Advertisements

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

wine and other goodies

Advertisements

The best work bag on the market

The best work bag on the market
Dagne Dover

Our preferred professional women's handbag company, Dagne Dover, specializes in commuter-friendly totes, satchels, and more that don't sacrifice aesthetics for ingenuity and utility. Some of their totes' most popular features include a padded laptop compartment, water bottle holder, and key leash to keep keys accessible without digging around. The fact that all this functionality comes in a durable, stylish, work-appropriate leather bag is the cherry on top. 

For the price, ingenuity, and style, we think this is one of the most valuable workwear purchases you can make, and one that a graduate will surely appreciate almost every day they use it.

If you'd like to read our full review on the tote, you can find it here.

Gift a Dagne Dover Legend Tote, $265

A Birchbox subscription

A Birchbox subscription
Birchbox

As I've said before, subscriptions are some of the best gifts that you can give to a graduate. A monthly treat, especially on a tight budget, can be an extremely nice thing to look forward to. Every time their subscription is delivered, your giftee has a nice reminder that you care. 

In my opinion, Birchbox is one of the best subscription services available and uniquely well-suited for graduates. To get around how inconvenient shopping for new products is, the founders started a service to combine monthly deliveries of personalized samples and an e-commerce shop. 

For her, you can gift a woman's subscription for 3 months for $30, 6 months for $60, or a full 12 months for $110.

Gift a Birchbox subscription, $30-$110

A Brooklinen gift card

A Brooklinen gift card
Brooklinen

Brooklinen has made its name as the king of the bedding industry, which isn't a small feat. They've quickly gained a reputation for high-quality products at reasonable price points, and thanks to our own personal experience with them, they pretty much make their way into the majority of gift guides we do. They look great, they feel even better, and they can genuinely offer you a better night's sleep.

Many graduates will be moving out of their dorms or college house and starting a life that will likely require an upgrade in bedding. They'll probably want to pick it out for themselves, but a gift card is a perfect way to give them a luxury they'll be extremely happy to have but maybe couldn't justify just yet for themselves.

Gift a Brooklinen gift card

A nice watch

A nice watch
MVMT

One of the perks of getting gifts as a graduate is receiving many things you'll be truly happy to have as an adult, but probably can't afford to buy for yourself yet. Watches fall into this category.

They'll step up any outfit to appear more elegant and established, and they're both timeless and work-appropriate. Though it might seem difficult to pick one out for another person, a classic style is actually better for a recent graduate.

Above, we've highlighted one of our favorite watch brands, MVMT, because they bring luxury products to consumers at truly affordable prices. If you'd like to read more about the brand, we've covered them in depth here. 

Gift a MVMT Rodeo Watch, $115

Commemorative wine

Commemorative wine
Amazon

You can personalize a few wine bottle labels to commemorate the occasion and gift them whatever kind of wine you want. It's a simple, low-cost way to be thoughtful on their big day. They can decide whether or not to open it and share with you and the rest of their loved ones, or let it age as a nice decorative reminder of their college years. And if you want, you can even pick out the wine on Amazon too, and save 25% if you're buying three. Some of the wines even have $0.01 shipping costs. 

Gift a personalized wine bottle, $8.89

Flowers

Flowers
The Bouqs Co.

Flowers are one classic gift that will never go out of style. Sending a beautiful bouquet to congratulate your grad is a nice way to brighten up their living space, remind them of how proud you are, and is a pretty convenient gift neither you nor they will have to carry around for the day. You can pick out an arrangement online and have it sent directly to their door, so you both get all of the sweetness without any of the hassle.

Take a look at The Bouqs' spring flower selection

Classic, elegant jewelry

Classic, elegant jewelry
Mejuri

Having jewelry that is beautiful and work-appropriate is a great example of a truly timeless gift.

Whether it's for the first day or a big meeting, it can be nice to have accessories that can elevate an outfit and your confidence with it. Looking professional even as a young adult is a hurdle that most women just beginning their careers can sympathize with, and an accessory like elegant and tasteful earrings is something she'll be able to use indefinitely. 

Gift a pair of Mejuri Rose Gold Grace Studs, $180

A planner

A planner
Etsy

Getting a nice planner for your graduate is one way to prepare them for the busy road ahead. Thanks to you, they'll have a tool to keep them organized and looking professional in a transitional stage that might look overwhelming at times.

Gift a personalized 2017-2018 planner, $20-$27

A blazer from a new workwear brand she'll love

A blazer from a new workwear brand she'll love
Of Mercer

If she's going to be attending interviews or starting a new career, she'll likely appreciate some new workwear from someone who knows what to look for. A new, high-quality piece is one way to turn a new chapter and give them the confidence they need. Things like dresses and suit skirts can be difficult to gift, but a power staple like a blazer is more manageable and can go with any other outfit she might have.

We've included an option from one of our favorite new workwear brands for women, so you can give a gift she'll be relieved to have and simultaneously turn her onto a brand she'll be able to go to for other comfortable and stylish workwear staples. 

Gift an Of Mercer Lenox Blazer, $195

A cookbook she'll be happy to have

A cookbook she'll be happy to have
Amazon

As I've said before, a lot of graduates are coming out of school with little knowledge of how to cook something that has more than three steps—one of which includes a microwave.  Chrissy Teigen's cookbook is one that most graduates will have heard about beforehand, which is something you can't say too often. The recipes focus on meals you'll actually want to eat, and they're simple enough to follow even as a beginner. 

Give a copy of "Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat," $12.42

A pair of classic, comfortable heels

A pair of classic, comfortable heels
Advertisements
Margaux NY

Appropriately named The Heel, Margaux has effectively remade the traditional workwear staple to be a new experience with a familiar design. All Margaux products aim to solve ubiquitous footwear complaints without compromising style or form.

