Two thirds of women over 50 unhappy with Christmas gifts

  • As many as 67 per cent of women over 50 don’t like their Christmas presents
  • But 79 per cent can’t bring themselves to admit how they feel about their gifts
  • UK retail study claims present ideas for older women are ‘stuck in the past’ 

If there’s a woman over 50 on your Christmas shopping list, there’s a two in three chance she won’t like what you buy her, according to new research.

Presents for women over the age of 50 are ‘stuck in the past’, with 67 per cent of them admitting they are underwhelmed by their Christmas gifts.

Among the worst things to buy a woman of a certain age are slippers, lacy shower caps, aprons, floral soap and talcum powder.

Although the majority of them are often left feeling deflated by their festive gifts, 79 per cent of them would never admit it, according to the study carried out by retailer JD Williams.

If there’s a woman over 50 on your Christmas shopping list, there’s a two in three chance she won’t like what you buy her, according to new research by UK retailer JD Williams 

Meanwhile, presents guaranteed to delight on Christmas morning include perfume, jewellery, glamourous wraps and scarves, and make-up and evening bags.

Younger women are much more satisfied with what Santa brings them, with only 29 per cent of 18 to 30-year-olds saying they are unhappy with their gifts.

Women aged between 31 and 49 are also fairly pleased with what they receive on December 25, with just 24 per cent confessing their disappointment.

Among the worst things to buy a woman of a certain age are slippers, lacy shower caps, aprons, floral soap and talcum powder

Among the worst things to buy a woman of a certain age are slippers, lacy shower caps, aprons, floral soap and talcum powder

The majority of undesirable Christmas presents for women over 50 are kitchen and bathroom themed, with retailers claiming people's gift ideas are 'stuck in the past' 

The majority of undesirable Christmas presents for women over 50 are kitchen and bathroom themed, with retailers claiming people’s gift ideas are ‘stuck in the past’ 

Suzi Burns of JD Williams said: ‘The message from our research that came out loud and clear was that women don’t want to be seen as cooks or frumps, by their nearest and dearest. 

‘They want to receive gifts that make them feel glamourous and pampered; gifts related to them as individuals rather than as an extension of their home – they are over-fifty, not over-the-hill.

‘Part of the problem is that most women are too polite to even hint that someone who bought them a gift got it completely wrong.

‘The traditional Christmas message is all about giving not receiving, but it is even nicer to give a present knowing that it is something which will be used and enjoyed and not just stuck on a shelf or re-gifted to someone else.’

WORST things to buy women over 50  

 1. Pots, pans and cooking tins

2. Generic floral based soap, talc and bath oil sets

3. Cutlery sets

4. Cookery books

5. Kitchen aprons – often with ‘humerous’ pictures on them

6. Slippers – often not even the correct size

7. Anti-wrinkle cream – usually a brand you would never use anyway

8. Floral and/or lacy shower caps

9. Chocolates – always not your favourites but some supermarket brand instead

10. Poinsettia complete with red cellophane and a plastic Christmas ornament stuck in the pot.

 

 

 Source: JD Williams 

BEST things to buy women over 50  

 1. Designer fragrance – one they wear

2. Book of fiction by their favourite author

3. Jewellery – doesn’t have to be expensive, tasteful earrings and costume bling are welcome

4. Items of make-up in brands and colours you actually wear

5. Tasteful Christmas bouquet – fresh and not half dead

6. Set of skin creams in a brand you always use, or a designer brand as a treat

7. Glamourous and elegant scarves and wraps in appealing colours and soft luxe fabrics

8. Lip balm in nice shades and pretty sets

9. Luxury fragranced hand-creams

10. Make-up, or evening bags in bright, bold, designs.

 Source: JD Williams 

 

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