From that first bracelet you bought at the mall for your junior-high sweetheart (the one that went green and gave her a rash as soon as the silver plating wore off) the tendency with girlfriend gifting is to go for the shiny.

Fine and dandy if your lady likes that sort of thing, but what if the relationship hasn't quite reached the necklace or diamond earring stage? Or the relationship has but your bank balance, not so much? What if, heaven forfend, the woman in question's interests and passions extend beyond all that glittery stuff?

Check out our alternative guide to gifts that your girlfriend might actually like, and maybe pick her up something a little more unique, imaginative and affordable this holiday season.

The Girlfriend Gift Guide

    Cliché they may be, but is there really a better way to say "I love you (and, by the way, I have excellent taste in music)" than an old-fashioned pause-and-record, handmade-tracklist-and-cover cassette mix-tape? This USB stick holder gives you a chance to impress both with your song selection and your artistic skills, old-school style. $20, wishingfish.com

    Approaching the makeup counter can be a daunting experience for a dude. So take the worry out of the process and lay down 50 bones on this mega-set for your missus. If she can't find something she likes among the 71 eyeshadow shades and 60 lipgloss colors then she doesn't deserve a nice holiday gift. $48, sephora.com

    Get your girl a selection of porn star lingerie and she'll probably roll her eyes. Get her some cute but comfy everyday undies like these and she'll not only think you're a sweet, considerate boyfriend, but maybe she'll even ditch those old ratty pairs she wears when she hasn't done her laundry. $42 for a pack of 7, figleaves.com

    If you still hope to conjure a bedroom atmosphere that's more French bordello than college dorm, you'll have to spend a little. Agent Provacateur intimates are filthy and high-end. Let's be honest, she's more likely to feel sexy in a vintage-inspired burlesque outfit than the cheesewire nylon thong from the local "Adult Books" store. Bra $170, panties $90, suspender $100, stockings $50, agentprovocateur.com

    If your lady is a budding Sofia Coppola, or just the kind of person who likes to photographically document every single moment of every night out, chances are she'll get a big kick out of one of these funky, pocket-sized camcorders. $180, theflip.com

    She's obsessed with Lagerfeld and Galliano, but your budget doesn't stretch further than Forever 21. This lush coffee-table book offers a host of fashion-porn pics and interviews with designers (that Olsen endorsement counts for something), at a price that won't get you a pair of socks at couture boutiques. $24, amazon.com

    Her apartment is a treasure trove of bohemian flourishes and knick-knacks, while your idea of interior design is removing a Pink Floyd poster to make room for a flatscreen TV: Fear not, pick her up anything from Anthropologie's home décor section -- like these painted vases. $18, anthropologie.com

    Think your girlfriend swans around the house in six-inch heels? The reality is, when you're not around, she spends most of her time in yoga pants and an ugly old college sweatshirt. Add a touch of luxury to her lounging with these Juicy Couture slippers. $68, neimanmarcus.com

    Tired of heated debates over the relative merits of Hong Kong action movies versus Katherine Heigl chick flicks? Why not furnish your girlfriend with a stash of DVDs you can both enjoy (or tolerate)? Try a triple-bill of smart, well-written rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally, High Fidelity and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Or a couple of sophisticated romantic classics -- like Jules et Jim in Criterion editions. $11, amazon.com

    Men may never fully understand the phenomenon that is "Sex and the City," but there's no denying that girls seem to love it. If you can't face enabling your girlfriend's addiction with another DVD box-set, get her this Carrie-approved leather-studded bracelet from Patricia Field, who designed the costumes for the SATC movie. $120, patriciafield.com