There is a particular kind of friendship where “how are you?” has been replaced by a screenshot, an inside joke and a completely unnecessary amount of context.
You know everything about each other. The embarrassing stories, the questionable crushes, the late night spirals, the things that should probably never leave the group chat. Buying a present for that person should be straightforward. Somehow, it is not.
The problem with finding gifts for your best friend is that most of them feel painfully predictable. Another candle. Another box of chocolates. Another mug with a sentimental quote that neither of you would ever actually say.
Your bestie deserves better than that.
A good gift should feel specific. It should remind you of them immediately. Ideally, it should make them laugh before they have even opened the packaging.
That is exactly why Fairly Quare Designs is worth a look if you are searching for something funny, unusual and a little bit chaotic.
The True Friends Pink and Blue Print is a lovely choice for the friend who has been there through absolutely everything. It has the sentimental side of a traditional friendship gift without becoming overly sweet, making it much easier to imagine in an actual home. The print is available in three colour choices and is printed to order on 250 g/m² matte photo paper. (Fairly Quare Designs)
Shop the True Friends Pink and Blue Print
It would make a thoughtful best friend birthday gift, a Christmas present, a housewarming gift for someone you have known forever, or simply a small reminder that you appreciate the person who has heard every version of the same story.
Then there is the Pin Button Triple Pack 002, which takes a completely different approach.
The set includes three handmade 1.25mm pins featuring “I'm Not Like the Other Girls”, “Hot Mess With Good Intentions” and “Diet Coke”. That combination feels less like a collection of accessories and more like a surprisingly accurate description of someone's entire personality. (Fairly Quare Designs)
Shop the Pin Button Triple Pack 002
At €6, it is also a great small gift for your best friend when you want to give them something fun without turning it into a major occasion. Add them to a denim jacket, tote bag, backpack or pencil case and suddenly an otherwise ordinary outfit has a little more character.
For the friend whose Kindle is basically an extension of their personality, the Pink Dragon Kindle Backing Insert is particularly good.
The design features a black dragon against a pink background, complete with a pink bow, moon and sword. It has that slightly dramatic fantasy aesthetic that makes perfect sense for anyone who has ever become far too emotionally invested in a fictional world. (Fairly Quare Designs)
Shop the Pink Dragon Kindle Backing Insert
It is made to order for individual Kindle models, with Kobo sizing also available. The insert is matte laminated and designed to sit inside a clear case, giving a Kindle a completely different look without permanently changing the device. (Fairly Quare Designs)
For a gift for a book lover, fantasy reader, Kindle owner or friend who spends an impressive amount of time talking about fictional people, this is considerably more personal than buying another generic bookmark.
Then there is the friend who cannot be expected to participate in society until coffee has happened.
The Good Morning Dr. Abbot The Pitt Inspired Mug is made for them.
Shop the Good Morning Dr. Abbot The Pitt Inspired Mug
Inspired by The Pitt, the pink and purple 12oz ceramic mug features Dr. Jack Abbot. It is a particularly good choice for anyone who has become invested in the show, enjoys a good television drama, or simply appreciates having a favourite fictional doctor staring back at them while they drink their morning coffee. (Fairly Quare Designs)
It is dishwasher safe and made to order, so it is not just something that looks good sitting on a shelf. It can become part of their actual morning routine, which is probably the highest compliment a mug can receive.
The best thing about these gifts is that none of them feel like they were chosen by a gift guide written for people who have never met your best friend.
They have character.
The print works for the sentimental one. The pins suit the friend who treats sarcasm as a second language. The Kindle insert is made for the fantasy obsessed reader. The Dr. Abbot mug belongs with the person who needs caffeine and television drama before they are ready to face the day.
That is what makes a genuinely good best friend gift. It is not necessarily expensive. It does not need to be elaborate. It simply needs to make sense when you see it.
You look at it and think, “That is completely them.”
If you are looking for funny gifts for your best friend, unique gifts for women, quirky gifts, bookish gifts, fantasy gifts, Kindle accessories, funny mugs or something memorable for the person who is just a little bit unhinged, Fairly Quare Designs has plenty worth discovering.
Because your best friend already has enough ordinary things.
Give them something with a bit of personality.
They will probably appreciate it more than another candle.