Gift Guide #12: Tweens & Teens

Basically, Nike.

We are smack dab in the middle of Gift Guide Season, and as the new kid on the gift-guide block I am challenging myself to put extra care and effort into the ideas I share with you. Up until this point, I’ve sourced all the gift ideas on my own. No PR kits here! But this next guide required a bit more research, and so I called in experts. Specifically, I interviewed the three teenage sons of my friend B along with a 16-year-old girl living in New York.  (By interview, I mean texting because obvs I’m ancient and they are young)

Again, I’m going for Most-Favored-Aunt status and will leave the big-ticket items to Santa. I’ve also thought about what is useful, what would be annoying to find a place for after Christmas day, and wow factor.

In short, I learned tweens and teens want name brands. As my expert for the Teen Girl Gift Guide informed me, “I definitely think the phase of fast fashion like Shein are over, and people are looking to build a closet from good brands that have lasted generations.”

So, what’s in? Abercrombie, Lululemon, Adidas, Stanley Cups, Apple, and absolutely most definitely Nike.

OK! Let’s get into to it. A note from the Substack overlords — this email may be too long to view by email. Use the click-through link at the bottom of this email to view the entire post, or visit Elisabethantimes.com.

There’s a good chance the teen boys in your life already have Apple Airpods, but that doesn’t mean they can’t use a backup pair or an upgrade!  

What’s old is new again. I couldn’t believe when my teen experts told me the shoes I faithfully wore through college are in demand for high schoolers. I’m cursing the day I dropped my pair of Birkenstock Bostons off at Goodwill!

Sherpa is having a moment. If the teen boy in your life is a video game devotee, maybe this Pottery Barn gaming chair covered in cozy sherpa will be a hit. As with all things Pottery Barn, this chair is premium in terms of quality—a must for teens these days, according to our expert panel.

I’m taking a risk with this next suggestion because this isn’t a well-known brand in the States. But Superdry is a well-known brand for kids in the UK and Ireland, so if your teen marches to their own drumbeat, they may dig this sweatshirt.

Are coats cool? I remember a time not too long ago when I was living in New England and friends would tell me about how their kids wouldn’t wear coats because it was too much of a hassle. Even though it was cold. And snowing.  If this trend has passed (as it should), this Uniqlo Pufftech parka might be a good fit.  

I mean if you’re at a loss for what to get, I feel like a Nike shopping bag wrapped in paper and a bow will do. As will this very soft Nike blanket.

My former colleague Chris started a golf apparel company called Jain, and it has been such a joy to cheer him on in this endeavor. The company has his unique sense of style – items feel modern and one-of-a-kind, like maybe you picked them up on holiday while in Tokyo. Jain recently launched sunglasses for kids and men, and just like everything Chris does, I know these will be a hit. (Btwn you and me, I already ordered a pair for my nephew!)

A few years ago, I bet on Stanley Cups being a hit and boy did I guess that correctly. The shape signaled to others you were hydrated and keeping up with the Joneses.  This Odwala water bottle is another recognizable brand that isn’t quite as cumbersome, what with Stanley’s giant handle and straw situation.  

May I repeat, anything Nike. Like this Nike t-shirt.

One thing that surprises me about teenagers today is how keyed in they can be to skincare. When I was a teenager, skincare meant Stridex or Oxy acne wipes. This Kiehl’s facial fuel and this Method body wash should pass the test for a sophisticated teen in your life.

My friend B and my sister will tell you Nike socks are expensive and don’t hold up, but too bad! These are the only socks teen boys will dare leave the house in, so please don’t be embarrassing and buy another brand.  

I can just hear my teen experts saying the phrase on this keychain.  

And if you still can’t think of anything to get the teen boy in your life, please don’t make this mistake I made of suggesting an Uber Eats gift card. My experts quickly set me straight: “Too expensive!” “It costs like $40 for a meal from McDonalds with Uber Eats!” “Get a Visa gift card, so we can use it anywhere.”

It’s amazing Ugg shoes are still around. I figured they’d finally jumped the shark when Tom Brady was modeling their whatever-that-shoe-was-that-he-was-wearing-in-those-ads. But the cozy shoes that make your feet sweat like nothing else are still a thing. Specifically for girls, Ugg slippers are still sitting on wish lists around the world.

