids pearl earrings in blue boxes. Shockingly enough, pearl earrings from Tiffany don't necessarily break the bank!

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For the recipient who knows Caitlin McGauley's work, they will be thrilled to receive this boxed set of 10 notecards.

For the recipient who doesn't know Caitlin McGauley's work, they will be thrilled that you introduced them to this former Ralph Lauren textile designer's fun and playful aesthetic. 

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Rainy days can be dreary!  Cheer up her rainy days with this wardrobe staple. 

NOTE: Size down when purchasing, jacket runs large!

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When a female receives a piece of luxury on their birthday, it's very, very, unlikely she will complain.  However, for the giver, this is not really "good news" as luxury products are expensive!   

We have a solution (well, sort of)...go for the luxury shoes!  Luxury shoes are definitely less expensive than luxury jewelry or handbags and can be equally timeless.  We particularly love the idea of giving a classic chanel ballet flat.  We promise this shoe won't go out of style and can be incorporated into any female's wardrobe.  Alternative shoe options also listed below.

Oh, and one more tip...

Do you recall that Marilyn Monroe quote "Give the girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world?".  Yeah, we thought you probably didn't.  But anyway, the point is, why don't you weave this quote somewhere into the card to show how clever you are!

Finally...

In regard to where to buy.  We strongly suggest you purchase from a retail store rather than online!  Why?  Because the only online outlet that actually sells Chanel shoes is Chanel itself.  It is a better idea to buy from Saks or Neiman Marcus.  Some Nordstroms or Bloomingdale also carry them.  This allows the recipient to re-shop the gift with larger optionality, should she return the shoes.  

Who wouldn't want to be gifted something that harkens back to a smile and comes in a blue box! This pendant is great for a recipient of ANY age, lifestyle, or style.

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