Brenda, our news editor, recently showed me an interesting statistic from the Contribuenti.it website: one in four Italians recycle their gifts! According to Wikipedia, ‘regifting’ is the ‘act of taking a gift that has been received and giving it to somebody else, sometimes in the guise of a new gift.’ This is good to know since recycling is amply justified by the current economic situation and the conscientious attention we have all developed when shopping.
According to those in the know, gifts are typically recycled because the giftee does not like them (which can be a sign of disinterest on the part of the giver), because it is a duplicate (two copies of the latest best-seller), the receiver has budget problems (no money!) or obligation (don’t want to spend even one euro on that person), or perhaps out of necessity to improvise (just got invited to a last-minute birthday party; what in the world can I bring?). However, if you have enough class, the recycled gift can become an elegant gesture.
Several rules of etiquette apply, such as rewrapping the gift. Don’t be cheap on imagination or on money here. Buy or create something special. In my opinion, a nice wrap is half the gift. Do not use the gift before passing it along. A friend of mine used to read gift books super fast, barely opening the book so as not to bend the spine and carefully turning the pages so as not to soil them- and then regive. Too stingy.
Don’t try to pass a tattered gift off as ‘vintage.’ Don’t regift anything that was handmade or created just for you. Do not make the ultimate regifting mistake: giving the gift back to the original giver. Avoid regifting in front of anyone who might have seen the gift given to you.
The top 20 include list a number of things that I myself have often regifted: boxes of chocolate (pay attention to the expiration date!); knick-knacks; bath gel, soaps and bathroom baskets; ties and scarves that are just not the right colors; candles (who uses all of these candles? I personally think they contribute to global warming). But the king of all regifts has to be perfume and cologne. Who hasn’t tried to get rid of a perfume that smells of rotten irises with just a hint of dirty socks? Be honest.
Finally, remember the cardinal rule of regifting: give with good intentions. The sentiment behind your regift should be the same as the thought behind any new gift: You’re passing it along because you think the recipient will appreciate it. Just because it’s a regift doesn’t mean you don’t have to put any thought into what you are giving and to whom.
Another chic-frugality idea this holiday season is a fun fashion swap party among friends. Based on the same ‘re’ idea not only regarding gifts but those things that are just plain wrong for you. The organizer holds a tea or cocktail party where every guest must bring clothes and accessories to trade. You can open it up to CDs, books and, of course, other gifts.
Maybe you have new, or hardly worn clothes. Imagine the deal you can get for that outfit you bought in the wrong size (or isn’t your size anymore). How about those shoes you just had to have but that pinch your feet so badly that it cuts off the blood supply to your brain? This is the best and most fun way to repair the damage and share the wealth! Just remember that previously worn clothes should be professionally cleaned before being brought to the swap.
As the guests arrive, they can create displays, grouping of shoes, bags, shirts, skirts, dresses, pants and accessories. I’ve read suggestions for grouping by price range, but any fashionista knows that true style is the ability to mix old and new, cheap and lux.
A fashion swap is an honest, economical and fun way to update your wardrobe or get your hands on some great gifts for no money. To learn how to organize a swap party, see www.wikihow.com/Hold-a-Fashion-Swap-Party. If you don’t know many people in town, try www.swapstyle.com-an online fashion swap party where you can exchange items with people from all around the world at any time, day or night. And it’s free!
If you need a good laugh this holiday season, go to www.regiftable.com to read the good, the bad and the ugly in regifting history!