Lululemon dupes abound, so you’ll get bonus points when you give an authentic, albeit overpriced, item from the actual store. This small dual wallet may be one of their lower-priced items, but it still feels luxurious.

Speaking of dupes, if you’re not up for sending the teen girl in your life out the door with a $2,000+ purse, this dupe of the iconic Louis Vuitton Neverfull is the way to go. 

I still don’t get why coats are uncool for some teens (Irony!), but maybe a Uniqlo coat will pass the test and won’t end up thrown to the back of the closet. This brand is a consistent go-to for sleek design and smart technology, and their coats are reasonably priced.  Specifically, this coat from Uniqlo might be a good option.

Ah, the agony of waking up for early morning classes. (Or maybe that was just me?) My friend M introduced me to the magic of a sunrise alarm clock, and I’ve been intrigued ever since. Here’s one such alarm clock that promises to slowly wake your teen up with a gradual increase in soft light. It also features a white noise machine. This Hatch Sunrise Clock ticks all the boxes for a sleek alarm clock that maybe, just maybe, will make waking up a little less painful.

Back in my day, having a phone of one’s own was a must for the teen bedroom. Today, furniture is the must-have thing to transforms the sacred space known as a teen’s bedroom into something resembling an apartment. This textured lounger from Pottery Barn gives off quiet luxury vibes.

Face oil is one of those things that’s cool and then suddenly it’s not. Avoid the trendy brands and stick with this classic French multi-purpose oil from Nuxe. It has a hint of shimmer, smells incredible, and can be used on skin and hair. It’s really lovely.

I got back into sewing a few years ago, and I’ve enjoyed making zippered pouches as gifts. (Hopefully my friends and family enjoy receiving endless supplies of zippered pouches!) I wouldn’t lead you astray and suggest you give a homemade pouch to a teen with a taste for designer things, but I stand by the power of a zippered pouch. In fact, at this very moment while typing this to you from a hotel room in Philadelphia, I find myself short one zippered pouch for my jewelry. Oh, and another for my charger. I tell ya, the uses for a zippered pouch are endless. This zippered pouch is sure to be a useful gift plus it’s from Anthropologie (bougie) and is made of sherpa (fabric of the moment).  

A few years ago, some blogger declared baseball caps and New Yorker magazine tote bags as eternally chic accessories. This declaration must have worked because now I see these two items adorning women in cities like NYC, Madrid, and even my hometown of Greenville, SC. Personally, I declare personal style to be eternally chic, but what do I know. A successful blogger I am not. You’re on your own with the tote bag suggestions, but this Anthropologie hat embroidered with “London” fulfills the baseball hat requirement. While many of the baseball caps I’ve seen in the wild have been for a famous baseball team, my suggestion will keep your teen safe from wearing the wrong team mascot in the wrong city. Apparently, I do this regularly, what with wearing my beloved Dodgers hat in San Francisco and a Cleveland Browns sweater in Baltimore. I’m learning from my mistakes and passing those lessons along to you in the form of thoughtful gifts. Huzzah!

I was told Adidas was a must, and so I present to you the Campus Shoe. It comes in a variety of color combinations.  

I may be overshooting on the age for this one, but I have a feeling anything college-aged women in DC and NYC are wearing will likely be approved by the teen girl in your life. Despite the shaky reviews, it’s abundantly clear to me as I sit in Ubers at red lights across urban cities in the Northeast that undergrad women have declared the Airpods Max as a must-have electronic device.

The teen girls in your life definitely own a collection of bottles and strangely futuristic cups to carry massive amounts of water around at all times. This Stanley Ice Flow will fit right in.

Again, just reporting the facts to you kind people when I say anything from Laneige lip will be appreciated. (Makes note to add to my own list to Santa)

Ah, the tween category. This one can be tricky. To sorta phrase that sorta creepy Britney Spears song, these kids aren’t, well, little kids, and yet they sure aren’t anywhere near the adult phase. As much as they may pretend to be tough and grown up, or whatever, there are still glimmers of that little kind inside. This may be the last year you can get away with gifting this super soft Jellycat Gizmo, so go for it while you can!

Not only do my teenage experts love Nike, my very fashionable eight-year old nephew is a massive fan. This Nike shirt is sure to be a hit provided the tween boy on your list doesn’t already have it. I apologize in advance to all the parents who are longing for the day athletic wear isn’t the only style of clothing your kids want to wear. I don’t make the trends; I just abide by them!

