Gifts for tweens & teens
Wondering what to get those mopey teens? From trendy accessories to the all-important skincare, here are hand-picked gift ideas they’ll love (even if they won’t admit it).
back to basics
Shock and awe! Old school gaming – and there’s not a screen in sight. Backgammon is one of the most popular games in the world and this colourful design may keep them from endless scrolling… at least for 30 mins.
£67.22
SAMBA SOLES
Ultra snug and sturdy while hitting all the vintage style notes, Adidas Sambas have all but been crowned the shoe of the year. We have to admit, they live up to the reputation. Easy to wear on the go, thanks to the leather lining and rubber sole, your teen can pull these on for years and still be bang on trend.
£120
Pod luck
Give their AirPods an upgrade with pop of colour and personalisation. Not Another Bill’s cool leather AirPods case will keep a teen’s pods pristine and protected and the monogramming service will save any mix ups.
From £37
DATE MATE
Analogue ain’t dead – and teens are the driving force behind the recent spike in sales. Papier is every style mavens diary go-to, and its Genius Juice design is our first pick for teens and uni students in 2024.
£25
ALL GOOD VIBES
Birthstones are said to bring good luck and all sorts of other mystical, positive things (not sure if that extends to keeping a bedroom tidy). But hey, choose the birthstone associated with your teen’s birth month from Dorset’s Kooky Bloom, and fingers crossed. Sterling silver chain £16, plus £5 per gem. Grab 15% off with code MUDDYXMAS23.
£16
SCROLL ON
How pretty are these fingerless gloves? From B-Corp certified brand Aspiga, these lovely lambswool mitts are totally toasty without being too heavy – choose between the pink chestnut and lilac and ginger colour combos.
£34
HOLEY GRAIL
Famished teen on your hands? Keep the snack-monster happy with this box of 36 assorted handmade crumpets from Norfolk’s Crumpetorium. Pick from six artisan flavours including Christmas specials like chocolate orange and mince pie. Grab 10% off the whole site with code MUDDYXMAS23 until 25 Dec.
£38
CASE CLOSED
A teen’s phone is about as personal as it gets. So lean in and pop a personalised phone case under the tree from Rhianna Phillips. Available in different colour combos and the most popular phone models.
£24
HOT HOOPS
Hoops are big news right now, so are T-bars and we love this combo with vibrant green malachite stone from Kent-based Fitzgerald Jewellers. Delicate, easy-to-wear huggie hoops, with a hand-carved, hexagon shaped, t-bar give the effect of a minimal earring with a modern edge. A guaranteed hit with the pickiest of teens. Get 20% off across their entire online range, excluding handmade items.
£70
NAILED IT
Harries (Harry Styles fans to you and me ) and beauty addicts will love having their finger on the pulse with a nail polish from his seriously cool Pleasing beauty range. Lots of shades to choose from, but we’re loving Syrupberry.
£20
SLUMBER STYLE
Sleepwear brand Tessie Clothing ticks all the ethical, style and indie business boxes. The Poppy Dog print is made using breathable, natural fibres and is as adorable as it is cosy, so don’t blame us if they don’t want to take it off!
£90
VIRTUAL INSANITY
VR is a winner for gamers and a surprisingly brilliant educational tool, too. Still hot off the presses, Meta’s latest headset has better graphics alongside a host of new features, including more facial expressions and characters’ legs (trust us, it’s a huge upgrade).
£479.99
WRAP IT UP
Pretty and practical – Scottish brand TBCo is about as natty as wrapping up gets. Super sustainable and stylish, this 100% lambswool scarf is light and breathable for on-the-go wearing and has an eye-catching gingham pattern perfect for your fashion-conscious teens.
£52
ARTY PARTY
Budge-up band posters, vintage prints are here to stay. The Print Club London is home to cool contemporary affordable art – like this quirky poster, handmade by award-winning designer Giuseppe Fasano. As with all good art, it’s limited edition, so bag it while you can.
£25
IN THE MIX
Have the next Calvin Harris on your hands? Bag this wireless DJ controller from industry honcho Pioneer DJ. With an easy-to-connect USB plug that syncs to their laptop or PC, teens can mix straight from Spotify, Soundcloud and loads more streaming sites. PSA: prepare for your house to turn into a mini Ibiza.
£139
CURL POWER
Score major points with beauty queens. This blow dry brush targets each and every stubborn strand of hair to give salon-grade bounce and volume. Drybar crafts each brush with ionic technology (the trick to flattening fizzy strands) and three temp settings suitable for different hair types. Looking good, bestie!
£125
BEANIE BABY
Sold in seven stunning shades, Uniqlo struck the balance between cool, comfortable, and cost-friendly with this 100% cashmere beanie. Our choice? The popping blue, complements just about any outfit.
£34.90
COSY COOL
Cosy does it. London brand SWYC specialises in personalised yet functional pieces, and this teddy fleece will keep your teen toasty throughout winter and melt their hearts with their initials printed on the front. Aww.
£75
SLAM DUNK
Buying for a sports mad teen? This pop-art print from Devon indie biz The Jam Gallery will do nicely. Having launched earlier this year, the brand’s sports series includes vibrant football, golf, rugby, and our fave basketball prints that you won’t find on the high street. Three Muddy points on the board, please.
£18
SEEING STARS
Who can resist a handful of choccies? Nope, not even grumpy teens! Bucks-based Ramsey’s Chocolates makes the most divine chocolates, and this bag of white, dark, and milk-flavoured stars is a sweet deal for chocoholics.
£8.50
GAME ON
The ultimate all-in-one entertainment station, Sony’s PlayStation is a dead cert not just for gamers (although they’ll be more than thrilled), but for film and music lovers, too – simply log in to your chosen streaming platform et voilà. It’s also a cracker for quality family time on Christmas Day (hello, Mario Kart), so we’ll call it a win.
£479
PACK IT IN
School trips or weekends back from uni, you can never go wrong with a sturdy duffle bag. With a fully detachable strap for comfortable carrying and a vibrant tiger print lining on the inside, Foxx Smith London struck gold with this gem.
£75
GLOSSIER POSSÉ
Give the gift of a natural glow with Glossier’s fresh-faced makeup set, including mascara, brow pomade, and cheek-perking blush. Glossier’s is all about enhancing your natural features, making it essential for teens starting out with makeup. Plus it’s so lightweight, they might get away with wearing a little blush to school.
£48
SPLASH HAPPY
JBL is a heavy hitter in the speakers space for a reason, it’s just that good. This is an anytime, anywhere portable Bluetooth speaker – it’s fully waterproof and dust-proof with a 5 hr battery, plus a handy clip to hang it on a backpack or bike.
£34.99
MASK MAGIC
Glow-getters gather round! An instant fixer-upper with skin-loving peptides, vitamins, oils, and plant extracts, this sheet mask hydrates and plumps the skin for special occasions, whether you’re using it before makeup or going au-naturelle. No, you can’t keep it for yourself, it’s for your teen, remember?
£18
