Bridesmaids —best friends, true confidants, the circle of friends who have made your life great. Being a bridesmaid is a real responsibility. They get called upon to host a shower at a moment’s notice because someone else suddenly can’t, to spend hours arranging catering only to get “a small change” to the menu, to don (and pay for) a dress and accessories you might love but they might not . . . all while wearing a beautiful smile. (This is an improvement on the ancient role of the bridesmaid, which was to be a decoy for the bride just in case evil spirits were targeting her!)

For all this, your bridesmaids really deserve a little something special.

Adorable COACH clutch purse

We’ve been cruising the web not only to see what’s trendy for bridesmaid gifts this year but to get feedback on what people like. Here’s what we’re seeing:

Personalized and monogrammed

• Monogrammed jewelry, especially simple initial necklaces, so teensy and timeless they go anywhere with anything – feedback is mixed, with lots of comments about how tastes in jewelry are so personal that any jewelry is iffy. We say, if you know your friend well, go for it. Small, classic items are more foolproof.

•Monogrammed bags stuffed with little luxuries and goodies: makeup bags; tote bags with destination items like floppy hats, flip flops, beach towels; cell phone holder; adorable tank tops and spa wraps; gorgeous robes of cotton or silk. Lots of yays for these!

• Over sized monogrammed men’s oxford shirts – check these out on Etsy. These serve as dressing gowns for final makeup and preps on the big day, then double as just-out-of-the shower fresh cover-ups at home.

•COACH monogrammed writstlets and clutches – classy, useful, thumbs up!

Other ideas

•Braided and friendship bracelets

•Gift certificates for massage and facial/body treatments

•Cosmetic bags tucked full of fragranced soaps, gelees, crèmes, eye pillows, candles, linen sachets – yays for Vitabath In Bloom ASIAN ORCHID & COCONUT Body Wash!

•Gift certificates for bridesmaid gowns and accessories

•Gift certificates for hair styling and makeup – much appreciated

•Get personal: a Blurb book filled with photos and memories; a personalized CD with your GF’s fave tunes.

Whatever the gift, bridesmaids really appreciate being thanked in a way that makes them feel pampered and indulged, too.