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Gifts to Buy for Five Impossible-to-Shop-For Personalities

As we get to official last-minute holiday shopping season, you’ve probably got someone on your list you still can’t pin down. The never-satisfied boss? The too-cool teen? The much-hipper friend? Even just a parent who tells you, “don’t get me anything,” or that girl in your office whom you don’t really know, but still pulled for the dreaded Secret Santa. To help satisfy these hard-to-please giftees, we asked proprietors from eight indie stores in each of the boroughs to make a few suggestions from their inventory. Their picks, arranged by the person who might receive them, are here to help in the slideshow below.

The Much-Hipper Friend

Tycoon button bow tie, $77, at Treasure & Bond, 350 W. Broadway, nr. Grand St.; 646-669-9049; Annie Costello Brown handcrafted brass bangles, $130 each, at Task, 100 N. 3rd St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-963-2600; Brevity blue-and-yellow acrylic pendant, $45, at Exit 9, 51 Ave A., nr. 3rd St.; 212-228-0145; Papua New Guinea penis sheath, $100, at Creel and Gow, 131 E. 70th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-327-4281; Kent folding comb, $12.50, at Dry Goods, 362 Atlantic Ave., nr. Hoyt St., Boerum Hill; 718-403-0090; Locally made recycled-vinyl billboard clutch, $58, at Inside Astoria, 28-07 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-956-4000; Imoni zipper-trimmed leather gloves, $275, at Swing a Concept Shop, 1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., at 118th St.; 212-222-5802; Hex geometric-print silk scarf, $220, at Scissor, 80 Varick St., nr. Grand St.; 347-662-3600.

The Never-Satisfied Boss

Silver ombre wineglasses, $15 each, at Treasure & Bond, 350 W. Broadway, nr. Grand St.; 646-669-9049; Matte-gold-finished stainless-steel coffee spoons, $72 for six, at Task, 100 N. 3rd St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-963-2600; Areaware wood alarm-clock iPhone dock, $42, at Exit 9, 51 Ave A., nr. 3rd St.; 212-228-0145; Handblown glass hammer, $450, at Creel and Gow, 131 E. 70th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-327-4281; Stanley thermos, $45, at Dry Goods, 362 Atlantic Ave., nr. Hoyt St., Boerum Hill; 718-403-0090; Desk placard, $18, at Inside Astoria, 28-07 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-956-4000; Playtown Stockholm polished wooden desk set, $260, at Scissor, 80 Varick St., nr. Grand St.; 347-662-3600.  

The What’s-Her-Face Office Secret Santa

Handmade leather key chain, $7, at Treasure & Bond, 350 W. Broadway, nr. Grand St.; 646-669-9049; Midori spiral notebooks, $14 each, at Task, 100 N. 3rd St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-963-2600; Portable Ping-Pong set with balls, paddles, steel posts, and a full-size net, $29.50, at Exit 9, 51 Ave A., nr. 3rd St.; 212-228-0145; Pewter wishbone, $20, at Creel and Gow, 131 E. 70th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-327-4281; Sock-monkey socks, $8 per pair, at Dry Goods, 362 Atlantic Ave., nr. Hoyt St., Boerum Hill; 718-403-0090; The Modern Cocktail mixer set, $15, at Inside Astoria, 28-07 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-956-4000; ) Kusmi Tea assorted teas, $25 for 24 bags, at Swing a Concept Shop, 1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., at 118th St.; 212-222-5802; Decorative handmade wooden satellite, $35, at Scissor, 80 Varick St., nr. Grand St.; 347-662-3600. 

The Too-Cool Teen

Dose nail-polish trio, $20, at Treasure & Bond, 350 W. Broadway, nr. Grand St.; 646-669-9049; Oxidized-nickel money clip with sterling-silver skull, $92, at Task, 100 N. 3rd St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-963-2600; Urban Ears limited-edition tweed headphones, $79, at Exit 9, 51 Ave A., nr. 3rd St.; 212-228-0145; Porcelain urchin candleholder, $250, at Creel and Gow, 131 E. 70th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-327-4281; Bésame rouge, $24, at Dry Goods, 362 Atlantic Ave., nr. Hoyt St., Boerum Hill; 718-403-0090; Crap at My Parents’ House, by Joel Dovev, $14.95, at Inside Astoria, 28-07 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-956-4000; Custom-made mirror compact, $25, at Swing a Concept Shop, 1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., at 118th St.; 212-222-5802; Permanent graffiti crayons, $15, at Scissor, 80 Varick St., nr. Grand St.; 347-662-3600.

The “Don’t Get Me Anything” Martyr Parent

Johnny Cash jigsaw puzzle, $24, at Treasure & Bond, 350 W. Broadway, nr. Grand St.; 646-669-9049; Souk-inspired hand-embossed aluminum tray, $85, at Task, 100 N. 3rd St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-963-2600; Echo woven gloves with touchscreen-sensitive fabric, $32 to $48, at Exit 9, 51 Ave A., nr. 3rd St.; 212-228-0145; Coral embroidered napkins, $35 each, at Creel and Gow, 131 E. 70th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 212-327-4281; Old-fashioned Farina cologne, $110, at Dry Goods, 362 Atlantic Ave., nr. Hoyt St., Boerum Hill; 718-403-0090; Locally made glass cake plate with recycled-metal base, from $36, at Inside Astoria, 28-07 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-956-4000; Sphatika travel citrus skin-care set, $249, at Swing a Concept Shop, 1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., at 118th St.; 212-222-5802; Unit Portables iPad case, $40, at Scissor, 80 Varick St., nr. Grand St.; 347-662-3600.

Gifts to Buy for Five Impossible Personalities