CosmopolitanAustraliaJune2015 .

COSMOPOLITAN June 2015 19

I yelled, “Dear Lord, what evil is

Only mildly bemused. (^) this?” and threw it across the room.
Would you say it’s just not your style?
Do you have a frenemy’s
birthday coming up?
Yes – I don’t do
pink/bath salts/
chai tea.
No, it’s no one’s
style. It’s future
kindling.
Yes, she’s
turning “who the
hell cares?”
No, I’m a nice
person and like
everyone.
REGIFT IT DON’T REGIFT IT
COSMO LIFE
LESSON #
THE ART OF
Everybody does it. Here’s how to do it the right way
only in cosmo
I
t’s not illegal, it’s not even frowned upon. Truly, it’s
not. But there are rules, so pay attention. Don’t
regift the gift to the person who gifted you the
gift in the first place. Don’t roll your eyes, it happens
(and that’s what Post-it notes on presents are for).
Never regift anything that’s broken, damaged or
has been used (even once).
Ideally, wait a full year before you regift. Always
regift outside the friendship group. Like, way outside.
Never risk the “gift-giver” going to a mutual friend’s
house and spotting that one-off tribal vase they got for
you from Africa. And for that matter, if you get busted,
take it like a woman. That is to say with style, grace and
a compliment: “Yes, but I knew you’d enjoy it more than
me... Also, that shirt really brings out your eyes.”
But most importantly, get creative and go large
with wrapping. Like, Kanye’s ego large. Cards, ribbons,
bows, edible confetti. Anything that makes up for the
effort you didn’t put into actually buying them a present.
OK to regift:
books, wine, candles,
homewares, gift vouchers.
Not OK to regift:
hand-knitted scarves, pets,
anything monogrammed.
BUT WHAT IF
I’M BUSTED?
You have but fi ve
emoji-based options...
WHY, I DO DECLARE... THINK AGAIN BEFORE TELLING YOUR REGIFTEE THEIRS IS A SLOPPY SECOND. IT KIND OF TAKES THE AIR OUT OF THE WHOLE
GIFT-GIVING SHEBANG. IT’S LIKE TELLING YOUR COUSIN YOU ONLY INVITED HER TO DINNER BECAUSE YOUR BOYFRIEND HAS FOOTY PRACTICE.

1. You got me. Still
   friends, right?


2. Oooh, yeah.
   Yeah I did do that.


3. I am ashamed.
   Please forgive me.


4. Can’t talk. Sleeping.


5. I am speechless...
   I am without speech.

REGIFTING

How horrifi ed were you when you received it?

SHOULD

YOU

REGIFT

IT?

WORDS BY EMMA MARKEZIC. GETTY IMAGES

Little did she know

the gift came from

her friend’s cousin’s

brother-in-law.