No excuses, here are 50 gifts for every kind of friend

PS: Hugs are not gifts.

Life was so simple when we were kids. We could cry wherever and whenever we wanted to, without having to rush to the washroom when the first tear was about to drop. Our emotions were not masked by performative indifference. We’d hug our best friends, tell them what they meant to us, and openly express when we got mad at them. On Friendship Day, we’d make special bands for our friends. That was the unashamed era of handmade cards, matching pendants, and signed T-shirts.

Then we grew up and grew out of earnestly expressing love for our friends. Between tough love when they unblock their exes and roasting them on the regular, showing serious appreciation has been missing. But a thoughtful gift this Friendship Day could be the start of bringing some of that soft and vulnerable flavour back into our relationships.

Your best friend has stood by you, in your best and worst moments. They’ve celebrated your little wins, like getting through a daunting project that almost bored you into extinction. They’ve aggressively stared at your new boyfriend to make it clear he better treat you right or will have them to answer to. Your quirks and dysfunctions just match with theirs. They get you, without you having to explain yourself. The least they deserve is a gift that isn’t generic.

Give them something that speaks to them, that lets them know just how well you know them, how deeply they matter to you, and how much effort you put into getting it just right. Just like reading this article for ideas counts as research.

Do you always warn your cat-crazy friend that they could get kidnapped by a stranger who claims to have kittens in their car? Are they Hallyu-obsessed, have had a trip to Seoul on their vision board and have been saving up for that trip? We have ideas for all kinds of pookies. And if you want to make sure you’re getting a gift too, casually slide this list into your texts to them.

Here’s what to gift your friend this Friendship Day, based on their personality:

The friend who has a visit to Seoul on their vision board

You’ve been the voice of reason, stopping your friend from buying yet another pair of shoes so they can finally save for that dream trip to Seoul. When you lose them in a supermarket, you know they will be in the Korean snacks aisle, stocking up on instant noodles spicy enough to set their insides on fire.

No, we’re not asking you to sponsor their vacation. But a few thoughtful gifts can keep their dream alive. Every time they swipe on the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask before bed, they’ll drift off imagining fruit-picking in the Pocheon Valley. The Chefling DIY Korean Gochujang Ramen Kit and the Araana Home ramen bowl with chopsticks will transport them to a night food market in South Korea. Or gift them a copy of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, a sweeping Korean saga that will feed their soul with heart and history.

The friend who wants to up their self-care game

Everyone has one friend who is knee-deep in protecting their peace. When their manager nitpicks, they take a deep breath and say, “Noted”. When other friends cancel on them last minute, they don’t get mad, they just take themselves out on a solo movie date. If this friend has started using words like “energy”, “vibes” and “no” more often than they used to, it’s because they are in their self-care era. Gift them something that will support this important journey—essential oils that can create a calming ambience after a stressful week, a sound healing bowl they can start their mornings with, a crystal bracelet from Zariin that promotes self-love and abundance, or a wildly funny book by Dolly Alderton that brings joy on a quiet Sunday.

The friend who is your emergency contact

Your friend may not accompany you to the club; they may not even see you on New Year’s Eve as you get drunk on daiquiris. But when you need them for bigger, serious things, they always show up. If you ask them to help you revamp your resume, they’ll show up with 10 templates and keywords. If you have a pregnancy scare, they’ll arrive with a test kit and moral support. They never abandon you and deserve all the love in the world, especially in the form of luxury gifts. So buy matching diamond bestie bracelets that spell ‘BFF’ in Morse code, spoil them with a bag from a luxury homegrown brand, and if they love vanilla and white floral fragrances, then gift them YSL Libre Intense to earn major brownie points.

The friend who keeps sending you Reels about new restaurants, but claims they are on a diet

There are two types of people: those who enjoy food and those who love it with a passion they’ve never displayed for actual romance. It’s pure ishq for them. When they travel, they always return to tell you of the coolest street food and restaurants they found. When they are sad, their favourite dessert can make them feel like life is good again. They are the Joey to your Chandler. Surprise them with a cheese platter or chilli oil to add a gourmand touch to their meals. A perfume that smells like cake with pistachio or vanilla notes can make them feel happy, even when there isn’t a plate in front of them.

The friend who dog-ears your books, and you spilled coffee on theirs

If they didn’t love you enough, they would have blocked you right away, after you stained their favourite book with your coffee mug. Take them to a bookstore and you’ll lose them to the fiction aisle for a good hour. Sometimes, you have to pull them out of their mental library and into the real world. But when they are around, they have the best book recommendations. You can’t beat them at their own game, so get them something book-adjacent instead. A coffee-scented candle inspired by The Great Gatsby to set the mood, cute bookends because every book-lover gives their babies a place of pride in their home, or a cosy sweatshirt that shows their true passion.

The friend who is always on holiday

You can’t even keep track of where they are anymore. Sometimes you find out they are not in the city only from their Instagram stories. Even if they forget to bring back souvenirs, they never miss a dinner date with you when they are in the city. What do you gift a best friend who’s got a bad case of wanderlust? An Apple AirTag will help them keep track of their belongings. A UV protection hat, because you know they will inevitably forget to put on sunscreen, and a portable Bluetooth speaker that will ensure they can listen to your shared list of bangers even when thousands of miles away. And all these gifts will remind them that they should get back one for you from their travels.

The friend who sends you a thousand cat memes a day

Is your best friend sending you 10 cat reels even before you’ve had your breakfast? Do you see them get distracted from important conversations when a cat is spotted sleeping in the least ergonomic way possible? Your friend is a smitten kitten who will feel elated if you give them cat-themed gifts. A cat mug to start their day with, or a wild cat cushion cover because the big felines are also cuddle bugs. Feed their cat addiction because it’s not like it’s going to kill anyone.

The friend who doesn’t save the good cutlery for Shah Rukh Khan

Most of us grew up with mothers who would keep the good serveware enclosed in a glass cabinet, like Anabelle, the possessed doll who must not be let loose. Some of us, like your friend, decided to put an end to this madness and became the most generous hostess. They are always bringing people together, planning parties and games nights, with perfectly plated appetisers. Apart from helping them clean up at the end of the party, as a friend you can support them in elevating their hosting game. A stimulating card game that can create a lot of drama, engraved cheese knives from The Purple Turtles for their charcuterie board or simply a quirky cushion that has the potential to be a great conversation starter.

The friend who refreshes your makeup after you’ve been crying in the bathroom

She comes armed with lipstick in one hand and a compact in the other. When you’re going out with her, she will not only do her own makeup but also help you with yours. She can get a winged liner right at the first go, in a moving car, and without a mirror. She can even look at you and tell you which shade of foundation suits your skin tone. Her vanity may have enough products, but these recent launches will make it pop: a skin tint that works best for those no-makeup looks from Make Up For Ever, a blush that comes with the goodness of skincare, and a lip marker from homegrown brand Diam Beauty that’s long-lasting and super easy to apply.

The friend you love gossiping with during tea break

Afternoon slumps are real and the best kind of friends are those who give you some interesting tea. Who wants to only hear about your dreams and goals or disappointments? Give us the real-real. Tell us about how you embarrassed yourself in front of that hot stranger. Keep us updated about your office crush. If you have a friend to have caffeine-time gup with, someone who adds masala to your chai, you can gift them these reminders of your very entertaining connection. A Bree matcha gift set if they have succumbed to this trendy drink, a cookie tray for their digestive biscuits, and an adulting lapel pin because aren’t we all trying our best?