"The Heel" is a sculptural block heel that includes a thin layer of foam padding and supportive innersole, so if she wants to wear heels for the day, she won't come home with sore feet and blisters. Plus, there's a rubber-tipped leather sole to extend the overall lifetime of her go-to work shoes. 

Gift a pair of Margaux heels, $245

An Amazon Prime Membership

An Amazon Prime Membership
Amazon

If you're looking to be as functional as possible, there's really nothing that makes such a marked and prolonged difference in a graduate's life like Amazon Prime. If you decide to gift one, the recipient will enjoy free two-day shipping; access to the Prime Now app, which provides free two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items; Prime Video, Amazon's streaming video service; Prime Music; the Kindle Lending Library; Prime Reading; Prime Audible Channels; unlimited photo storage, and more. 

If you want to know a little bit more about how Amazon Prime actually gives you a lot more than free shipping, you can read our overview of the service here. 

Gift an Amazon Prime membership, $33-$99

A smart bracelet with activity tracking

A smart bracelet with activity tracking
Ringly

In part thanks to brands like Fitbit, activity-tracking wearables have become extremely popular. They make staying healthy and mindful of our exercise and sleep patterns easier than ever, especially for those of us with busy lifestyles.

Ringly is a popular wearable brand that uniquely serves professional women by making activity-tracking jewelry rather than using the same traditionally clunky bands that you might find in many fitness trackers.

Ringly produces bracelets, rings, and more that act as activity trackers that look like jewelry you'd buy for appearance alone. Since Ringly makes smart jewelry, graduates won't have any trouble matching it to an outfit and are less likely to leave it at home as a result. If you think she might like it, giving a smart tracker to your graduate is a nice way to help them adjust to a 9-to-5 lifestyle while still staying informed and active.

Gift a Ringly smart bracelet, $165 (It's also available on Amazon)

A framed college memory

A framed college memory
Framebridge

Framebridge is one of our favorite photo services, because they make framing your memories and pictures easier and more affordable than ever. If you want to commemorate the years they've spent in college, or, if they're going far from home for a job opportunity — frame a nice picture of their loved ones. It's thoughtful, sweet, and something they'll likely be glad to have.

Gift a Framebridge gift card or frame a memory for them here

An Amazon gift card

An Amazon gift card
Amazon

If what you really want to do is just give cash but are looking for a nicer equivalent, an Amazon Gift Card is a subtle way to accomplish the same freedom and utility. Amazon has virtually everything a new grad could desire (in this life or the next, really, there is everything), so you know that no matter what they'll be getting something they genuinely want — which, in a lot of cases, is best since they know what they need better than anyone.

Give an Amazon gift card

A book that will provide motivation and guidance

A book that will provide motivation and guidance
Amazon

Entering the workforce full-time is likely uncharted territory for her, and a little motivation and guidance can go a long way. Getting career advice from a third party is sometimes taken more to heart than a conversation with a parent even. While you can't be there every moment, having this on her nightstand might help make up the difference.

This New York Times best seller has historically been a must-have for women in business and will give her a tool to refer to time and again in the future, as well as a reminder that you support and believe in her. 

Gift a copy of "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office," $8.03

An original graduation card

An original graduation card
Etsy

You can pick up a card from the store, but something slightly more original might be a fun way to distinguish yourself from the mix and show an added degree of thoughtfulness. Especially if you're planning on having your main gift be a check to help get them started, they'll likely be keeping the card somewhere for memorabilia, and it's nice to have something different. Etsy has a lot of great options, and this one is a nice take on the classic Dr. Seuss saying. 

Pick up a fun graduation card, $2.99

A Blue Apron gift card

A Blue Apron gift card
Blue Apron

In case that cookbook isn't always the first thing they turn to on one of the many nights they spend late at the office or just because they forgot to buy the necessary groceries, Blue Apron is one of the best things to have in your pocket, and one of the most useful gifts that you can give to a new graduate.

Basically, Blue Apron will deliver the ingredients for a meal with detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make it. Depending on how many people the subscriber notes in their order, Blue Apron will also send the right portion size. They work directly with farmers and cut out the middlemen, so their foods are higher quality for less money. 

Plus, your grad can learn how to make healthy, delicious meals by doing it themselves, with fresher ingredients, in a more convenient process than consistently going to the grocery store.

Gift a Blue Apron gift card

A fun luggage tag for her upcoming trips

A fun luggage tag for her upcoming trips
Etsy

Now that they've finished what for many students will be their last experience with formal education day in and day out, the possibilities and avenues open to them are largely limitless. Hopefully, the future includes travel and new opportunities, and today is one giant reminder of every single countless option ahead of them. Every time they take a trip in the future, this luggage tag will remind them of that comforting and exciting fact.

Gift a Dr. Seuss Quote Leather Luggage Tag, $17.50

Wine gift sets

Wine gift sets
Advertisements
Winc.

If your graduate appreciates a glass of wine every once in awhile, the subscription service Winc might be a particularly nice gift, and one they may not have heard about before. New members take a simple six-question survey to get a sense of their taste preferences and then receive recommendations of four bottles for their first box. From there, members can choose to continue receiving four bottles a month or skip any month without being charged.

Check out all the gifts Winc has available

If you want to see more from Insider Picks, we're collecting emails for an upcoming newsletter. You'll be the first to hear about the stuff we cover. Click here to sign up .

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback.Have something you think we should know about? Email us at [email protected].

Read the original article on Insider Picks. Copyright 2017. Follow Insider Picks on Twitter.