Yahoo Finance 25 thoughtful Mother’s Day 2021 gifts to show mum just how brilliant she is
We’ve picked out sentimental, personalised and sustainable tokens that will highlight just how much she means to you
(The Independent)Mother’s Day falls on 14 March this year – and with the lockdown roadmap confirming that groups of six won’t be allowed to gather together outdoors until two weeks later, many of us will be looking for thoughtful Mother’s Day gift ideas that we can send from afar.
Choosing a great Mother’s Day gift is always a personal process – only you and your nearest and dearest know your mum’s interests, style and tastes in the kind of depth you need to really knock it out of the park.
But if you’ve found yourself stumped for inspiration after one of the most unprecedented years in recent memory, we’ve got your back.
Read more: Mother’s Day cards that celebrate the queen in your life
We’ve scoured collections new and old to track down the presents that we think any mum would love to receive, with suggestions for thoughtful, personalised and sustainable Mother’s Day ideas spanning everything from candles and jewellery to artworks for the house and gifts for the garden.
While we know we should be showing our appreciation for the brilliant mums and mother figures in our lives all year round, one of these little tokens will highlight just how much she means to you, whether you deliver it to her doorstep in person or through the post.
Oh, and speaking of the post, once you’ve got the present sorted, don’t forget a great Mother’s Day card.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts
Rowfant rainbow charity hoop earrings: £95, Aureejewellery.com
The rainbow as a symbol holds more meaning than ever these days, and these colourful little hoops will make a cheery addition to your mum’s jewellery collection, whether she’s got a single piercing or has started curating her lobes more extensively. Auree’s jewellery is always of a lovely quality and arrives beautifully packaged in a soft fabric pouch tucked inside a branded gift box; but the really special thing about these huggies in particular is that all of the proceeds go to Little Village, a baby bank charity in South West London.
Helen White mother’s love print: From £14.95, Etsy.com
The perfect gift for new parents, we love this whimsical print that celebrates the power of motherhood. The natural peachy, cream and brown tones feel both calming and bang on trend. As pampas grass and boucle fabrics take over our interiors, we can imagine this neutral piece taking pride of place in our home. Depicting a mother and child in a warm embrace, the illustration has a comforting feel that any mother figure will appreciate, particularly during such trying times.
Helen White, the Midlands-based artist, offers the prints of her original paintings with both light and dark-haired options. Available in either A4 or A3 sizes. If you’d prefer something more abstract, the artist is selling a range of other pieces that scream springtime.
Nightire beautiful bodies dove grey midi set: £76, Nightire.com
Yes, we’ve all spent the past year living in loungewear, but, in our opinion, you can’t have too many pairs of jammies. And when they’re this good, we know your mum will agree too. Nightire makes its PJs from 100 per cent bamboo in gorgeous prints. We’re already big fans – the brand’s sweet clementine short set won best buy in our round-up of the best women’s summer PJs. Bamboo is fast growing, making it sustainable and much cheaper than silk, while also being breathable and super soft. This limited-edition set has been designed by London-based artist Sarah Donde, and we love it’s pretty line-drawing pattern. The shirt, with its long sleeves, is even chic enough for your mum to wear out with a pair of jeans – so it’s really two products in one.
Liberty five minutes’ peace beauty kit: £65, Libertylondon.com
If there’s anything most mums could do with, it’s a few minutes of peace and quiet to indulge in some self-care. Short of physical spas having a miraculous reopening for 14 March, this Liberty box is the most luxurious way to gift it this year. Inside the truly fabulous paisley box she’ll find cult beauty favourites from the likes of Aurelia, Aromatherapy Associates, Margaret Dabbs and Cowshed, plus a Liberty-print eye mask to enjoy long after the bottles are empty. You’ll pay £65, but the goods inside are worth more than £228.
Nars cheek duo Claudette collection: £37, Spacenk.com
If the queen in your life loves all things make-up, this cheek duo compact will make their day all the more special. A lovely nod to mother figures everywhere, the palette is part of Nars’s recently launched Claudette range, inspired by the mother and muse of the brand’s founder, Francois Nars. The company is known for its quality packaging, but this weighty compact feels even more luxe than usual, adorned with butterfly-themed details that make it feel gift-worthy. Plus, the two complexion shades are perfect for spring, with a matte bright peach and a bronze shade that deliver the perfect flush of colour.
