Desperately need many recommendations for a special gift!!!

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chopchep

Member
Feb 23, 2019
157
215
#1
Hello all,

I need your expertise on find an appropriate gift handbag. We have a co-worker retiring the end of May so we are looking to buy a designer(or well known brand name except coach) handbag for her as a retirement gift. She spent over 45 years with the company so we really want to make this special. After weeks of thinking and asking around, we think a new nice handbag is what we really want to give her.
About her:
- In her 70s
- About 5'2
- Black hair
-Casual dressing ( I mean she never dress up or anything, very laid back looking)
-kind of tan skin tone ( if it makes sense)
-use a lot of oily hand cream
--> We are looking to spend $1000 or less ( prefer less). She is using a lot of oil products and hand cream oily base, we don't want to get leather, maybe prefer canvas. We want something durable, elegant, not too big and can be use as everyday handbag. And even if 5 or 10 years from now she wants to sell it, it doesn't lose too much value(? if possible). Please throw everything you can think of so I can make a list of pics for our department to vote on.
Thank you very much!!! :smile:
 
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#2
As you know, a handbag is a very personal thing. Perhaps your group should consider a gift card to a department store in your area where she can make her own selection?

You've noticed she uses oily skin products, what about what kind of bag she normally carries? That would be the most helpful if you want advice. Mayhap she can make her own decision about what bag to carry regarding the skin products she uses.
 
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#3
indiaink said:
As you know, a handbag is a very personal thing. Perhaps your group should consider a gift card to a department store in your area where she can make her own selection?

You've noticed she uses oily skin products, what about what kind of bag she normally carries? That would be the most helpful if you want advice. Mayhap she can make her own decision about what bag to carry regarding the skin products she uses.
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I understand. She carries Coach canvas all the time. The handle does get dark. We just want to surprise her with something she would not think of. I mean we can get her a gift card but she might just end up getting her grand kids bunch of nice things and none for her.
 
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#6
chopchep said:
I understand. She carries Coach canvas all the time. The handle does get dark. We just want to surprise her with something she would not think of. I mean we can get her a gift card but she might just end up getting her grand kids bunch of nice things and none for her.
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What size/style does she usually carry? And is it her “work” bag? I use bigger bags for work than I normally would outside of work. Outside of work I use smaller bags.
Here’s a couple in your price range without really knowing what you’re looking for:
E6753259-70C1-471A-B47C-30CFD079BB1D.jpeg 21F474B4-2B27-4550-A44B-65C0E743DC33.jpeg
Also... I would absolutely NOT go preloved for a retirement gift from the office.
 
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#7
1) even if you get her a gift card and she ends up using it on her grandkids instead of something for herself, that is still making her happy (in fact probably makes her happier than getting a bag for herself) and that's a great gift
2) like @kbell said getting a pre-loved as gift in this occasion is IMO a big NO
3) keep in mind that what she normally carried to work may not be the best style any more now that she will no longer work and lead a different lifestyle & may carry different things as a result
4) really for many people they just don't care that much about handbags besides, it's why we come to tPF so we can find people who do. I'd say only go the handbag route if you know she is generally speaking interested in handbags
5) all in all I think it's maybe safer to give something like a gift card unless you are absolutely certain that a bag will be to her liking & suits her (which again, she may not even know herself because her lifestyle is about to change!)

I still think what y'all are trying to do is very sweet & bestest of luck!!
 
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#9
kbell said:
What size/style does she usually carry? And is it her “work” bag? I use bigger bags for work than I normally would outside of work. Outside of work I use smaller bags.
Here’s a couple in your price range without really knowing what you’re looking for:
View attachment 4664963 View attachment 4664964
Also... I would absolutely NOT go preloved for a retirement gift from the office.
Click to expand...
Those are awesome choices. She uses regular size that could contain the most important things to her are wallet and her medication ( comes with old age). She has a separate lunch bag so these size are still good enough. Thank you very much!! :biggrin:
 
#10
chopchep said:
I understand. She carries Coach canvas all the time. The handle does get dark. We just want to surprise her with something she would not think of. I mean we can get her a gift card but she might just end up getting her grand kids bunch of nice things and none for her.
Click to expand...
Ah, so she might do what grandmothers do... :biggrin: - I still like the gift card, but now - I really like that Longchamp 3D tote, too! :cool:
 
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#12
momoc said:
1) even if you get her a gift card and she ends up using it on her grandkids instead of something for herself, that is still making her happy (in fact probably makes her happier than getting a bag for herself) and that's a great gift
2) like @kbell said getting a pre-loved as gift in this occasion is IMO a big NO
3) keep in mind that what she normally carried to work may not be the best style any more now that she will no longer work and lead a different lifestyle & may carry different things as a result
4) really for many people they just don't care that much about handbags besides, it's why we come to tPF so we can find people who do. I'd say only go the handbag route if you know she is generally speaking interested in handbags
5) all in all I think it's maybe safer to give something like a gift card unless you are absolutely certain that a bag will be to her liking & suits her (which again, she may not even know herself because her lifestyle is about to change!)

I still think what y'all are trying to do is very sweet & bestest of luck!!
Click to expand...
Thank you! I will bring up the gift card idea along with those beautiful bag recommendations above. We are trying to do this a few months in advance so we can have enough time to decide on what to do/buy.
 
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#13
chopchep said:
Thank you! I will bring up the gift card idea along with those beautiful bag recommendations above. We are trying to do this a few months in advance so we can have enough time to decide on what to do/buy.
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A gift card to LV or a department store that sells high end might be a good idea. I was thinking LV Damier Ebene as well.
 
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#14

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#15
I would purchase a bag at a place where she can exchange it if the style does not work for her. And I would pick a bag that is similar to what she normally carries.

Opening up something is always nicer than a gift card in my mind. I would not do pre-loved.

What a lovely and sweet thing to do.
 
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