What Should You Buy Mum For Mother’s Day? 28 Thoughtful Gift Ideas (That Aren’t Flowers)
From thoughtful mementoes and cosy loungewear to luxury beauty buys and gardening essentials, Viva’s Mother’s Day gift guide provides ample inspiration to spoil the special lady in your life on May 10.
Few gifts manage to accurately convey ‘thanks for everything, Mum!’ but it’s always nice to seek out a special treat that comes close.
Whether you’re after a helpful gardening tool for the green thumb in your life, a chic lipstick compact that doubles as a keepsake, or a cosy jacket to keep Mum cosy during the cooler months, there’s something for everyone this year.
Here are the Viva team’s top picks of the most stylish gifts this Mother’s Day for your mum or mother figure.
A reworking of the iconic original Lavenham riding jacket, this limited-edition collab features the Karen Walker Carousel Horse print, an archival design from 2003. Much like the print, this jacket will stand the test of time in Mum’s wardrobe.
A considered gift for the entertainer, this shell pink platter will elevate any social gathering. Its intricate design highlights swirling tulips, daffodils and bluebells, while its generous size offers ample space for serving sides, mains or desserts.
Beauty lovers will obsess over Fara Homidi’s refillable lip duo. One side contains the Prime Baume Hybrid lip primer/balm, designed to be smoothed over lips to prep them for colour, and the other the Colour Plush Soft Matte, a highly pigmented formula with a cream-to-powder finish.
A welcome treat for the hands that always held yours, discover one of Jo Malone London’s most-loved scents in this limited-edition decorated hand cream tube.
This 100% cashmere cardigan is as timeless as it is cosy. Featuring a relaxed silhouette and dropped shoulders, it’s effortless and elegant, just like mum.
The newest in Lush’s selection of gourmand body washes is White Chocolate & Rose, which highlights Fair Trade organic aloe vera gel, coconut milk and Bulgarian rosewater for a truly indulgent bathing experience.
The irony is not lost on us that these are, in fact, slippers, but they are also so much more. Pair them with a wide-leg pair of jeans and a cosy knit, and they’ll take you from school pickup to the shops and back home in comfort.
For the time-poor mum who still loves to appear polished, consider Ghd’s new and improved Glide+ hot brush, said to deliver results in just one stroke. The ceramic plates are heated to a hair-safe temperature of 185°C, leaving hair shiny, sleek and frizz-free all day long.
The namesake cookbook from American lifestyle and wellness brand Flamingo Estate features more than 150 recipes dreamed up over a year spent at the Los Angeles hideaway. Inside, find stories from founder Richard Christiansen, a foreword by Martha Stewart, alongside tales of the brand’s roots in regenerative farming and botanical-led beauty.
Mum’s new everyday essential – the midrise pants feature a modern and polished silhouette with a flattering bootleg and a buttery soft fabric.
Hardworking hands are often the first area to show the visible signs of ageing, and this revolutionary new serum is designed to reduce the appearance of dark spots and brighten skin tone with its blend of dandelion root, niacinamide and neroli blossom.
Marking a delicious new chapter in YSL’s Libre story comes Berry Crush, a raspberry-spiked fragrance that offers ample fruity intensity. Notes of tangy raspberry combine with invigorating French lavender and sensual Moroccan orange blossom, for a scent that’s good enough to eat.
A timeless keepsake that you can personalise and engrave with name, time, and date of birth details. The perfect gift for a new mum that’s both whimsical and sentimental.
Give the gift of a glowing complexion with this At-Home Microneedling Kit from Bowie. Microneedling is said to improve skin texture, fine lines and boost glow, and this clever kit includes a Precision Microneedling Device with 0.5mm microneedles, Chill Serum and Cleaning Spray.
This sculptural brass incense holder looks elevated on a shelf, or coffee table book stack, while bringing a sense of calm with a beautiful ritual.
With notes of crushed geranium and davana, ripe berries, lychee and woody musk blossom, it’s easy to see why Ashley & Co’s once-limited-edition Bonberry scent is now here to stay. Find it immortalised for Mother’s Day in this chic set, which features two of the brand’s signature products – Washup Hand Wash and Sootherup Hand & Body Lotion in 500ml sizes.
Do away with plastic lunch containers and gift Mum a gorgeous ceramic travel takeaway storage bowl instead. Each piece is handmade and comes with a silicone lid for spill-proof transportation.
Created in collaboration with Australian sleep and loungewear label Piyama come two new pyjama sets from local designer Maggie Marilyn. Viva loves the Felicity Frill Sleep Set, crafted in a custom eggshell stripe with frill details and a relaxed, comfortable fit. Perfect for snoozing, sipping a morning coffee, or enjoying breakfast in bed.
Step inside a flower-filled garden with Glasshouse Fragrance’s newest scent collection – Radiance In Bloom. It highlights notes of sparkling sea salt and rich tuberose, combined with delicate soft musk. Each candle is housed in a frosted vessel with pink wax, in packaging designed by illustrator Sally Ann.
It’s the second English-translated novel from Asako Yuzuki, after her debut, Butter. For your favourite bookworm, this will be an escape into another world.
Carolina Herrera’s striking stiletto silhouette is back, this time housing Good Girl Jasmine Absolute – an amber gourmand perfume that’s both intoxicating and alluring. Top notes of bright mandarin and juicy blackcurrant meld into a floral heart of jasmine and bitter almond, before caramelised notes of toffee and roasted tonka bean lend a comforting warmth at the base.
Capture key moments with your loved one on a handy digital camera. This one will slot easily into pockets or bags.
For foraging, transporting tools or taking on the world with a real earthiness, consider this canvas tote.
This ceramic to-go cup can alleviate the rush on a busy morning for a real caffeine fiend and save on takeaway cups.
All the essentials will tuck neatly into this Deadly Ponies pouchette, cut from a lush green suede.
A luxurious way to end any bathing ritual, smooth on a generous glug of Linden Leaves’ new Rose Radiance Oil over limbs for skin that feels hydrated and nourished.
For the person who loves the great outdoors, gift some sturdy gear. For those who camp or tramp, this ultralight titanium pot is a staple.
Fans of Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Capsules will delight over this Twist & Lift Trio Gift Set, which includes the Advanced Ceramide Lift and Firm Eye Cream, Advanced Ceramide Lift and Firm Day Cream SPF 15 PA ++, with a combined value of $280.
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