Because giving clothes at Christmas isn’t always a good idea

Giving away clothes is triggering a race against time for possible trades

When it comes to Christmas gifts, there are two types of people: those who plan far in advance and those who plan at the last minute. The first category often has time to mature an idea, but still runs a small risk that it still doesn’t suit the spoiled person (for a matter of color, size or shoe size) and that ‘he doesn’t have enough time to make a exchange or a refund, if it is new clothes from first hand. Delivery time is usually 30 days, sometimes extended up to 60 for Christmas (and the matter is even more complicated if it is second hand). As for people who do it at the last minute, we happen to crash completely in the heat of the moment and pick something we don’t like all that much.

Fashion accessories avoid sizing issues, but can appear impersonal

There is still the possibility of offering accessories to avoid size problems, such as scarves, gloves or even a card holder. But it can quickly feel impersonal, as it’s often the kind of gift you can give when you don’t know a person well. It’s the kind of present that seems to say: I was afraid of getting the wrong size so here it is “. This is obviously not a bad thing in itself, and can still be a great pleasure. These are the kind of gifts that can always seem useful. And in the worst case scenario, the spoiled person can always sell this (yet another?) hat or scarf to someone else next Christmas… In summary, accessories have the advantage of avoiding size problems, but the disadvantage of appearing potentially impersonal.

Dresses pose size, cut and color issues

But if we choose to surprise with clothes, it is precisely in the hope of aiming well, proposing something that tells what we believe to be the taste of the person we want to spoil. However, mistakes can easily be made, especially when frantically window-shopping in a crowd formed by the urge to find a last-minute gift. And while we hit the mark on design and color, there are still potential issues with size, cut, color, and the timing of exchanges, returns, or refunds. Especially since, for the spoiled person, it can be difficult to say that we don’t like a gift, to ask for the receipt to make an exchange, especially if it is a garment, because we may be afraid of offending the person we wanted to surprise. In short, if you want to play it personally, you can have a lot of fun to offer, sure, but not necessarily create joy in receiving…

Ultimately, in case of lack of inspiration, it is sometimes better to explicitly ask what a person would like: this avoids unpleasant surprises and headaches. But worst-case scenario, he can always discreetly resell all that on Vinted.

Cover photo: Goxy89 by Getty Images Signature via Canva.