By: Kendra Danielson

     With the upcoming holiday, thousands of families are frantically searching for the perfect gift to give to their loved ones. The Squire took it upon themselves to lend a hand in searching for popular gifts of this holiday season.

     Finding presents can be very difficult around this time because of the items constantly being out of stock, along with increased seasonal expenses. From ordering online, to shopping in-store there are many places you can find high quality items to give to others. The Squire asked a festive Eisenhower student, Samantha Childs, about her recommended places to gift shop and she shared, “There are so many places to get gifts, but I would recommend Nike, American Eagle, or Target.” Considering all the holiday trends, The Squire has prepared a solid line up of the perfect gifts for you.

     Starting off strong, one of the most popular and trendy items on the market are Uggs. Between Uggs and Bearpaws, many young women have these cute stylish slippers/boots on the top of their lists. Although on the pricier side, these shoes feature a sheepskin lining to keep your feet nice and cozy, while still being breathable and fashion worthy. They come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and styles, and can be found online or in chain shoe stores nearby.

     Another top item on several girls’ wish lists are water bottles. With the newly trending Owalas, the highly popular Stanley’s, and the classic Hydroflask’s, tons of girls are asking for a cute new water bottle. Between the three, these bottles can range in price from about 15 to 40 dollars depending on size and design. Each brand has its own special feature making it stand out from the others, including bright colors, unique designs, and easily accessible drinking. You can find these items online, at TJ Maxx, Target, Dunham’s, and more.

     If you’re looking to keep it simple, almost every girl enjoys getting new jewelry, makeup, or skin care products. There are a lot of popular gifts of 2024 in the beauty department. Jewelry from Kendra Scott has recently become very popular, specifically the Elisa Pendant necklace. This necklace comes in a variety of colors and can match with almost anything, putting it on many people’s wish lists this year. Makeup and skincare from brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, Glossier, Rare Beauty, Summer Fridays, Laneige, NARS, Makeup by Mario, Too Faced, Huda Beauty, and Milk Makeup are the most popular this season. Products from these brands could be found at Target, TJ Maxx, Ulta Beauty, Sephora, or online.

     When it comes to shopping for guys, there are a few ways you can go. The easiest option is clothing or shoes because they are essential everyday items. A few popular online sites for this include Nike, Carhartt, Fanatics, Under Armour, New Balance, Dunham’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Clothing gives you a ton of options for gifts because you could get anything from a hoodie and sweatpants to socks and shoes, all of which apply to any male and will be useful.

    Several popular items on boys Christmas lists fall within the category of gaming. Many are asking for new gaming setups like a gaming chair, desk, monitor, or console, whether that’s a PlayStation or Xbox. The PlayStation 5 is the most recently released console, selling for hundreds of dollars, but it’s an upgrade many gamers are looking forward to. In addition to setup, you could also look into getting guys new games, controllers, or accessories to top it off.

     Sport equipment covers a wide variety of activities, but people enjoy gifts that fuel their hobbies. Many boys are into some kind of sport or outdoor activity, like hunting, fishing, or camping, and would like a gift regarding that. Depending on the activity, there are tons of gift options available to consider checking out. Gloves, shoes, hats, helmets, bats, balls, clubs, bags, jerseys are among the most desired items. All these items can be found online, or possibly in stores nearby, such as Walmart, Dunham’s, Dicks Sporting Goods, or Runnings.

     Childs explained that in order to shop most effectively for Christmas, it’s best to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and always look for good in-store deals. Good luck with gift-shopping, and happy holidays from The Squire!