Need Help with Birthday Gift Ideas for 14 Year Old Girl

We have three young adult daughters. They liked Pac Sun, Express, Forever 21, Aropostale, The Gap and American Eagle. They can get something nice for $35 to $40 at each of these.

How about a personalized beach towel from Land's End? I have been giving these as gifts this summer and I think everyone can always use a new towel. I saw one on Land's End that comes with a matching beach bag. I think I paid around $30.00 after shipping for the ones I got.

Jewelry - there are always a few inexpensive shops at the malls where you can buy many items for a small price. Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc. You can't go wrong.

I also think it is very gracious to send a gift since there is tension in the family.

+B+

E.,

The best gift you could give her is to ask your husband to mend fences with her mother. It doesn't matter whose right or wrong, someone has to be the bigger person and the more time you let go by, the harder it will be. It's family and it's important. Why not use your nieces birthday be the start of the "New Start"?

If you have enough money, and know what kind of music she likes, how about a concert ticket? At that age a concert is an extremely memorable experience.

Girls love Visa Gift cards, or Target cards, mall gift cards--then they can't make fun of what you got them! At least, that's what my daughter says to do!!

First, I would like to say how terrific it is for your niece to have such a great aunt and uncle that are willing to overlook a rift with her mother and still remain constant in her life. The love you are showing her now will pay dividends forever!
My daughter will be turning 14 next month and we live at the beach, so I asked her what she would suggest. As everyone else has said, Abercrombie was top of her list, but $35 is just about enough to buy a tank top there!
If you are thinking gift cards all of the other suggestions you've gotten sound good, but I know my daughter and her friends also like Bath & Body Works alot. If you'd like to avoid gift cards I have a couple of suggestions. My daughter spent $35 of her own money (7 weeks allowance) on Perfume 41 from Abercrombie. It smells lovely and is not at all overwhelming. It had the added bonus of making her feel a little more grown-up without being inappropriate (if you know what I mean!) Her favorite present at Christmas was a Guess handbag (red with a generous amount of 'bling') that her sister bought her. It was just about $35 at Ross and they had a great selection. Another good thing for beach girls are zip up hoodies. You simply can never have too many of them since our mornings and early evenings tend to be a little chilly even in the summer. I never seem to see them same ones twice on my girls and their friends, they have a different one every day. I have threatened to send them all to Hoodie Rehab! Roxy, Billabong, Split, Volcom, O'Neill, etc. are all good choices. My girls go to Ross and get them for about $20 each, otherwise I think they are about $40 in the mall stores.
I'm not sure what beach she lives near, but if she's in Santa Cruz, the nearest Target is at least 30mins away and Old Navy is about 45mins. Our only mall is Capitola Mall. Just something to consider if she's out our way.
Good luck!

Hi E.,
A lot of teenage girls are into scrapbooking and journaling. There are a lot of cool scrapbooking ideas on my website and what is nice is you can have it shipped directly to your niece. I am a Creative Memories Consultant. Check out my website: http://www.mycmsite.com/aprildunhamfilson
A.

How about a gift card for ITunes, if she has an Ipod. I believe even Costco sells them.

A 14 year old girl would LOVE to receive a $35 gift card! Its a double gift, she gets to go shopping and gets whatever she wants. She'll also enjoy telling you about all the fun stuff she got to buy.
I would suggest a card to Target, or one that you can use at any store at the mall. That way whatever she wants she'll be able to get.

Hi, If you sew, you could make her a really cool bag and maybe slip a gift card in the inside as well. If you get fabric on sale ... you could afford both!
Good Luck

My daughter is 14 and likes CD'S and DVD'S as well as books. if you don't know what she likes then gift cards are always welcomed. They almost always like most all of the mall shops like Abercrombie, Hollister, Forever 21 and Styles for less although they are not always in the mall. Good Luck

Giftcard, Giftcard, Giftcard!!! They love them at that age.