Read more: How to recreate TikTok’s Sixties-inspired beauty looks, according to make-up artists
The Corbeau Press personalised coupe glasses with engraved flower motif: £22, Notonhehighstreet.com
While lockdown restrictions mean that many of us won’t be able to see our mothers come 14 March, the latest roadmap announcement has left us hopeful for when we can finally be reunited in the summer. There’s no better cause for celebration, and these coupe glasses, which have seen a style resurgence in recent months, are just the ticket. We love the hand-engraved, floral motif that’s delicately laced around the bowl, and there’s an option to add personalised lettering at the base to make it even more thoughtful. The champagne glass feels very Great-Gatsby-meets-summer-garden-party, and we couldn’t be more into it.
Sculpt’d x Bloom & Wild Mother’s Day flower vase kit: £65, Sculpt.co.uk
Mother’s Day flowers are always a thoughtful surprise, but kitting her out with a set that allows her to make a vase to showcase them takes the concept to another level. Enter this genius set from Bloom & Wild and Sculpt’d, who have teamed up for a bundle that includes a bunch of beautiful dried flowers and everything your mum will need to get her hands dirty and sculpt a vase of her very own. It’s a lovely, mindful gift idea that any mum who’s even slightly inclined towards crafting will love. Bloom & Wild’s letterbox flowers score consistently highly in our reviews, and the beauty of these dried ones is that she can keep them on display for so much longer – in a votive of her own making, no less.
Read more: 13 best letterbox flowers for all occasions to deliver at any time
Hoop n Loop personalised pet jumper: £110, Hoopnloop.co.uk
We all know that the animals we choose to live with are just as much part of the family as anyone else. And if your mum loves her pets, then why not emblazon them on a jumper? Thanks to Hoop n Loop, it’s easy to do. Founded in 2017 by fashion designer Carol Tai, she wanted to bring her love of animals, her own dog Koko, into her work. All you need to do is supply a picture and then choose your colour, and in return you’ll get a beautifully embroidered jumper with your mum’s beloved pet’s face on it. We know that she’ll beam with joy showing off her four-legged pal. If a jumper isn’t for her, you can also choose from cushions, stripey tops, tees, bags and even a scarf.
Liz Earle fresh skin, bright eyes collection: £61.54, Johnlewis.com
Last year threw a lot at us all, so whether your mum was working from home, on the front line, homeschooling or both, she’ll no doubt welcome the idea of new skincare treats with open arms. A go-to classic is Liz Earle’s cleanse and polish hot cloth cleanser, which is included in this set along with the brand’s eyebright soothing lotion, which takes care of the oh-so-delicate under-eye area, and a superskin eye treatment that takes away puffiness and helps brighten.
Personalised Mother’s Day gifts
Papier pink and pine colour block personalised notecards, set of 10: £20, Papier.com
After nearly a year of not seeing family and friends, we’re all putting pen to paper and indulging in the ancient art of letter-writing. We’re sure the stationery-loving mum in your life will appreciate these notecards, and will love to send them too. Designed by Collagerie, set up by formerVogue editors Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood, the collaboration with Papier is all about block colours and bold shapes (the pink and pine option is our favourite) and will make a lovely, thoughtful gift for your mum. Printed on warm-white Mohawk 324gsm paper, they can also be personalised in a range of fonts and colours and come with plain white envelopes. Hopefully, you’ll get one as a thank you, too.
Rachel Jackson T-bar gold necklace: £130, Racheljacksonlondon.com
Yellow-gold jewellery is still having a moment and we think this T-bar necklace from Rachel Jackson is the perfect way to tap into the trend. The range was designed during the pandemic to “evoke the emotions we all felt when time stood still”, and while we can’t quite see how the design itself echoes this sentiment, the option to personalise means it’s easy to add a reflective message for your lucky recipient. We chose “this too shall pass” as our engraved mantra, and loved the delicate cursive font it came printed in. The 22-carat gold-plated sterling silver pendant comes with a trendy box chain, and there are matching earrings available if you’re feeling generous.
Read more: 11 best jewellery gifts under £100, from rings to earrings
Elizabeth Scarlett African palmier khaki velvet everyday pouch: £28, Elizabethscarlett.com
For anyone who frequently misplaces things (read: all of us), these gorgeous pouches are a godsend. We love them for keeping all those annoying little bits, like charging wires or card-holders, together in one easy-to-find place. And when travel is back on, we’ll use them for packing in our suitcases or hand luggage, as well as for keeping books, suncream and other poolside essentials together on holiday. Coming in more than 20 embroidered designs and colour combinations, from turtles to pineapples and zebras, there’s plenty of choices to find something that suits your mum (or you too).
