My wife is around 7 months pregnant and her birthday is approaching, so I’m looking for gift ideas. One friend suggested a cashmere or pashmina wrap, since it will keep her warm and can be used for breastfeeding. I thought that was a pretty good idea, but wanted to check to see if pashmina wraps are still “in”. I don’t know much about fashion, but seem to remember them being a big deal 4 or 5 years ago.
So, is it still a good gift item? Is there something better? What would you give to a pregnant wife for her birthday? I don’t want to give her something directly baby-related, as her b-day should be about her. Also, no “spa days”, she has those already.
I presume her ‘spa days’ include pedicures. If not, get her certs for those. Not being able to see your feet sucks.
Wraps are a little passe IMO.
My question for you would be, what would you have gotten her last year? Forget for a moment that your lives are about to change dramatically and get her something that she likes.
If it’s something she’d enjoy with or without baby, I think a wrap is a nice idea, and practical under the circumstances. I have a pashmina and it’s really convenient.
One caveat: if you get one, make sure it can be washed/cleaned easily, since it will be in the proximity of a tiny human.
I have a whole wardrobe of shawls, scarves, and wraps. NOT passe and never will be. They’re even good in the summer when some buildings and offices are so cold you could hang meat in them. Likewise the movie theater. I think one would be very good for nursing. I like the idea of a wrap, as opposed to a transitory thing like a pedicure (heck, get her THAT, too!), that will always remind her of this time in y’all’s life.
A wrap is both practical and can be a bit of luxury. It’s a lot easier to throw a wrap on than it is to put on a jacket or coat, and a wrap doesn’t need to be fitted. Her body shape will be changing for a while, as she goes from being pregnant to being a breastfeeding mom to weaning. A wrap will fit her in all circumstances.
I’d say that from now on, you shouldn’t buy ANYTHING that can’t get tossed into the washer. This will go on for some years. Yeah, there are some lovely garments that say “hand wash only” or “dry clean only”. Pass them up. Babies and young kids will make an incredible mess, and parents simply won’t have the time to do fussy laundry tasks.
I think the wrap is a lovely idea - its a classic piece that will never go out of fashion.
I would also get her a nice fabric, washing be damned. When Junior was small I was so sick of only wash and wear crap I was ready to pull my hair out. One hand wash item would have been great - particularly if you wash it for her.
I have a friend who is extrememly fashion conscious and keeps up to date with all of the trends. Not only does she wear pashminas, she recommends them for men as well as women.
I hate anything that needs handwashing/dry cleaning anyway, and if I get something that requires this special care, I just don’t wear it, no matter how great it looks. So if you ENJOY fussing over such things, well, have at it. However, I look at laundry as a chore, not a pleasure, even now that I do have the free time. There are plenty of nice items that can be machine washed.
Oh my god! That made me choke up a bit. alice, you’re a genius. I’m not pregnant, and I don’t even mind hand-washing nice things but if I got a shawl with that note from my beloved I’d think it was absolutely the most thoughtful present ever. And washing it will be a great no-brainer go-to pampering thing you can do for her once in a while over the next two busy years.
While utility is not a bad quality in a clothing item, I would certainly never make it the only one or even the most important one particularly for a gift item.
However, I own cashmere socks, so what the fuck do I know?
When I was pregnant, I got a lot of hand wash only items. Some for me, and some for my baby. While many of these items were lovely, most of them were only worn a time or two. I didn’t have the time or energy to hand wash stuff, or take it to the cleaners. I especially didn’t have the money to take things to the cleaners.
My feeling is that if I’m giving someone a gift, it should enhance that person’s life. It shouldn’t become a dust catcher. Now, I have a friend who DOES wear mostly dry clean only items, she makes a weekly run to the dry cleaners, and when she shops for herself, she does pick out dry clean only items. I’d be comfortable with giving her cashmere socks, even though I’d never wear them myself. But a new mother? No. Even if she likes the stuff. Because this baby is going to go into spit up mode on a frequent basis just as pashmina season begins…which means that the pashmina will be either in the washer, or at the dry cleaner’s every couple of times she wears it. Unless the dry cleaner’s is right next door, and they have one hour service, that wrap is going to spend more time at the cleaner’s than on her back. My own baby wasn’t particularly bad, but there were days when I had to change clothes three times. Babies spit up, and pee, and poop. It’s what they do, and parents need to realize this. Parents have to make lifestyle adjustments.
Well, I have a 2 year old and I still manage to wear dryclean only items once and a while.
I imagine that the OP has a better idea about if his wife is more the wash and wear type or the dryclean/hand wash type, and particularly as he’s willing to do the washing for her, he should probably choose based on those factors.
A wrap is not a once in a while item, though…unless you have a wardrobe of them. It’s a daily use item. What happens when it just gets back from the cleaner’s and Baby spits up on it again?
Husband washes it as he said be would up thread? Seriously, I think it’s clear that a wrap of this type would not be a good gift for you. I also think its clear that you are not married to the OP so his actual wife may have differing opinions. I know that I would, were I his wife.
I didn’t know I was passe. They are great for spring and fall when I don’t want to haul out a jacket.