Hi E.,

Money is usually an ideal gift for any teenage girl. You can get a prepaid visa card or an itunes gift card if she has an ipod. I have a 13 year old daughter and no matter how much I think she will love something I am usually wrong. They are finicky and what they like changes more than their under clothes. One thing that is pretty consistent is that all teenage girls love to shop so a gift card usually works best. I know it doesn't sound too personal but trust me when I say they don't care.

Good luck!

I have found that gift cards are a big success - you could get a personalized ( her name on it ) card through American Express or just pick up a store gift card. Another idea would be a canvas tote with a beach towel. My thirteen year old is really into Juicy Couture earrings - you could get any earrings if her ears are pierced. Also - anything with a peace sign! Good luck!

Ambercrombie & Fitch! They have everything a teen girl desires :o)

Really....that's probably the safest for you to get her, knowing that you haven't seen her in a long time. You cannot go wrong with a Gift Card from there :o)

When our daughter was 14 & 16, we used to fill her Christmas Stocking with small amounts of assorted Gift Cards (movies, Ice Cream, Target, etc...) This way she had a "variety" of $$$ to spend when she went to the Mall with her friends. Today she is 22, and STILL says that her was her favorite Christmas Gift :o) Even over the Ipod and stuff! Apparently, it meant the most, and was age-appropriate :o)

Blessings to you, E.. I'm happy to hear that even though you don't have communication with your S-I-L, that you are still making efforts to be in your nieces life. When she's older, she will see & appreciate your efforts now.

:o) N.

American Eagle and Hollister are great for that age.

I am the mother of a 15 year old girl and I can tell you that gift cards are a great thing. Even when I know what my daughter likes, she prefers to pick it out herself. Her favorite stores are Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister. They both have gift cards available. You can also get pre-paid visa and mastercard gift cards or even itunes. I don't know any 14 year olds that don't like music. My parents often send my kids Amamzon,com gift certificates (they carry everything!). They can be printed right off the computer. Some people say that gift cards are impersonal, but for picky teenagers I think they are great!

I have a 14 year old and she loves acting and the beach, too. Pac Sun is a favorite among this crowd - surfer/skater clothes; Wet Seal is another reasonably-priced clothing store. With new fall fashions coming in, $35 might go a long way. Gift cards to Target or Old Navy are always appreciated by my daughter. Is she a reader or like music? Borders gift cards are great, too. Best to you and your husband. -DK in 831

A gift card to Target is always great! 35 dollars there will take you a long way too. There are books, games, clothes, snacks, anything a 14 year old girl would love to get her hands on =)

Hi E. -

Gift Card to a Hot Store at the Mall! That way she gets to go to the Mall and get herself a SWEET gift!

Hope this helps. Life is too short to have falling outs and your children are missing their cousins, that's a shame. When you and your husband are gone they will need family to lean on and her cousins are her family. Please try to get your husband to "mend the fences" with his sister. You all will be happier.

Best,
Patti b

Hi E.,
I have a 14 year old daughter. She and her friends like to shop at the following stores which I am sure are national chains:
American Eagle Outfitters
Hollister
PacSun
Forever 21
Abercrombie
Victoria's Secret
They also like gift cards to places like Target or Jamba Juice. Some kids also like Starbucks.
You can also get her a Visa card for a set amount of money that she can use anywhere that accepts VISA but you end up paying a little more for it.
Hope this helps.
Debbie

By her some DVDs or some movie related posters.
You could buy her some new stuff for the beach. A new swimsuit, new sunglasses, new beachtowel, new beachbag... that sort of thing.
Some popular stores are Abercombie, Holister, American Eagle...

Gift her some teddies and she will love it.You can buy it from online gift stores,I prefer http://www.giftsomeone.com/

Give gift cards to OLD NAVY or other in stores,at that age she wont like enything you pick out. I do this with all my teen grandkids.

Teenagers interests are so diverse and since you haven't had any contact recently to know what she personally is interested in, I would say your best bet would be a gift card. That way she can get what she wants and also have a day out shopping with money in her pocket!

My daughter likes Abercrombie & Fitch (I hate it and it's $$) or Tilly's, Aeropostal, Amercian Eagle Outfitters, Pacific Sunwear. Oh, and Hollister is a big favorite.

