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Step 1
Go with food. Any sort of food item is a good present for people you don't know well. Find a nice tea, a fruit assortment basket or even a membership to a monthly wine club. If you know she likes chocolate or a particular food like cheese, you can put together different kinds for her to try. If you're not sure what she likes, stick to more neutral items like tea or fruit.
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Step 2
Consider clothing. You may not want to buy her a shirt or outfit if you don't know exactly what size she wears, but clothing accessories like a nice scarf or hat can make a great gift. If you've seen her wearing a certain color a lot, buy an accessory in that color. Stick to clothing that is one size fits all, like mittens.
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Step 3
Go to a jewelry store. Unless you know the woman well, buying her jewelry could indicate a gift too serious or personal. But a charm bracelet, funky earrings from a vintage store or a simple necklace with an inspirational saying on it is a more noncommittal gift. Make sure her ears are pierced if you buy her earrings, but necklaces and bracelets are usually safe.
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Step 4
Buy tickets to an event you know she'll like. If she's into ballet, monster trucks or alien conventions, see if there's an event in your area happening near the time that you're giving her the gift. This is when it would be helpful to know someone who can tell you what she likes, but you can always guess and pick an event most people would enjoy, such as tickets to a famous play.
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Step 5
Look for music she likes. Buy her CDs by obscure musicians in genres she listens to that she probably hasn't heard. Buy her a box set of her favorite band's music. Or buy her an online gift certificate for a downloading site such as iTunes. This way, she can buy the music she listens to.