Our favourite is the African palmier pattern in super soft khaki velvet, and we love the details like the lotus leaf on the zip pull. Each can be monogrammed with up to three letters for an extra £14. There’s also matching eye masks and coin purses available in the same designs.
Azurina LA pistachio leather croc chunky strap grab bag: £55, Theazurinastore.com
One of our favourite brands for all things personalised, Azurina’s accessories scream quality and last for years. With a host of on-trend designs as well as classic styles, we love how customisable the brand’s pieces are. The real leather “grab” bag is a fun take on the mini handbag trend, without it feeling too ridiculously Jacquemus-esque in size.
Perfect for the style-conscious mum, choose from a range of shades including cream and periwinkle blue. We plumped for this pastel pistachio colour that will certainly bring joy come spring. The contrasting chunky strap feels very in vogue but we love that this can be removed to create a different look too. The brand offers free gift wrapping and the monogrammed initials are a nice personalised touch, without feeling too gimmicky.
Large jewellery case: £120, Missoma.com
Missoma isn’t just one of the best brands for sourcing demi-fine jewellery gifts, it also provides you with a chic place to store them – and you can even get box personalised with your mum’s initials. When we first zipped open the pouch we were seriously impressed with the number of pouches, pockets and plush ring compartments, and that was before we flipped it over and realised that there’s even more on the other side. This berry red number will look bright and beautiful on her dressing table, but there’s also a range of neutral and jewel-toned hues, plus a smaller style (£85, Missoma.com) if she only has a few precious pieces to organise.
‘Mum, Tell Me: A Give and Get Back Book’ by Elma van Vliet, published by Particular Books: £12.61, Amazon.co.uk
In a sweet twist on a personalised Mother’s Day gift of your choosing, Mum, Tell Me is actually a present you’re asking her to personalise and give back to you. The pages are filled with prompts for your mum to share stories from throughout her life, from her first loves to greatest achievements (aside from being your parent, of course). When we gifted this previously, it got a brilliant and emotional reaction from the recipient – it’s especially good for long-distance mums, who you might not get to chat with face-to-face as often as you’d like.
Read more: 9 best letter writing sets to help you stay in touch with loved ones during lockdown
Moet & Chandon exclusive impérial rosé NV champagne and personalised tin: £58.99, Selfridges.com
When all else fails, you simply can’t go wrong with champagne – especially when it’s customised with her name (or another message or in-joke of your choice). We probably don’t need to sell you on the virtues of Moet & Chandon itself, given that it’s been one of the bestselling champagne brands for centuries, but we really love the way the personalisation of the gift tin from Selfridges elevates an ordinary present to something more meaningful.
Sustainable Mother’s Day gifts
Kabloom seedbom pollinator beebom: £3.95, Notonthehighstreet.com
Kabloom’s seedboms are biodegradable, compostable “bombs” filled with wildflower seeds that have been designed to support local wildlife – this one is for bees, but there’s also an equally affordable version for butterflies (£3.95, Notonthehighstreet.com). Kabloom says between March and June is ideal to “throw and grow” their products, making this a perfectly-timed sustainable Mother’s Day gift idea for any green-fingered mum who loves spending time in the garden.
Huna nos gown: £120, Hunasleep.co.uk
A brand founded by two best friends who were inspired by growing up in the Welsh countryside, Huna (Welsh for “slumber”) prides itself in designing sleepwear that is comfortable with a focus on natural and sustainable materials. But that doesn’t mean its products are left wanting in the style stakes, as the brand’s linen designs are simple but classic in neutral oatmeal shades with relaxed fits that any mother figure would love to lounge around in. We plumped for this waffle linen piece, as, frankly, you can’t go far wrong with a dressing gown when it comes to gifting.
Made from 100 per cent natural, Oeko Tex-certified waffle linen, the handmade gown features roomy front pockets and an oversized fit for comfort, but the exaggerated waist tie makes it a flattering too. Created with responsibly grown materials, the Huna team designs and creates everything in Wales, so aside from importing its linen (no flax is grown in the UK for linen manufacture) production doesn’t involve any unnecessary journeys. Ideal at regulating body temperature, linen is the perfect fabric to wear all year round, meaning your lucky recipient will get plenty of use out of this gift.
Evermore London north clouds and cool oud scented candle, 300g: £50, Amara.com
We love this sustainable luxury candle brand, and we’re sure your mum will too. Evermore London’s scents aim to bring us back to nature – an aim that feels rather fitting given many of us have been stuck inside for nearly a year. Each candle is made from vegan rapeseed and soy wax, before being hand-poured into recycled jars and packaged in recyclable boxes with no cellophane wrap. The glossy black jar with gold lettering is sure to impress any Instagram-savvy mother, and the scent itself also impressed us in our guide to the best non-toxic candles. With notes of cypress, oud, maple and tobacco, this comforting, woody fragrance reminded us of the comfort of a warm fire. And, if you fancy something a bit more summery, there are plenty of other fragrances to choose from. We love the “burning bright across velvet skies” message on the back of the candle too. A special gift for the queen in your life.
