Help! Need gifts ideas for 14 and 16 year old women.

[philosophie_en_rose]

Last year, DU gave me some wonderful ideas for sponsoring a little kid during Christmas. This year, I adopted two young women. They are currently in foster care. The 14 year-old wrote that she likes reading and the Dixie Chicks. The 16 year-old did not list preferences. One wears a child's size 16. The other wears a plus size. They are sisters.

Please share your ideas and suggestions for shops, especially shops with non-ugly and non-flourescent clothing in extended sizes. Online shops are good too.

Note: I am NOT fishing for compliments. I'm privileged to be able to do this, but am pretty clueless about appropriate presents. I want to get something neutral that any kid would like. (So no leather skirts from Hot Topic.) But I also want to make the gifts special.

[myrna minx]

1. How about gift certificates to The Body Shop or Bath and Body Works?

If I were a teen ager, I would appreciate gifts that could pamper. It is so rough being a teen, that something that actually feels good may be a little respite from the teen angst. :hi:

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. I've already been there!

I wasn't sure about transportation or anything, so I'm not too sure about gift certificates (though I like the idea).

Bath & Body works has a great sale right now, so I bought in bulk. :bounce:

[azmouse]

2. Think jewelry.

Most young girls love to get necklaces or earrings or bracelets. And they don't have to be expensive.

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. That's a good idea.

Thanks!

:hi:

[Tyler Durden]

3. A 14 and 16 year old young man.

Kidding.

Paid up book club for the reader. No idea for the other: I have daughters and you didn't supply enough info.

Deb and Pac Sun are my 15 year old's faves though. PRICEY.

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. It's all the info I have.

:shrug:

A book club would be good, except I don't know how that would work with the foster care system. I can't put an address in.

But maybe a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.

[LeftyMom]

4. as far as clothes for the larger girl go

delias.com has cute clothes for teens with larger sizes available. http://www.torrid.com/ is actually hot topic's spinoff store for plus sizes, but as you can tell from the pics they have stuff that any girl could wear in addition to the gothy stuff. Target has some cute stuff too.

I'll ask my clotheshorse sister when she's awake, she probably knows of more.

[philosophie_en_rose]

6. Thanks! Those clothes are cute!

Maybe I'm biased by plus-sized adult clothing. So much of it is just poorly-made and matronly. (not that there is a problem with being matronly. It's just not quite right for a teenager).

Delia's looks neat. And torrid looks cute too. I have measurements, so I hope the sizing works out.

[Momgonepostal]

9. I have a niece that age

she always wants cash!

As far as plus sized clothes go, I don't know where you are, but Old Navy now has plus sizes, and they aren't matronly at all. They also have a website. The Gap may also, but you might want to check their site to be sure. Lane Bryant, the brick and mortar version has younger and cute things, but their catalog and probably website too is more for the mumu set.

Normally, I'm a big fan of gift cetificates, but with kids in foster care, you can never be sure how cool the foster parents are, if they would go to the effort of taking them to the store to use it.

For books, you could go to a book store and ask them what girls that age are reading these days. They'd know, and be happy to tell you.

Good luck! I know you say you're not fishing, but here's a compliment anyway:

:yourock:

[Bunny]

15. I agree with you about the foster parents and whether they'd go

to the bother of taking the girls shopping. You never know how that will turn out. Otherwise, I'd say gift certificates to the mall would be the perfect solution.

For the OP - if you know their clothing sizes, maybe pick some clothes out at a store near them, that way if they're the wrong size or color they can be returned for exchanges. Also, I agree that girls that age like girly stuff - makeup, hair stuff (barettes, scrunchies, etc.), cute jammies/slippers, nail stuff, perfumes, and scarf and glove sets (if you live in a cold climate) are a few suggestions.

[China_cat]

17. You could always check with the case worker

and ask if the foster parents are the type that would help them use the gift certificates or, if not, if there's somebody in the case worker's office that maybe takes the kids on outings like this. Different places do it different way.

[Midlodemocrat]

10. How about an inexpensive MP3 player?

They're pretty reasonable and that's what I did last Christmas because I couldn't decide on style of clothes.

And, Old Navy has some nice winter coats on sale with gloves, etc. if you are in a colder part of the US.

[philosophie_en_rose]

11. Coats are a good idea. Not sure about the MP3 Player.

MP3 Players require computers to download music, and I'm not sure if they have access. A nice CD player might work, though.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. Good point. A portable CD player is a good idea, with maybe

a gift card to purchase some CDs?

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

12. lingerie

It makes every women feel special. Trust me, its age old wisdom, you can't go wrong.

[philosophie_en_rose]

16. ???

I don't think I want these women to feel special in that way.

[Arkansas Granny]

14. When my grandaughters were that age, their favorite gifts were

girlie things: bath and body products, makeup, nail polish, jewelry, hair accessories, pajamas, etc.