Best gifts for Mother's Day: From a BOSS Bespoke bag to a Vera Wang bouquet

A bunch of petrol-station carnations isn't quite as convincing a thank-you for multiple hours of labour as Sarah Young's selection of gifts

Take a cue from Mother of Pearl which yielded Victoriana florals for its spring/summer collection

A barrage of sentimental gush is imminent: in case you had forgotten, Mother's Day is this Sunday. Somewhere beneath the heaps of mass-produced cards (some 30 million sent every year in the UK) lies a genuine attempt at honouring the sacrifices mothers make for us unruly offspring. For that you can thank Anna Jarvis, who conceived the day as a means of personal celebration between families in 1908.

Fast forward a century or so, and it's become more about spending money than spending time. While there's plenty wrong with that development, a bunch of petrol-station carnations isn't quite as convincing a thank-you for multiple hours of labour as, say, this limited edition BOSS Bespoke bag (1 - see gallery below). Designed by Mobama-endorsed Jason Wu, the "Intarsia" is the perfect spring addition to any wardrobe, above all your mum's; mainly because you get to borrow it afterwards. I bet Malia has her eye on it already.

For the more traditional (or forgetful), flowers are a sure bet. But, still, eschew the forecourt floristry. Take a cue from Mother of Pearl (2) which yielded Victoriana florals for its spring/summer collection and opt for a bunch that offers a more stylish experience, such as this premium bouquet from Interflora and Vera Wang (3).

Equally, while perfume is not entirely groundbreaking gifting, the launch of Sarah Burton's first fragrance for Alexander McQueen (4) is. It not only smells exquisite but is guaranteed to appeal to those with an affinity for shiny objects; its facetted cap and antiqued gold feathers are a must for any magpie mother.

While, traditionally, Mother's Day serves to recognise those that go above and beyond with a showering of gifts, there are those of us that see fit to lower the tone entirely. Whether it's an inside joke or your mum really is a bit of a battleaxe (in a rose-garden), why not acknowledge Mommie Dearest (5) with a copy of the cult classic movie. Disclaimer: a sense of humour is compulsory.