Bloomon flowers: £22.95, Bloomon.co.uk
Who doesn’t love receiving a floral delivery? But forget petrol-station bunches – Bloomoon offers modern, seasonal designs that are all about height, texture, tonal colours and unusual blooms, and are nothing short of a delight.
Aside from its beautiful designs, we also love Bloomon because it uses flowers that are carbon neutral, has plans to further reduce its carbon footprint, has worked to shorten its supply chain and use fewer pesticides, and has joined the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative, which makes sure the sector works in a responsible way. You can send a one-off bunch and choose between fresh bouquets (£29.95 to £39.95) or dried statement displays (£22.95 to £33.95), or subscribe and save around £5 per bunch. Each week there’s a different design, and you can change the frequency or pause subscriptions at any time. Bloomon says fresh bouquets last for up to 10 days, but we’ve had bunches that looked great for two weeks.
August&Piers saint candle: £59, Augustpiers.com
On another beautifully scented note, if it’s ever been said that your mum has the patience of a saint, she’ll appreciate this candle from August&Piers, a company that prides itself on making gorgeous blends from soy, bee and rapeseed wax rather than paraffin. The packaging is FSC certified, fully recyclable and free from any plastic, while the ceramic jar can be upcycled and reused long after the initial scent (fig, cassis and orange blossom, in this instance) has burned away.
Read more: 10 non-toxic candles that are sustainable and smell great
Face Halo set xo gift box bundle: £44, Beautybay.com
A practical gift, but a worthy one nonetheless, help your mum ditch the make-up wipes with this set from one of our favourite brands, Face Halo. There are plenty of imitations of these reusable make-up removers, but we’ve yet to try another that works as well as the original. The soft yet sturdy fibres gently remove all traces of make-up, including heavy-duty foundations and mascaras, without causing any irritation. Plus there’s no mess – a bonus as there’s nothing worse than a dripping face cloth.
Simply dampen the pad and wipe the day away. This gift set features three of the classic pads as well as four smaller versions for tricker under-eye areas, as well as our favourite exfoliating body mitt. It’s gentle on sensitive skin but really buffs away everything, including fake tan. Your mum will be saving 500 single-use make-up wipes from landfill with every one of these pads.
Tony’s chocolonely milk chocolate five pack: £21.88, Amazon.co.uk
For all chocoholics, this must be the go-to bar. The brand’s chunky bars, which come in a handful of delicious flavours, are recognisable for their unevenly sized shapes, which represent the unfair distribution of profits in the chocolate industry. Tony’s chocolonely pays above the Fairtrade price, and pays a supplement to help its worker’s families pay for education and other necessities. We can’t choose between our favourites (and we doubt your mum will be able to either) so it’s fortunate you can get a bundle of five.
Navygrey heirloom cardigan: £215, Navygrey.co
Of course, all mums have their own personal style sensibility, but everyone needs a cosy knit they can rely on. We can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive this one from Navygrey’s sustainable line. The brand works in partnership with SustainaWool to ensure the materials it uses are of the highest possible quality and are fully traceable – the wool in this heirloom cardigan, for instance, is designed for “generations of wear” and was spun and dyed on the banks of Loch Leven in Scotland. Navygrey also pledges to plant a tree for every heirloom cardigan sold, which is an additional sustainable touch.
Read more: 8 best sustainable knitwear brands – the eco-friendly labels to know
Kind Bag reusable shopping bag, medium: £10, Kindbag.co
This brand’s mission is to replace some of the one trillion (yes, you read that correctly) single-use plastic bags used in the world. Weighing just 50g, the bag folds up into its own little pouch that’s attached to the inside and can hold up to three times more than a normal shopping bag as it’s much larger and stronger. It comes in an array of bright and fun designs and we also really like that it has long handles, so you can throw it over your shoulder to easily carry your wares.
It’s made from six plastic bottles that would otherwise have ended up in landfill and with each purchase, Kind Bag donates 10 per cent of profits to Just One Ocean, a charity that raises awareness of plastic pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction. It’s an absolute gamechanger for everything from your weekly shop, to carting books or your lunch around. We never leave home without one, and think it makes a great little present for an eco-conscious mum.
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