By Crystal Puga

Summer birthdays have a way of slipping through the cracks. Between travel, internships, and everyone scattering across the country, it’s easy to default to a quick text and call it a day—even for the roommate you were inseparable from all year. But distance doesn’t have to mean less thought. A meaningful gift can go a long way in making your friends feel seen and celebrated, no matter where the summer takes you.

While gift-giving often follows trends, the most memorable presents are the ones that feel personal. Choosing something intentional—something they wouldn’t expect—reminds them just how well you know them.

Here are a few of the LOOK teams favorite gifts to give:

Magazine Clutch

This is the perfect gift for the fashion lovers in your life who adore statement pieces over anything else. I mean, this clutch looks like you’re holding a newspaper, which is the perfect conversation starter. It doesn’t stop here, as the magazine clutches made by Couture Planet, a women-owned business, are created from 100% post-consumer newspapers. It is not just another bag but a fashion-forward, eco-conscious product that will make your friend stand out wherever they go.

Hand-Drawn Print or Portrait (if you’re feeling fancy)

Alexandra Yvette’s prints are full of romance and whimsy, and she can capture your friend’s femininity in the same spirit with her portrait commissions. She can draw your friend holding their favorite drink and in their staple color or clothing, making it a chic, one-of-a-kind present that reminds them that they are admired.

Custom Matchbox

Matchboxes are the best collection of stories and memories. It’s a small, free thing that you take from the restaurants or bars you try out with friends or partners, but a big reminder of the people and places that you encounter. You can add to someone’s pile by placing a custom order through @ohxodette on Instagram, getting a milestone birthday, date or handwritten note embossed in silver.

Matcha Shaker

There is no escaping a matcha when you desperately need one, so this gift is suitable for your friend who always has one in their hand. They probably make or have expressed a desire to start making their own at home, and the process can become less complicated with this small tool. Creator @hannahsophiakim on TikTok brought it to people’s attention after her mom brought her one back from Japan. Her matcha mix had zero clumps without a bowl and whisk!

Leather Journal

Louise Carmen journals are the epitome of customization to suit their unique owners’ desires, and you can make your own with quality leather or felt, as @sleepytimecrazies on TikTok did. She made a peatcoat journal that buttoned up and had a pocket inside, where she placed a photostrip–the last touch for an ultimate gift. You can also build one with the help of sellers on Etsy.

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