What's a good gift for a pre-operative transgendered lady?

A gift card to a clothing store or a famous makeup brand would allow her to pick out exactly what she wants. Depends on how you feel about gift cards – some people see them as impersonal or a cop-out, but I can tell you that I love receiving them.

A gift card to a ladies clothing store sounds good.

What does “of a certain age” mean?

I agree with @syz… I love gift cards. If you feel like it’s a cop-out, you can always add a funny little note. Something like “with all the great, new things happening in your life, I thought a little shopping would be just what you need!”

@FutureMemory : “of a certain age” means she’s no spring chicken. :)

Is this a gift to celebrate her transition? If not, I wouldn’t worry about getting something that you don’t know about because it is related to her gender. Get her something else that you know she’d like that isn’t gender-specific.

flowers are nice, old fashioned but still beautiful :)

Make up is a great idea because her favorite brands might be very expensive or impossible to get in her country.

e.g. Last time I went to Thailand, I brought Cover Girl for my aunts, for that reason.

I just saw that it has to be something you need to send by mail so I would add another vote for giftcards. For a store where she can buy makeup, fancy toiletries, accessories and things to make her look and smell pretty.

All women even women with penises, I would imagine love smelly stuff. You can’t go wrong with smelly soaps and lotions.

Truthfully, I think men love smelly stuff too but they are much less likely to admit it. ;)

Barring that, a gift card to a nice store would be fabulous.

Remember, you’re buying for a woman. It’s okay if she has a penis, she’s still a lady. :)

@KatawaGrey I love smelly stuff as long as it doesn’t make me smell like a girl :P

@downtide: And yet, my boyfriend loves my smelly shampoos and soaps. I think he uses me as an excuse to use them. ;)

Something that goes with a hobby. That way you don’t have to worry about it being inappropriate.

You are such a sweet man. How about a gift certificate to a quality lingerie shop? Most women don’t know how to pick out a proper fitting bra, even if they have been wearing them since they were a teen. And I’m assuming her panties will fit a bit differently after an operation.

I’m with @iamthemob .

a cigar cutter?

Perfume!?

Well, I am a “pre operative transgendered lady”, and I like to get the same gift you would give to me if I wasnt a “pre operative transgendered lady”.

You would be the best judge to know what to give her, since you know her, and we only know she is transgendered.

What gift would you get for a girlfriend (because that’s essentially what you are asking)? In this case, the opportunity to underscore her femininity may be very much a statement of your honoring what she is doing to correct her birth defect. For my girlfriends, I think of things like a journal to keep their thoughts and dreams, a book of affirmations, some fun candles, perhaps a small piece of jewelry that I think she’d appreciate. I might find a whimsical nightgown or bathrobe that I think she’d like or a nice picture frame or small piece of original artwork.