College Grad Gift Trends

by Bridget Levin, Tastemaker in Residence

Wondering what to get the 2015 college grad?

Here’s what’s happening in the graduation gift giving world for millennials.

Graduates need all the help they can get in the job hunt, so a gift card for interview clothes (think J. Crew or Ann Taylor), a resume service, a sleek tote/briefcase or a headshot from a professional photographer, will go a long way toward success.

It’s all about the real world now, so goodbye dorm living, hello apartment or loft. The new grad would love wine glasses and a good quality wine opener. Or how about a cookbook (Rozanne Gold’s Cooking 1-2-3 or How to Cook Everything Fast by Mark Bittman) and a few key tools for the first-time cook? It’s time to start learning how to do home repairs. A starter tool kit is perfect.

As grads set off for new horizons, an electronic reader, yoga membership, or foreign language lessons will send them in the right direction during their free time.

Oh, the places they’ll go!