The countdown has begun for the holidays and to celebrate the gift-giving season, we’ve tapped some of our favorite designers to share their funniest gift blunders. Here’s to fond memories, lots of laughter and gift receipts.
Holiday Gifts
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Holiday Gifts #1
Someone sent me a painting of myself. It doesn't look anything like me. Of course, we hung it, but we keep laughing about it. —Tommy Hilfiger
It was totally awkward. I tried to keep a straight face and told Ally [Hilfiger] I had it commissioned. —Dee Hilfiger
Image: Getty
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Holiday Gifts #2
My teenage years were already awkward and as a budding fashionista (in my mind), my sartorial choices at age 14 were starting to become quite specific. In my fantasy, I was wearing Charivari. In reality, it was something from the young men’s department at Macy's, so it was the worst timing for my parents that Christmas to think to give me clothes. Specifically a pair of pants — already a hard item to gift. They had an elastic back waistband, asymmetrical front pocket flaps with snaps, multiple seams, patches and were light mauve. It was the best and worst of the 80s in one pair of pants. —Peter Som
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Holiday Gifts #3
My parents gave me a dictionary for Christmas one year. While I now appreciate the breadth of my vocabulary and spelling skills, at the time, I was hoping for something a little more fun. I was only seven. —Erin Fetherston
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Holiday Gifts #4
A regifted wallet from a luxury brand gift bag. —Christopher and Nicholas Kunz of Nicholas K
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Holiday Gifts #5
Samantha [Ronson] and I got these horrendous, matching ski jackets and these weird training bras one year when we were way too young and didn’t need them. We were mortified to take them out in front of our brothers. —Charlotte Ronson
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Holiday Gifts #6
The worst gift I ever got was a pasta maker. Not to say that's the worst gift, but considering I don't cook, it was definitely a gift I don't have use for. All my meals are take in or eat out! —Alex Drexler of Alex Mill
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Holiday Gifts #7
It was a prank, or at least, I'd like to believe so. I was 14, and I was given this set of comic books as gifts by my neighbors. Thrilled with the books, I started reading them on Christmas. But the day after I was devastated to learn that they were borrowed from the neighbors. They came to collect them, and it scared me! —Bibhu Mohapatra
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Holiday Gifts #8
No gift could ever be a horrible gift, but as a kosher vegetarian someone once gifted me a dinner for four at a steakhouse. Next time a dinner for four at Blossom would be best! —Karen Erickson of Erickson Beamon
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Holiday Gifts #9
During my fourth grade Christmas, I got a pair of black satin parachute pants and a burgundy and black Chams de Baron shirt. The saddest part of this gift is that I begged for it! —Robert Tagliapietra of Costello Tagliapietra
A beige poly-cotton poplin jogging suit with maroon piping from my parents. I was 20 years old. —Jeffrey Costello of Costello Tagliapietra
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Holiday Gifts #10
A sloppy kiss! —Arden Wohl
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Holiday Gifts #11
Um, the worst gift...a fake Snuggie in bubblegum pink! —Katharine Polk of Houghton
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Holiday Gifts #12
"One year, everyone bought me wine glasses, whiskey glasses, flasks or some other type of drinking paraphernalia. That's when I realized I might've been drinking too much." —Brandon Sun
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Holiday Gifts #13
That’s a hard one...I guess that time my husband bought me an espresso machine. —Rebecca Taylor
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Holiday Gifts #14
A handheld, battery-operated milk frother. I take my coffee black. Or adult footsie PJs. —Daniela Anastasio Bardazzi of Etienne Aigner
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Holiday Gifts #15
This would have to be clothing. My wardrobe is a personal expression of myself, and I am very particular with what I wear. I have received so many generous gifts over the years, but always feel bad as they tend to find a permanent home in my closet. —Tadashi Shoji
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Holiday Gifts #16
My mom gave me a three-pack of Hanes tidy white underpants with the matching set of white athletic socks as a Christmas present when I was 13. That says it all. —Jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris
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Holiday Gifts #17
The first Christmas in our design studio, my business partner, Jesse, gave me a label maker. —Karolina Zmarlak
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Holiday Gifts #18
A flock of sheep that took me two years to find a new home for!!!!! —John Patrick of Organic by John Patrick
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Holiday Gifts #19
The flu! —Shoe designer Sarah Flint
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Holiday Gifts #20
I once received a gift certificate to a restaurant that wasn't a favorite and known not to be the best restaurant in terms of the quality of food and service. But, of course, I still felt obligated to not let it go to waste. So we decided to use it and dreaded going, and the joke being on us, it ended up being one of the best times we had dining out. —Steven Alan
