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extremely specific gift guides
April 28, 2015

104 Very Specific, Yet Practical, Mother’s Day Gifts

By the Cut

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REMINDER: Mother’s Day is about to sneak up on you again (May 10, in case you need the date, you self-involved ingrate). Time to get a present, fast. Since no one knows a mom, and all her quirks and interests, better than her kids, we asked the Cut staffers what they would give their own mothers this year.

When they’re not working out (they all seem to work out more than we do), our moms have a diverse array of interests. We shopped for an old-school farm-to-table mom, another who loves sexy historical fiction, and one who definitely needs to start an Instagram feed for all of her delicious desserts, among others. Chances are, your mom probably wants some of this stuff, too, so click ahead and make this easy for yourself.

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For the Mom Who Should Start an Instagram Feed for Her Baking Skills Senior fashion editor Rebecca Ramsey's mom can whip up killer cakes, cookies... For the Mom Who Should Start an Instagram Feed for Her Baking Skills Senior fashion editor Rebecca Ramsey's mom can whip up killer cakes, cookies, and other treats. Yet she still doesn't own the holy grail of all baking gadgets: the Kitchen-Aid mixer, along with a simple yet elegant mixing bowl (add a nice new wooden spoon and you're all set). To further satisfy her sweet tooth, these salted-caramel dark-chocolate truffles make for a great snack.
For the Mom Who Is an Emoji Genius  Here's how senior editor Molly Fischer's mom will thank her for all of these wonderful presents: using e... For the Mom Who Is an Emoji Genius  Here's how senior editor Molly Fischer's mom will thank her for all of these wonderful presents: using emoji. The doggie will be used in conjunction with photos of their new puppy enjoying his/her new leash and bowl. The shoe is to show off the new, comfy, stacked-heel mules. And when a digital smiley face fails, there are also tiny placecards for a short and sweet IRL note.
For the Mom Who Loves Romantic Fiction Staff writer Allison P. Davis's mom attends Baltimore Ravens games in a custom-made purple fur coat and in... For the Mom Who Loves Romantic Fiction Staff writer Allison P. Davis's mom attends Baltimore Ravens games in a custom-made purple fur coat and insisted on watching Fifty Shades of Grey together (swathed in yet another luxurious fur coat). For this special lady, we get a novel we hope she likes as much as Outlander, a fancy notebook that should inspire her to write her own Oprah-approved dream journal, and some luxury beauty necessities for her impending move to Florida.  
For the Mom Who Loves Anything That Sparkles Associate market editor Lindsay Peoples's mom loves nothing more than glitz on a budget. She'll appr... For the Mom Who Loves Anything That Sparkles Associate market editor Lindsay Peoples's mom loves nothing more than glitz on a budget. She'll appreciate the crystal-studded sandals from & Other Stories since the nude color will work with a lot of outfits and the heel isn't too high. After using Lancôme products for over two decades, this is probably the only thing the brand makes that she hasn't tried.
For the Mom Who Makes It Easy With a Detailed Email Wish List How many people get detailed emails from their mom that list exactly what she wants... For the Mom Who Makes It Easy With a Detailed Email Wish List How many people get detailed emails from their mom that list exactly what she wants, down to the dimensions? Apparently fashion news editor Véronique does. On that list: a giant bowl for pasta, the perfect navy blue cross-body bag, a really good mascara, and something new to add to her collection of old movies. So easy.
The Mom Who Values Power and Luxury (But Has Some Quirks) Photo editor Emily Shornick's mom has style like Claire Underwood. She thinks the best ... The Mom Who Values Power and Luxury (But Has Some Quirks) Photo editor Emily Shornick's mom has style like Claire Underwood. She thinks the best things in life come with a price tag to match and travels the world for her job. But she isn't some corporate drone! One of her fingernails is always painted a different color from the others and she has a collection of "man dolls" in her office. For her, we picked a Mophie phone charger to ensure she can always call home, and a selection of the best French beauty products (including a hair mask from Christophe Robin, Catherine Deneuve's colorist).
