From Strug to Swag: What to Exchange Your Struggle Gifts For

You do your best every year to avoid it. You do the research. You leave behind clues. You make very deliberate hints at the dinner table. You even send out a list with links. But it always happens: you receive the most struggle gifts ever. And you have to put on the face of enjoyment and happiness. Yes, it is the thought that counts, which keeps you honest, but then you have that moment of hope that hits you like a cool breeze on a crisp winter day. Inside the box, there is a gift receipt.

You can actually turn those struggle gifts into something filled with enough swag to last you infinite holidays with your crazy ass family. But you need to be tactful in what you exchange your gifts for—because if they catch you exchanging that “nice coat” your mom got you for some new Nikes, than you have a lot of explaining to do. Here's how to properly upgrade your near-miss presents to stuff you would actually use or wear.

Exchange it for: A slim, knit tie. $95, available at Stoffa

Your grandpa’s holiday tie collection is extensive—and it all stemmed from the crappy ones your dad and his siblings used to get him when they were younger. He thinks it’s funny, and it was… six lame ties ago. This time, it’s way past due to turn that fat tie with the snowman print all over it into one you can actually wear in public, like a slim, Italian knit version sans festive ornaments.

Exchange It For: A blackwatch tartan wool scarf. $28, available at Need Supply Co.

Grandma knit you another scarf, so you're convinced she hates you. Good thing your eBay game is on fleek and you really know how to hit those selling points for that sect of people with really weird homemade scarf fetishes. Turn that money over and get a new one in blackwatch tartan wool to add a little pattern to your life.

Exchange It For: A Fair Isle knit sweater. $90, available at J. Crew

Your best friend thinks he is soooo funny because the sweater has Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on it. Charming. But you're not one for novelty clothing items because your style is no game. If you want to try and (somewhat) stay in the holiday spirit, grab a festive crewneck sweater with Fair Isle jacquard details on it so it's actually wearable all winter long.

Exchange It For: A slim, unstructured two-button navy blazer. $195, available at Hugh & Crye

Your girlfriend's mom is desperate for you to get a job, so she thought she'd slyly set you up with this brown sportcoat to, I don't know, maybe wear to an interview or something? The truth is, she's right, but you don't need to look like a 1970s sports broadcaster. Exchange it for a slimmed-down, neutral-color unstructured blazer, that way it'll almost feel as comfortable as a denim jacket. Now go get that entry-level position and work your way to the top.

Exchange It For: An analog watch with a leather strap $65, available at Timex

Your dad is convinced one cannot tell time without a watch, even though whenever you're asked what the time is, your instinct is to check your phone. So the rubber strap digital watch that lights up is crucial to your well-being in his eyes. You can't explain to him that watches are just a style accessory and that the upgrade you have to make to an analog watch with a luxurious leather strap just looks better, but you try to anyway. Shouting match breaks out, mom starts crying and a Christmas tradition carries on!

Exchange It For: Lined leather touchscreen gloves. $130, available at MR PORTER

Mittens. You know, the ones that have one big finger and a thumb? The ones your niece wears? Yea, those. Your initial thought was to burn them with fire, but you’re smarter than that. Luckily, you do need gloves, so a nice cashmere-lined leather pair will give you all the protection and style you need. As an added bonus, plenty of designers have started making gloves compatible with your touchscreen phones. Ain't the future great?

Exchange It For: A leather iPhone case. $45, available at Apple

Your mom finally learned how to use the Internet and found a website where she can put family photos onto an iPhone case. For yours? The family chihuahua in a personalized hoodie. Sweet. Before you can let the embarrassment get to catastrophic levels, politely tell her that you’d like her to have it (especially since it will only fit her iPhone 3). She will be so thrilled you let her keep such a sweet memento of you and hopefully understand your need for an iPhone case results in one a little more substantial, like a nice, sturdy premium leather one. You know, because “you’re a little rougher with your phone.”

Exchange It For: A waxed canvas tote bag. $154, available at Filson

There's nothing wrong with the backpack your older sister got you for Christmas. It's the thought that counts and he knew you needed something to carry all your belongings to work. Unfortunately, the swagless multi-pocketed black backpack doesn't quite fit your style aesthetic. It's not her fault she doesn't quite understand—your steez is just way too advanced for her. Luckily, that gift receipt is your ticket to bag freedom and allows you to exchange it for a nice, grown-up tote bag in waxed canvas with a couple internal pockets to hold your other grown-up things—like the Macbook Air your parents bought for you and the Lunchables snack packs your mom always denied you as a kid.

Exchange It For: Leather card case. $245, available at Saint Laurent Paris

With the advent of apps like Apple Pay and Venmo, who actually uses wallets for cash anymore? Slim down your pocket with a minimal leather card case that offers a heavy dose of style. Splurging on a designer one provides a flex when you're on a date and whip out your card—you are paying for her, right?

Exchange It For: Nah, keep it. $15 and up, available at My Snuggie Store

Why would you exchange the greatest invention since couches and weekends? Snuggies are the ultimate swagtastic strug gift, you ungrateful jerk. These modern marvels are the official uniform of binge-watching Netflix and Hulu during the slow crawl between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.