Some sort of cool photo holder - we have some that hold 8 4x6 photos. The top one hangs from a hook you put in the ceiling and the rest hang from it like a mobile. The girls we've given one to love it.

well most 14 year olds like cute purses you might be able to find a really cute nice purse on clearance at macys teens like the XOXO purses and sometimes they have great sales. just a thought.

i would say get her something that has to do with a play or the beach

You may want to get several gift cards... Target, Abercrombie, and my own niece's suggestion... Jamba Juice! Even Mrs. Field's or Baskin Robbins, some place fun.

Gift Certificate to Abercrombie and Fitch, PacSun, American Eagle, or a music store, or itunes if she has an ipod!

I just happened to be on the phone with our teenaged babysitter, so I asked her. She said a gift card to Sephora or Jamba Juice.

A "styles for less" or "pac sun"gift card.

A small Dooney & Bouke clutch purse or a harajuku lovers perfume, or mani/pedi's are great gifts that are fun to receive and seem really thoughtful.

Get her a gift card to her favorite clothing store. I have a 14-year-old, trust me.

My daughter is 14. Here is what I gather is best, from her and her friends, who I am around a lot:
If your niece has an ipod or some MP3 player, get her a card for downloads.
Or a gift certificate for clothes somewhere. My daughter is especially fond of Delia's and Alloy online.
In addition, as I was a theatre major myself, tickets to a local theatre production are always fun.
Good luck!

Hi,
I am a consultant with The Body Shop, and could provide a gift certificate for her to shop for her own products, and for a free spa party for her and her friends! I am also a massage therapist so could also add paraffin treatments ($15 per person), chair massage ($15 per person) or hand & foot massage ($15 per person). The free parties include peppermint foot soaks and hand treatments.
Thanks,
Cynthia F.
www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/cflesher

I don't know if you want to give something or your thoughts on a giftcards....but I just went to my nephew's birthday and he just turned 14, he got clothes and dvd movies but his fav gifts were the visa or matercard money cards...they are accepted everywhere....and he told his mom and dad that he wanted to go to the skate shop to spend them. He loved them b/c they gave him the freedom to go to any store and not just the store they came from!

I always give my nieces a day out together gift certificate. I create my own certificate on my computer & describe what we will do that day together. We like to go to the mall & allow them to have a certain dollar amount to spend on whatever they want & or maybe a manicure or pedicure together. Both my nieces look forward to this gift.
If you don't have an opportunity to reconnect like this then any gift certificates seemed to be loved by that age so they can go to the store & choose what they want. I don't know what yours likes but I know the over priced mall stores like Abercrombe & fitch...don't know how to spell it & there is anther one I forget the name but those are popular with that age group & a nice gift as a treat.Even Target is a great store to be able to go to & buy makeup or whatever she wants.

Hello-

I am the mother of a just resently turned 14 year old. I know that some people don't like to give gift cards, but I think you can't go wrong. My daughter got a ton of them from friends and family and she enjoys going and picking out something that she would actually use. If your neice has an IPod, I would suggest getting an Itunes card. My kids use those like crazy. Best of Luck!

For my daughters party, we had Mary Kay come over and she taught them the right way to put on make up and how to care for their skin, they were taught how to do facials, etc. We did not buy any products, but there was that option.

I hate to say this, but a gift card to Abercrombie and Fitch would probably make her very happy. Between my husband and myself we have 4 teenage nieces (One in Boston, one in South Carolina and two in Southern California) they don't have much in common with each other, except for their love of all things Abercrombie. Apparently it is all the rage with teenage girls.

Hi E.,
A pretty darn hip 13 year-old lives across the street from me and shows me every new piece of clothing she buys! For living near the beach, I would say that Pac Sun (Pacsun?) and Billabong (super cute [but not cutesie] sundresses and more) are good calls. It also depends on what stores are located near your niece. Abercrombie, H+M, Aldo (shoes), and Claire's (accessories) are also good calls, though I would double check Claire's. I'm not positive that the girl across the street still goes there. Definitely go with the gift card if you feel comfortable doing so.