Late night therapy, a quick drink or just a hug... friends are a vital part of life. So, celebrate your bond on Friendship Day with our round up of all things nice! Rhea Dhanbhoora and Samreen Samad give you a heads up...
After Mother’s Day and Father’s Day — here’s another reason to make someone close to you feel special. Friendship Day is this weekend (August 7) and it’s the perfect excuse to show your friends how much you care. Whether you want to go all out with an indulgent piece of jewellery or spa day, or stay simple with some cologne or a gift card — there’s a whole range of options to choose from. We give you a few great ideas for what to gift your friend as well as where to go for that perfect day of fun and friendship…
Gifts Galore
No matter how old you are, everyone always loves receiving gifts. Here’s a few options for what to gift your friend this weekend:
Friendship Bracelets
You may be too old for friendship bands but bracelets are the perfect gift for a grown up friend. If you’re feeling exceptionally generous, gift your friend an elegant and stylish 23K gold plated bracelet. You can source a number of exclusive designs for both men as well as women. Blend accessories by Sannam Chopra (above) also has a range of bracelets at an attractive 15% off. We love the bracelets from Modicare (left). They have a unique combination of Far Infrared, Negative Ions and Magnetic technologies and look just like the friendship bands we used to be so fond of.
Our pick: Modicare TriActive Bracelets for `4,479 and Friendship bracelets from Sannam Chopra for `100 - `300.
Accessories
For the girl who loves her accessories or men who like to accessorise, jewellery makes the perfect gift. Toniq has a range of necklaces, rings and earings that will be the perfect addition to your friends jewellery box. We also love Promod’s bejeweled owl necklace (extreme right).
Our pick: Owl necklace from Promod for `950
Stylish bags
There’s always room for one more stylish bag in someone’s closet and there’s never a dearth of pretty ones to find. You can choose wallets, totes, clutches and saddle bags. Hidesign has an assorted gifting line of bags that includes all this and more.
Our pick: Hidesign Sling It on Envelope Bag (below) for `2,895
A heady scent
Everyone appreciates a good perfume or cologne. They make the perfect Friendship Day gift because you can choose from affordable and not over the top to luxurious and indulgent. Yardley has a lovely collection that’s perfect to gift and has scents such as classic Yardley Lavender and Red Rose for women and Gentleman (above) and Equity for men.
Our pick:Yardley English Lavender for `600 and Yardley Gentleman for `750
Gift cards
Don’t know what to gift your friend? Try opting for gift cards instead of a gift. If your friend loves reading, you can opt for a gift card from a bookstore such as Landmark or Crossword. If they love clothes, try gift cards from places such as Mango. BookmyShow also has a variety of gift cards that will give your friend a variety of choices. They can choose from movies, theatre productions, sports and gigs which allows them to choose a time and location of their choice. They’re valid for an entire year, making it a wonderful present.
Our pick: BookmyShow gift cards from `150 – `1,000, Mango Gift Card for `2,000
Hats
Nothing says casual and friendly like a fun and stylish hat. It’s different, unique and you can pick one according to your friend’s personal style. Whether it’s a jeweled beret or a funky fedora, you can take your pick and get your friend something that’s perfect for them. Aldo has a stylish red fedora for anyone who’s bold enough to carry it off with panache.
Our pick: Aldo Fedora Hat (below) for approximately `1,000
Makeup
Is your friend a complete girl, who can’t get enough of her makeup? Whether she’s a complete girly girl who’d love a customised gift set (Inglot has some lovely options to choose from) or the more functional sort who’d prefer eye pencils or some mascara, you can get exactly the right gift that they’d appreciate.
Our pick: Maybelline New York Diamond Glow for `375, Maybelline New York Volume Colossal Mascara for `275.
Offers for your foodie friends…
If you’re not the gifting type, take a look at some of these brilliant offers. You and your friend (or group of friends) can head down to have the perfect weekend and indulge in some good food at great prices:
The Banyan Tree
Indulge in a variety of dishes from salads and main courses to milkshakes and desserts at The Banyan Tree. Head down with your friends and get a 20% discount on your bill. Specials include Roast Chicken, Chicken Tikka Wrap, Pollo Ad Astra, Calzone, Penne Ala Vodka, Indian Salsa Cheese Pani Puri, Cilantro and more. For dessert, you can try their Apple Crumble, Philadelphia Cheesecake or Blueberry Cheesecake.
Where: Banyan Tree Café, Queens Mansion, G.T. Rd, Near Cathedral School, Fort
Offer: Get a 20 % discount on your bill on Friendship Day
Crepe Station
Is there anything better than a Sunday brunch with your BFF’s? Walk into Crepe Station this Sunday and enjoy their American, English, Belgian or Spanish breakfast. You can also try their pizzas, Continental sizzlers and more. And don’t forget to try their waffles!
Where: Outlets across the city
Offer: Meal for two for `800
Monginis
No celebration is complete without cake and Monginis understands that. Get together with your friends, have your cake and eat it too! They have a special line of cakes (above), which have been customised specially for Friendship Day.
Where: Outlets across the city.
Offer: Friendship day cakes from `250 — `750
Delivery Chef
Deliverychef allows you to present your friends with Friendship Day cakes, cupcakes and chocolates. You can pick a half kg box of chocolates from Chocoholics for `400 or gift them a box of 6 vanilla or chocolate flavoured cupcakes priced at `240. The best part is that you get 15% off on Friendship Day as well as an additional 10% discount on orders above `500.
Where: www.deliverychef.in
Offer: Get 15% off on your purchase and an additional 10% discount on orders above `500.
Pure Sin Chocolates
If your BFF has a sweet tooth then nothing will make them happy more than a box of Pure Sin chocolates. This box includes mouth watering flavours include Berry d'Cheez, Berry Got d' Blues, Daze of Hazel, Nuts about u, Almond Rocks, Tangerine Tango, Mr.Brown, Burnt Sugar Cups, September Crush, Chinoz in Brown, What the fudge!, Trippin' on Cherries and lots more.
Where: Pure Sin Chocolates, G-5 Pil Court, 111 M.Karve Road, Behind Bangkok Airways, Churchgate.
Offer: Spend `400 and get a free chocolate lollipop.
Spa Indulgence
Friends of the same feather rejuvenate together! If going out for lunch and dinner is too boring and you want to try something different and relaxing, then walk into Sukho Thai: The Foot Spa. Experience the best foot massages from a wide variety including the Thai Traditional Foot Massage, Foot Massage with Back, Head and Shoulder, Herb Bun, Hot Stones and Scrub and more. Enjoy chatting and spending quality time together while getting pampered.
Where: SkyZone, Level 1, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel
When: August 1 to August 7
Offer: Friendship Week Offer (Group booking offer) on every 4 bookings, get 1 therapy free.
Other Friendship Facts
- Friendship Day was first celebrated in the year 1935.
- It is held on the first Sunday of every August.
- The whole of February is International Friendship Month.
- Did you know that women have their own special Friendship Day? It’s celebrated on the third Sunday of September.
- Friendship Day needed an ambassador and guess who got the job? Well loved cartoon character Winnie the Pooh!