Etiquette expert reveals the most offensive gifts you should NEVER buy for a woman

As the holidays approach, it can be difficult to know exactly what to buy the women in your life.

Whether you’re looking for an office Secret Santa, a partner, or your mother, there are certain gifts that scream insulting and rude.

Last year, a gift expert in Texas revealed the “three items you shouldn’t gift to women”: household cleaners, scales and anti-aging skin care products.

Content creator Leah, who makes videos as Leah’s Gift Guide, previously posted a TikTok explaining why “these items may be considered offensive or send the wrong message.”

Many commenters agreed with her, with one writing, “If you don’t know if they like it, just don’t buy it. Better to be safe than to have to pay for a divorce right after Christmas.”

To discover other gifts that could be seen as hugely offensive to women this holiday season, FEMAIL contacted an etiquette expert Myka Meierthe founder of Beaumont Etiquette and co-founder of the Plaza Hotel Finishing Program.

Myka, based in New York City, told DailyMail.com that she believes ‘gifting should not make someone feel like they are being criticized.’

The etiquette coach detailed all the worst possible gifts men could give women this holiday season, from gifting lingerie to a coworker to giving a friend a gym membership they didn’t ask for.

To discover other gifts that could be seen as wildly offensive to women this holiday season, FEMAIL contacted etiquette expert Myka Meier

It can be very difficult to gift a Secret Santa at the office, especially if you don’t know the person you are buying for.

Female employees regularly go viral for sharing nightmare gifts they receive from their colleagues, from empty beer bottles to two weeks’ notice.

If you’re looking for a gift for an office Secret Santa, the author of Business Etiquette Made Easy suggested avoiding “intimate or overly personal items like lingerie or anything sexual.”

Myka said it’s also best to skip weight-loss products and anything related to your mood, like stress balls, clothes in specific sizes, or skin care that targets specific concerns.

Instead, the etiquette pro encouraged sticking to “neutral, professional gifts that are appreciated by all” to avoid awkward moments around the water cooler.

For those looking for the perfect gift for their partner, Myka said it’s best to avoid “anything that’s impersonal or thoughtless” — or anything that’s chore-based or that screams self-help.

So put down that vacuum and don’t even think about a gym membership — unless the woman in your life has specifically asked for one — because Myka warned that this “may be offensive.”

If you’re a guy who thinks your girlfriend is expecting or hoping for an engagement ring, Myka said, “No jewelry box of any kind if she’s expecting a proposal and doesn’t get one.”

If you’re looking for a gift for an office Secret Santa, the author of Modern Etiquette Made Easy suggested avoiding “intimate or overly personal items like lingerie or anything sexual” (stock image)

For those looking for the perfect gift for their partner, Myka said it’s best to avoid chore-based items like vacuum cleaners (stock image)

For men who are already married and visiting their mother-in-law, Myka said they should “avoid overly intimate or impersonal gifts,” even if they are jokes.

Unfortunately, other people may not laugh around the Christmas tree if you reveal an inside joke that isn’t as funny as it previously seemed.

“Avoid underwear, tailored clothes and even perfume unless you know her signature scent or she has requested it, self-help books or cash,” added the author of Modern Etiquette Made Easy.

As for what men should buy for their own mothers, Myka recommended skipping “lazy or thoughtless gifts like a generic gift card.”

Instead of giving gifts that could be perceived as rude, Myka suggested choosing “something sincere that shows appreciation and love, or something very personal to her.”