There’s only a week and change till they open the gifts that you haven’t bought yet. Guys being a perennial challenge, we’ll fold them into a bunch of crash-and-burn last-minute ideas in the next column. This issue, let’s knock girlfriends off your list.

Unless you know Marylou’s size to the millimetre, I’d shy away from giving clothes to gal pals. Too small isn’t viewed as a compliment; it’s a callous reminder of her upcoming post-Christmas diet. Too large and she’ll see it as passive aggression. Dressing gowns are safe, especially gleaming leopard-print velour robes to slither around in; for the less flamboyant, consider jet black with leopard collar and cuffs ($89.99). The various locations of La Vie en Rose are the source; I saw these ones at 3003 Granville Street. At the same chain’s downtown location (1009 Robson Street), I found nonsexy but cuddly pyjamas in pink brushed cotton printed with cute stick-figure ballerinas (marked down to $19.99). Great for your kid sister.

Just because the snow’s gone doesn’t mean we’re finished with winter. With that in mind, check out Holt Renfrew’s smart take on the tuque (633 Granville Street). This is not the traditionally snug-fitting kind that will turn your friend into a pinhead but a big fat ribbed hat with a deep brim, like what you see on Paris runways. Knitted from an acrylic/wool blend, it comes in sage, white, black, or chocolate and is made in Italy (good value at $35). In the luxurious-trifles category, Holt’s also sells delicious silk eye masks ($25) to block out daylight or the bedside light if your partner insists on reading till 3 a.m. A couple of choices: Good Night in pink letters on black or Sweet Dreams embroidered in black on pink. Add a luxe touch to her wardrobe or closet with a set of five silver-and-grey-striped padded clothes hangers, each with a grey grosgrain bow (try saying that after a few Christmas tipples) and a matching bag for laundry ($40).

If she’s heavily into pedicures and toe cleavage, treat her to the Airplus for Her Spa Gift Bag, which neatly packs pumice stone, sugar scrub, heel cream, and those super-soft spa socks into its reusable see-through container, $19.97 at Zellers (various locations). Gal pals, Mom, aunts, coworkers—think bulk buying here. Perfume, like clothes, is another gift that’s easy to get wrong, but nobody’s going to complain if her laundry smells of clean lavender or lemon. L’Occitane en Provence (various locations) uses both in its Linen Water ($14 for a half-litre; the one-litre size, $18, is being discontinued but some supplies are still around).

Sweet-smelling or not, a six-pack of white socks won’t do it. Fashion hounds want the accessory of the moment, like the Mod Squad headbands at Le Château (various locations). There’s plaid ($5.95 and up) for everyday, Chinese brocade ($9.95) for any time, and a fantastic czarina-worthy rhinestone version for $15.

Scribbling your number on a scrap of paper is very uncool. How much smarter to snap open a business-card case. Be super nice, as a friend of mine was last year, and stock it with cards you design yourself and have printed at Kinko’s. Obsessions (various locations) carries a pretty version in vine-engraved stainless ($19.50), which could go into corporate headquarters or the bar at Chambar. An evenings-only version comes in sugar-pink enamel emblazoned with a martini glass in pink and white rhinestones ($29.95). Paris Hilton would love it.

At the other end of the fashion spectrum, your thrifter friend knows the angst of discovering a skirt that might stretch over her hips except she’s running late and there’s a fitting-room lineup… Do a good deed and arm her with a Pinocchio measuring tape to keep in her purse, and she’ll bless you every time she pulls on its nose: $6.50 at Lee Valley Tools (1180 Southeast Marine Drive; it’s admittedly a trek, but it’s open till 9 weeknights till Christmas, and if you go on-line to www.leevalley.com/ you can roar through the guy side of your gift list, phone in your order, pay ahead, and simply swing by the express desk).

Being strapped for time doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on some truly terrific gifts. A visit to Absolute Spa ( www.absolutespa.com/ ) will have visions of the all-day experience aptly named the Perfect Present ($620) and cashmere robes ($124.95 and $129.95 for XL) dancing through your head. More realistic bets are bottles of Chinoiserie’s Rose Angel and Cinnamon Spice nail polish ($11.95 each).

Finally, your décorophile friend who worships at the HGTV altar probably shudders at the whole red-and-green and (ew!) tartan aspects of Christmas. Head for the Bay (674 Granville Street), bypass the classic tree trimmers, and raid the Technopop area, where the only creatures stirring are lissome reindeer in tutus and pearls. Other eye catchers that won’t dumb down funky furnishings are nontraditional stockings such as green velvet appliquéd with colossal flowers in hot pink and orange and trimmed with turquoise feathers ($22.99) or designs that showcase flamingos or palm trees and seashells. Aloha, Santa baby, and good night.