mother's day 2023

The Cheapest, Nicest Gifts for Mom From the Most Expensive Brands

Photo-Illustration: From the retailers.

What do you get for the mom whose taste for the finer things means she’s only ever filling her closets and shelves with designer goods? Oftentimes, for nearly impossible-to-please mothers, size doesn’t matter — but a fancy brand name does. And the nice thing about many fancy brands is that unwrapping their less expensive stuff offers the same thrill as unwrapping any of their pricier things. Below, we’ve rounded up 24 of the most affordable gifts — that are still really thoughtful — from the nicest brands, any of which we think would impress the very picky mother (or mother figure) in your life.

In this sample-size bottle, the culty cream said to be the secret behind “rich-person skin” is priced closer to a normal person’s budget.

Paravel makes some of our favorite luggage — its products have made our lists of the best weekend bags, fanny packs, duffels, and more. This cosmetics case is see-through — so she can view all her odds and ends — and trimmed with the same canvas material as the brand’s stylish weekender bag. If you want to personalize the gift, you can monogram it for an added fee.

This pair of sculptural, understated hoops is crafted from 14-karat gold vermeil and will zhuzh up even the most basic outfit.

If she’s more into rings, consider this band from cool person–approved jewelry designer Spinelli Kilcollin. The brand has lots of stackable, jeweled options, but it has simple bands too, like this silver ring that has the designer’s signature loops.

For an even less expensive but still statusy soap, there’s this water-lily-scented bar from fragrance house Claus of Porto, which former Strategist writer Hilary Reid discovered during a trip to Portugal with friends. The packaging, she said, makes the soap almost too good to wash with regularly, but the scent compelled her to use it all the time.

If she’s more of a Le Labo person, this gel wash with a fresh citrusy scent is more affordable than the brand’s candles.

Jonathan Adler’s vases are surprisingly affordable, given that the brand’s furniture often starts in the thousand-dollar range and goes up from there. This vase is pretty affordable in comparison and would look nice with a single stem.

Diptyque candles are covetable at any size, and opting for a mini one means you could even get her two!

She’ll appreciate the cult-favorite Dior Lip Oil, which has been spotted on the mouths of celebrities far and wide after becoming a viral hit in 2021. It gives lips a glittering shine and a hint of color, and it’s a good way to give your mom a bit of Dior without springing for a bag or a pair of espadrilles.

A statusy puzzle bag will run you thousands of dollars, but the brand also makes nice-smelling, covetable scents for the home. The smallest candle is a little over $100, but you can gift the bar soap (which comes in the herbaceous scent Oregano) for a little less than $50. It’ll upgrade her bath routine and create a spa-like oasis without having to leave home.

This is technically a notebook insert meant to be slipped inside a leather notebook cover. But with a forest green cover stamped with the Hermès seal, we think it’s impressive enough to use on its own. (Also impressive: finding something for under $100 from Hermès!) The notebook’s pages are unlined, allowing for more free-form scribbling, and it comes in a few other colors beyond green if that’s not Mom’s style.

A sleek branded tumbler from Saint Laurent will serve as a constant reminder for Mom to up her water intake.

A trendy bucket hat courtesy of cool-girl brand Jacquemus that will signal to friends and passersby that she’s with the times.

$100 for 4

These rustic-looking farmhouse-style cereal bowls will upgrade her morning bowl of Cheerios. The speckled vessels are inspired by Soho House’s Oxfordshire outpost and hand-glazed by Portuguese artisans.

A petite pocket-size notebook with lined, gilt-edged pages and a lambskin cover from English stationer Smythson that Mom can keep with her at all times for whenever inspiration hits. The brand packages its stationery in smart blue boxes, so wrapping would be taken care of, too.

Even for the hippest mom, lots of Acne stuff can be a bit too trendy. But there’s something very timeless about this slim Italian-leather cardholder that can be easily slipped into a pocket or fanny pack.

Staub’s larger Dutch ovens go for a couple hundred bucks, but this set of three mini-cocottes in a vibrant cherry red would be just as useful if she’s cooking for one (or two).

You truly can’t go wrong with anything that comes wrapped in a Tiffany-blue package, but we don’t know any mom who would refuse this crystal catchall that can hold even more of her baubles.

These gorgeous wax tablets from centuries-old Italian apothecary Santa Maria Novella are decorated with dried rosebuds and would smell amazing hanging in a closet (or anywhere else, for that matter).

She’ll love the bright, zigzag pattern on this (full-size) bath towel from Missoni, which can double as a décor in her bathroom thanks to its graphic print.

Strategist beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton and celebs including Brooke Shields love Dr. Barbara Sturm’s typically expensive skin care. This face mist — which is not sample size and falls at the less expensive end of the line — contains super-moisturizing hyaluronic acid, making it a great thing to give just as warm weather heats up.

If she’s got a nightly happy-hour ritual, Mom’s gin fizz will look a lot nicer sipped from this Christofle crystal highball glass. (Bookmark it for Father’s Day, and come June, your parents will have a matching set.)

From $58

Our beauty writer Rio swears by this “wonderfully smooth and long-lasting” lipstick. It would be the perfect beauty pick-me-up for a mom who loves looking glam.

The Strategist is a new site designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best notebook, black T-shirts, fashion-editor-approved jeans, toothbrush, and apartment décor. Note that all prices are subject to change.

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The Cheapest, Nicest Gifts for Mom From Expensive Brands