And here’s a stylish hoodie from J.Crew to pair with the T-shirt for colder days.

And a pair of Nike Mules.

Do you think one day in the distant future, people will look over the artifacts of our modern-day lives and declare us The Water Bottle Age? It’s amazing to me how ubiquitous water bottles have become. It’s also fascinating to me how panicked people can become if they leave the house to run afternoon errands without a water bottle. Maybe I’m just stuck in the 1980’s – a time with water fountains and devastating dehydration. At any rate, these Odwala bottles are not only approved by our panel of experts, but they are also on a lot of other gift guides this season.

At this point in the gift guide, I feel as though I am redecorating your house. Here is yet another cozy piece of furniture from Pottery Barn for you to consider and you shop for the tween boys in your life. This football beanbag isn’t cheap, but it’s very well-made and features a slipcover that can be easily washed. Tween isn’t a football fan? There are other sports (like real football aka soccer) along with options the tween girl in your life might like. 

When he was teaching us how to read a clock, my first-grade teacher Mr. Roe used some weak Micky Mouse analogy to help us find our way around a clock. The savvy student seated next to me rejected this methodology and rightly proclaimed this as pathetic (it was) because why would we ever need to read a clock? We have digital clocks. Touché, little first grader. Touché. This digital watch is dedicated to you. 

A science kit in honor of my husband who will probably commandeer the cool science kit we are giving the aforementioned eight-year-old nephew. 

This version of the classic board game Battleship will look lovely on a bookshelf.  

Continuing the theme of teaching responsibility to tweens, here’s a wallet to store all that allowance money.

Laundry was a never-ending source of conversation in our house when I was growing up. It was on the floor when it was supposed to be in a hamper. Lights were mixed with darks. Dryer sheets were confusing. While Santa can’t sort out the laundry drama in your house, this laundry hamper shaped like an ice cream cone may serve as a momentary distraction. (I promise this email is not a promotion for Pottery Barn. They’ve got some really great stuff right now!) 

Last year, an influencer mom I follow for fashion advice talked about the obsession Gen Z girls seem to have developed for really strong skincare. Like, skincare for legitimate older ladies such as myself. Skincare that comes with a warning about burning sensations and staying out of the sun. What a horrible trend! I stand with this influencer mom and say, no more! If the tween girl in your life is asking for products from brands like Drunk Elephant, roll your eyes and say, “What are you, 52?!” And then give them this wonderful alternative from Ever Eden that is gentle and made especially for young skin.  

If I’m not going to tell you to get a real designer bag for the teen girl in your life, there’s no way I’d suggest getting a designer version of the trendy sling fanny pack for the younger tween girl in your life. No! I will instead suggest this dupe version that should make everyone happy.

When I was in middle school days, girls wanted to wear Clinque’s Happy or Elizabeth Arden’s Sunflowers. These days, it seems kids have replaced those scents with perfumes like Vera Wang Princess. 

If liking the jewelry brand Kendra Scott is basic, then hand me a glass of rosé and call me basic! Tween girls may like this collaboration between Disney and Kendra Scott.  

Omigosh! Don’t you dare think about giving straight-leg leggings because, gross. These flare leggings from Abercrombie will save you from mortifying embarrassment.

Pair the sanctioned leggings with this Spice Girls sweatshirt (also from Abercrombie) because it’s cute how kids think they discovered our music first. 

Ten years ago, when I was matched up with a high schooler through a mentoring program, I was introduced to the fact that kids really love Starbucks and Chipotle. I thought for sure the Starbucks trend would end, but here we are. Those drinks will have you taking out another mortgage on your house (not to mention the sugar levels can be insane), so maybe creating your own sort of flavored hot-drink bar at home is the way to go. Here is a collection of sugar-free syrups, an easy-to-use milk frother, and a beautiful initial mug from Anthropologie’s Bistro Tile collection. 

As with clothes and shoes (like the aforementioned Birks), everything old is new again even when it comes to electronics like instant cameras. The Fujifilm Instant Mini cameras come in a variety of vibrant colors.

Happy shopping! If you’ve reached the end, you know the drill. There may be Amazon affiliate links in this post, and if you make a purchase via those links, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for reading! I appreciate ya!