For the Mom Who Was the OG Farm-to-Table Chef Growing up, senior market editor Diana Tsui's mom would force-feed her organic produce straight fro... For the Mom Who Was the OG Farm-to-Table Chef Growing up, senior market editor Diana Tsui's mom would force-feed her organic produce straight from the backyard of their Brooklyn home. She still cultivates great tomatoes, cucumbers, and Asian veggies. A sturdy Japanese trowel will help in the garden while jasmine-scented incense (a reminder of her childhood in Burma) will keep the bugs away at dusk. And since she's paranoid about sun exposure, she'll want a giant floppy hat and a good SPF tinted moisturizer.
For the DGAF Mom Who Wears Face Masks on Planes Senior beauty editor Kathleen Hou's mom has no problem with 17-hour plane rides, provided she has... For the DGAF Mom Who Wears Face Masks on Planes Senior beauty editor Kathleen Hou's mom has no problem with 17-hour plane rides, provided she has the right in-flight beauty routine, lightweight suitcase, and scarf. She gave Kathleen her first eye cream at 16, so for every Mother's Day she should get some of the fanciest beauty products in the world, along with a few easy travel essentials.
For the Mom Who Can Literally Run Circles Around You While most of us can't even imagine wanting to swim, bike, and then run, senior editor Isabe... For the Mom Who Can Literally Run Circles Around You While most of us can't even imagine wanting to swim, bike, and then run, senior editor Isabel Wilkinson's mom happens to do all of that as a triathlete. When not training, she tends to favor simple outfits like cropped jeans and slip-on sneakers, like this leather pair from cool new label Feit and beauty products that are proven to work — like a Kardashian-dermatologist-approved face serum and fancy Japanese shampoo. 
For the Mom Who Could Trade Loungewear Closets With Olivia Pope  Associate beauty editor Ashley Weatherford's mom loves soft things. She can't o... For the Mom Who Could Trade Loungewear Closets With Olivia Pope  Associate beauty editor Ashley Weatherford's mom loves soft things. She can't own enough cashmere cardigans or cushiony slippers, and her loungewear deserves its own closet. For this lady, we chose delicate jewelry and a fresh scent to pair with an oversize plush robe. And, better than a popcorn bowl, we chose her an elegant cheese board on which to serve snacks. 
For the Mom Who Dreams of Triple Axels For associate editor Erica Schwiegershausen's mom, dreams of figure-skating glory are undashed by adulthoo... For the Mom Who Dreams of Triple Axels For associate editor Erica Schwiegershausen's mom, dreams of figure-skating glory are undashed by adulthood and memories of the Nancy Kerrigan–Tonya Harding scandal. Erica's mom is passionate about nailing that triple toe loop. We picked her out a cool hoodie to throw on post-workout, some exercise basics, a sports sunscreen, and a great moisturizer to combat the cold temperatures of the rink.
For the Cool Mom Whom You Hope You'll Turn Into "Cool moms" might get a bad rep from Mean Girls, but producer Leah Rodriguez's mom... For the Cool Mom Whom You Hope You'll Turn Into "Cool moms" might get a bad rep from Mean Girls, but producer Leah Rodriguez's mom likes to meditate, has a pixie cut, and happens to wear a tragus piercing. Cool. To maintain her Zen, we'll give her a set of cushions along with a Tibetan singing bowl. A sparkly pink tragus stud is a nice deviation from the standard hoop, while good pomade will keep her short hair under control.
For the Mom Who Hates to Buy Clothes Fashion assistant Lori Keong's mom is a hard one to shop for. But she loves to keep things simple and add th... For the Mom Who Hates to Buy Clothes Fashion assistant Lori Keong's mom is a hard one to shop for. But she loves to keep things simple and add the occasional well-chosen item to her home. She'll appreciate this chalkboard and sleek kettle for the kitchen.          
For the Penny-Pincher Mom  There's nothing that social-media editor Ella Ceron's mom loves more than a good sale. So these billowy, printed ... For the Penny-Pincher Mom  There's nothing that social-media editor Ella Ceron's mom loves more than a good sale. So these billowy, printed pants on sale at H&M for $25 will make her happy and earn Ella some cred for saving money. Add in some knitting materials and make this a perfect thrifty DIY extravaganza.
For the Mom Who Lives for "Athleisure" Editorial director Stella Bugbee's mom loves all Nike everything. She'll get a new flashy pair o... For the Mom Who Lives for "Athleisure" Editorial director Stella Bugbee's mom loves all Nike everything. She'll get a new flashy pair of sneakers and a great running jacket. Also for her obsession with high-tech-cercise: a yoga-mat-towel hybrid and an Apple Watch, to monitor every last second of her workout.
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