White Elephant Gift Ideas for the Faux Sophisticate

A time honored tradition at many office parties and group gatherings is the White Elephant Gift Exchange. During a white elephant gift exchange, items are exchanged that might otherwise be considered junk, kitschy, or just taking up space. The object of a white elephant gift exchange is to try and come up with a unique object to give, that while useless, is coveted and will be fought over by the group. The best gifts exchange hands many times before the exchange is over. Often, a common theme is suggested, such as: sports, toys, or antiques. At your next White Elephant Gift Exchange, why not try an exchange for the faux sophisticate? The faux sophisticate is somebody who pretends to be wealthy, or upper class, yet fails miserably due to a lack of refinement. Here are a few suggestions for a white elephant gift exchange for the faux sophisticate:

Poker Playing Dogs. It's art. At least, it was painted by an artist. This famous painting by C. M. Coolidge is the height of kitsch. It's classier, and probably rarer, than a Velvet Elvis painting, but it's not exactly the type of painting you'd want hanging in your library next to first edition, signed books. Of course, getting the poker playing dogs will probably lead you to wanting other famous works, such as Churchill as a bulldog, or "Chairmen of the Board", a painting of horses hindquarters in line at a stable.

Framed poster of the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa - is she smiling, is she pregnant, is she just mischievous? Now you can give your friends all the beauty, without the hefty price tag. Let your friend show their fabulous taste in art by hanging the most over-displayed work of art in the entire world over their fireplace mantle. Let's face it, even the original is kitschy. Smoking jacket. With all the current legislation regarding smoking in restaurants and public buildings, what better gift is there for the person who wants to rebel? While drinking brandy and smoking cigars and discussing real estate and their stock portfolio with their oil baron friends, the person who receives this gift will be the height of fashion. 1950's fashion, possibly, but the height of fashion nevertheless.

Bust of Mozart. Although it's perfectly at home in a music conservatory, a bust of Mozart is out of place in the average home. A bust serves no function, except as a decoration, and then, there are much better ones for most people's homes. A bust of Mozart would not fit in anywhere but the top of a grand piano, and even then, it is just too tacky.

A pipe. Nobody smokes a tobacco pipe anymore, so the pretentiousness of the white elephant gift makes this an unusual choice. Be prepared for people to gather around laughing as the gift is opened. As an added bonus, throw in a cheap bag of apple scented pipe tobacco. In the current anti-smoking climate, you are ensuring that this gift will remain unused.

A white elephant gift exchange for the faux sophisticate is the perfect opportunity for all to experience the glamour and glitz of trying to be refined and trendy, yet, in keeping with the spirit of the white elephant gift exchange, failing miserably. By giving items that the faux sophisticate would find attractive, you can insure a fun filled afternoon or evening.