If you talk to your dad or grandpa about the presents they got for their wives over the years, one of them will surely be a bag. It became quite the inside joke that men always struggle to find the right bag for their partners, but is that still a thing today? With the many trends online and the numerous amounts of advice you can find, men can easily see which bag is the most desirable. But there might be a different problem: bags don’t seem to be such a desirable present anymore. Or it might be that women just prefer to buy their own bags. We were very curious about this topic, so we thought we’d look into it a bit more. Read along to hear all about bags and how much women want to receive one from men.

Common presents for women in the past

Whenever you watched a movie, or heard someone talk about what present to get for a woman in the past, there were two most popular things: jewelry and bags. Jewelry was a show of value and a way of spoiling a woman. Bags were an item of class and showed a woman’s place in society, based on what their husband could afford. These things might seem silly now, but back in the day, receiving a piece of jewelry or a bag was a supreme act of love. Especially if the bag was well chosen and highly priced. 

Changes in today’s gender roles

While there might still be men who opt for jewelry and bags as main presents for every occasion, it is not as common as it used to be. Jewelry is probably still a good choice, but the emphasis on precious pieces is not as high as it used to be. This can be a result of the changes in society and overall gender roles. Women used to rely on men for any expenses, so they couldn’t have gone and bought themselves a piece of jewelry. Now, women can buy whatever a man can, so why trust a man’s taste in earrings when you can get them yourself? This financial independence that women have probably has an influence on the type of present they desire.

Bags worth buying

While bags are not the most talked about gift for women nowadays, there are still many bags that are worth buying. Now, it’s not easy to figure out someone’s style or to perfectly match it, but you can still find something that works for your girl. Take a look at the materials she likes wearing, colors and general vibe of her looks. If that doesn’t help, a great option is to go for something qualitative and with meaning. High prices are not all that matters now, so going for a cultural bag will get you more originality points. For example, authentic Harris Tweed bags https://www.gaelsong.com/prod_detail_list/accessories-celtic-handbags are a great show of culture and meaning. Harris tweed is also a very sophisticated material, so you get extra points for elegance. This way, the bag you’re buying will have a story behind and won’t be just a show of status or class, like it used to be back in the day.

Alternative presents

If you don’t want to go for bags, jewelry or any other historically successful gifts, there are plenty of alternatives. A great way to play it safe is by buying a gift card. This can be for their favorite store or just something they mentioned needing. No, it’s not the most thoughtful present, but it definitely is a practical one. To make it more fun, offer to plan a shopping day together, so you get a little activity out of it as well. A little mid-shopping coffee or lunch can be part of the gift as well, making everything more special.