Sometimes holiday shopping for teenagers must seem like an impossible task. Trends change at the scroll of a phone screen — what tops a most-desired list today may be seriously uncool tomorrow.
So to get some ideas, The New York Times checked with some teens in Westport, a small town of about 7,000 people in County Mayo, on Ireland’s west coast.
“If I could have anything,” said Mounir Soufan, 13, “I’d like a new bike — a Trek. They’re for racing, and I love racing!” (the Trek Domane AL 2 Rim starts at 829 euros, or $999.99 in the United States).
New soccer shoes also were high on the list for Mounir, a first-year student at Rice College, a secondary school in Westport — his shoes, or boots as they are called in Ireland, were stolen at a rugby match in October. “My dad wasn’t happy,” he said with a sigh.
“I’d like the new Adidas ones,” he said, “the Predator Elite Fold-Overs. They’re expensive, though” (starting at €260). Although, he added, with a laugh, “Actually, it doesn’t matter what boots you have; it matters what the player can do.”
At the Krem Gelateria & Cafe, four 16-year-old girls on their lunch break from Sacred Heart School in Westport were quite willing to discuss Christmas presents.
Ellie Jordan said she would like to get pajamas; the others agreed and said any brand would do. “Really cozy, fluffy ones,” said Kyla Rabbett. Ellie and Caoimhe O’Carroll agreed.
But Róisín Kelly said she preferred hers “kind of satiny and light.” As the conversation continued, they all laughed when they discovered that it was their grannies who buy their Christmas pajamas.
Cosmetics also were in demand: mascara, concealers, tanning creams and blushers. When buying for themselves, the girls all choose inexpensive products from E.L.F. or Primark. But if someone else is paying? “Charlotte Tilbury!” said Róisín, to everyone’s agreement. “And Nars!” said Kyla, and they all nodded. Ellie added, “I’d like a Rare Beauty blush.” (The Selena Gomez brand has a mini 3.2-milliliter liquid blush for €17.)
Like much of the rest of the teenage world, their preferred perfumes are by Sol de Janeiro (90 milliliters for €24). They also wanted hair products: leave-in conditioners, hair masks and glosses. Caoimhe, whose hair was tied in a slickback ponytail, would like a Smooth Stick from The Smooth Company (€16.99). “It’s for keeping down your flyaways,” she explained.
All the girls said they would appreciate jewelry; rings, earrings, bracelets, charms, anything from Pandora. And Caoimhe would like charms for her Nomination bracelet, a stretchy band that becomes a base for collectible links (€20-€137).
Mattie McLoughlin, 16, a fifth-year student at Sancta Maria College, in the nearby town of Louisburgh, also would appreciate footwear — particularly soccer shoes from the Nike Tiempo range (€44.99-€259.99). Off the pitch, “I’d like a nice jacket, maybe a Nike, a puffer (€129.99-€399.99),” he said, “and probably a fragrance or two, I like Paco Rabanne and Jean Paul Gaultier.”
Tara Ginnelly, 18, is taking a gap year to travel around Asia as she has graduated from Sancta Maria College. She loves “all things makeup,” especially Charlotte Tilbury products. “She’s great but so pricey,” she said. “I would never spend €45 on a bronzer.” Other gifts? “Concert tickets are a big thing among older teens,” she added, “and flight or travel vouchers would be great.”
Tara is also into jewelry, and she is going to study gemology next year. “Now that I’m 18, I’d like slightly nicer jewelry,” she said, “It doesn’t have to be a brand, just good quality silver or gold. I’m a bracelets and rings person; I’d love a simple gold band with a small sapphire — that’s my birthstone.”
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