Welcome to Gen Z Mood, where I—Who What Wear UK's 27-year-old assistant social media editor—keep you updated with my mood of the month and the most exciting things I’ve spotted on the scroll. I'm always looking for new and thrifty ways to shop trends, and I'm taking you with me.
The Mood: Giving!
From using TikTok as their personal travel agent to planning an entire week’s worth of outfits on a Pinterest board, Gen Z are the masters of using the internet to work smarter, not harder. And this is especially true when it comes to gifting. Whilst festive madness descends on the streets, you can bet that the most savvy and stylish internet natives are scrolling their feeds to find the perfect gifts this season—not scrambling through the crowds.
And the good news is, they’re not keeping their shopping finds to themselves. I’ve lost count of the number of cute gift guides I’ve saved, liked and sent to friends over the past few weeks, and no vibe or aesthetic is left untouched. This gifting season, I've turned my soaring screen time into my super power, and have curated six gift guides for every Gen Z aesthetic I’ve clocked (and, if there's one thing Gen Z are masters at, it’s owning an aesthetic—just look at Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet tour or Kylie Jenner’s King Kylie era for proof that we Gen Zs were raised on committing to the bit).
From the cool-girl brands to know to affordable trinkets and chic homeware bits, this bumper wish list is a re-gifting no-go zone, a fussy-friend fanfare and your how-to for pleasing your nearest and dearest zellenial. So, whether you’re looking for inspiration for your own wish list (in case Santa is reading this, consider it my letter in advance!), or if there’s a travel-obsessed, interiors-loving or gallerina Gen Z on your nice list this year, keep scrolling for editor-approved gift ideas.
54 Gen Z Gift Ideas
For the Host
She might be a food-fluencer, she loves to host, she has a subscription to MOB Kitchen and The Nudge. She's the dinner-party debutante whose fridge is always fully stocked.
For the Traveller
She pays rent in the UK, but she's always on holiday. She spends more time in the AmEx lounge than in her own, and she'll always have a well-planned city-escape itinerary to hand.
For the Chic Friend
It’s giving… gatekeeps where she buys her clothes, always has a restaurant recc, and is rarely seen without a kitten heel or pair of designer sunglasses.
For the Cosy Cutie
She's your most active friend on Letterboxd who collects books, hates the cold and always has the chicest loungewear.
For the Interiors-Obsessed
It's giving...always at a flea market on the weekends, has the coolest magazines on her coffee table and lives for a small plates and wine night.
For the Arty One
She's the queen of the perfectly tousled up-do, always at Wholesale Replica Bag exhibition and loves taking pictures for fun.
