A gift of clothing comments not only on what a person likes, or what the giver thinks they'll like, but also on what he or she looks like. To give clothing is to make known, quite concretely, your perception of someone else's size. If the giftee is a woman, proceed with caution. Buying clothing blindly is like purchasing furniture for a house without first taking measurements. In fact, the analogy may be too apt—select a garment on the large side, and a house is what the receiver may feel she resembles. But purchasing on the lower end of the spectrum also has its pitfalls: Does a too-tiny garment mean you think she's overweight?
I must say that I'm of two minds about this proscription. One of my best gifts ever was a beautiful silk robe from a former boyfriend in a flatteringly small size that fit like a glove. I've received plenty of not-so-good clothing items as well: A matronly 2-piece dress in electric blue from another boyfriend, itchy sweaters, joke t-shirts, etc. Overall, though, I can think of worse gifts.
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