Second-guessing somebody's taste in clothes can be a bit daunting - would the too-trendy-for-words teenager on your list prefer a chunky bainin jumper or a pair of sequinned hotpants? Accessories, on the other hand are fun to buy and much easier to get right, particularly if you ascribe to the "you can never have too many bags/scarves/gloves" school of thought.
Many of the high street shops this year look like Aladdin's caves, with silk bags, sequins and beading cropping up all over the place.
Top of the list is Monsoon or Accessorize (the same people), which has all sorts of evening bags including a darling beaded version for £32.99 and a tiny cobweb-like number encrusted with roses at £13.99, as well as a fine collection of jewellery such as the strings of expensive-looking silver beads at £8.99.
The pony-skin clutch bag in cow-print is £21.99 - there's also a big range of these in the unbeatable bag department in Dublin's Brown Thomas in such colour combos as green and brown (£129).
If you're following the silk route you should also check out Oasis - don't be put off by the youthful image of the store as some of the accessories here, such as the silk and velvet evening bags (£16.99) and the fine black leather gloves (£24.99) would be good for all ages.
Others, such as the cream cowboy hats (£18) and the iridescent mobile phone covers (£6.99) are best for the young or the young at heart. The other hot-spot for accessories has to be Debenhams where you can scoop designer ranges at highstreet prices.
There's a gorgeous range of Jasper Conran cherry leather handbags from £75; milliner Philip Treacy has turned his hand to luxurious red leather gloves (£35) and top handbag designer, Nathalie Hambro has produced a delectable new range of silk and velvet bags (from £20) to join the likes of Lulu Guinness and Orla Kiely.
Certain accessories are spotted a lot on the streets this Christmas and most shops do their own take on the look. One is the diagonal strap backpack, with everywhere from Penney's (sturdy black or grey nylon at £6) to Mango (cream and chic at £17,90) offering a version.
You could also get everyone in the family a cosy hat with ear-flaps which are surprisingly flattering. Oasis do a sweet fleecy number with pom-poms at (£14.99) while Jack and Jones at Arnotts on Henry Street do a very manly number in black cord and fleece (£9.99). There's even a cute version for babies in Marks & Spencers in camel with matching gloves (£8).
Pop back to Accessorize for another brilliant kid's present - a backpack in the shape of a cuddly kangaroo, complete with a baby kangaroo that doubles up as a purse (£23.99) or check out the Rupert Bear slippers in M & S (from £12).
If finding a present for the man in your life is giving you trouble then look no further than the new den of interior design on Dublin's Camden Street, Inreden Design where a long, pleated grey fleece scarf by Design House of Stockholm will set you back just £30.
Scarves also figure large at F.X. Kelly's on Grafton Street in Dublin with lovely waffle wool scarves by Hugo Boss at £65 and a more flamboyant navy velvet number by Giorgio Armani clocking in at £159. Driving gloves by Dent at £75 are pretty classy too. Less classy but twice as funny is the nodding dog car accessory from Top Man (£15).
