I don’t know about you, but sometimes buying gifts for the men in my life is the hardest of all! Last year was a bit more of a strategic approach to gifting the fellows in your life, so this year I wanted to touch on a few fail-proof pieces (and ideas) that are sure to tickle his fancy. Do make sure to read through the descriptions because there are a lot of sneaky links to variations of products and cost-friendly alternatives.
One point point of note – if you are looking for more style forward clothing outside of what’s listed below I love to peruse Mr. Porter, Outerknown (especially if he’s more casual and outdoorsey), Huckberry (ditto), Todd Snyder (I’m jealous of their knitwear collection), Asket, Octobre (one of my favorites for women too!), A Days March, Colorful Standard (great basics – also have women’s) , Corridor NYC, and Taylor Stitch for fun men’s clothes and accessories.
Unbound Merino basics – every single man in my family that I’ve given a merino wool t-shirt to ends up loving it. Their pieces are so incredibly soft and great quality. They’re especially good for fellows that run hot (merino wool does an excellent job of keeping you warm when you’re cold and cool when you’re hot). Icebreaker is also a great option, especially for underwear.
Sid Mashburn belt with interchangeable buckle – Chris got this before our trip to Europe and loves it! I love that it’s super versatile, but still looks refined and put together. It gives him the options to swap out between gold and silver buckles or between something more formal and more casual.
Experience based gifts – if you feel like there isn’t a physical object that you think the man/men in your life would enjoy, consider something that’s experienced based. I’ve had the Royal Scotsman train earmarked ever since Chris’s 30’s birthday (perhaps for selfish reasons because it looks so cool!). Most of their journey’s are scenery oriented, but they also have a whiskey-tour package which would make a great gift for anyone that loves the beverage. There’s also Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with destinations all through Europe. There are also many options in the US!
A few other ideas are a local tasting for his favorite beverage for example, wine, beer, whiskey, or coffee (I believe they are called a coffee cupping), a mixology class for any wannabe bartenders, a golf fitting for those that love golf or even covering all or a portion of a golf trip. Alternatively, gift him a facial or massage. My brother and I got my Dad his first facial a few years ago for his birthday and he absolutely loved it. Proof that even 70 year old men need some pampering too.
Gravel Toiletry Kit – (currently on sale!) I love a good leather toiletry case just as much as the next person, but the functionality of these toiletry kits are next level. Chris got the small one for himself and as soon as I saw it I immediately purchased the big one for myself/us. I used the big one for our two month trip in Europe this year!
Subscription to Monocle – Monocle feels like goop with a more masculine flare (haha). It’s an elevated lifestyle magazine that delivers in-depth reporting and commentary on everything from global affairs, to entrepreneurship, the media, design, fashion, city-making and more. It’s beautiful. They also have this book on Portugal that I wish we bought before our trip!
Skincare – I know this might seem weird, but I would venture to guess that most of the men in your life don’t have as in depth of a skincare regimen as you. The holidays are the perfect time to treat them to some “clean” skincare. This Ursa Major’s Shaving Cream is a family favorite (even my Dad uses it and I think my brother’s has adopted their cleanser too). Moon Juice’s cleanser, serum and moisturizer and Dieux’s serum and moisturizer are all great options for men (Chris loves these as much as I do) and are easy on the wallet. Chances are he could probably benefit from a daily or weekly exfoliant in which case I’d highly recommend goop’s cloudberry exfoliating cleanser.
For a more splurge worthy items, the goop moisturizer, any Tata Harper product, and/or this Seed to Skin set are all fantastic! The key is to keep their routine as simple as possible.
Pangea body wash – speaking of skincare this brand and body wash caught my eye. I love a gift that I can enjoy too 😉
Boll and Branch Waffle Robe – nothing says cozy like the perfect robe and I love that this one is GOTS-certified. If you think a more fluffy robe is what he wants, opt for this Brooklinen Turkish robe.
La Portegna slippers – Chris likes to call these slippers, but I think they a more house shoes. That being said, they are so luxurious and soft. For a true slipper, these Jenni Kayne sherpa and suede ones will certainly tickle his toes as will these J.Crew sherpa lined moccasins and Rothy’s merino ones.
Outerknown All-Day Sweatpants – if there’s one category that is truly fail-proof it’s loungewear. These Outerknown one’s caught my eye as did these Quince heavy weight cotton fleece joggers. Speaking of Quince, I’ve been super curious about their product (this jogger is apparently comparable to the ever so popular Vouri jogger). For something lighter weight, these pima cotton easy pants are sure to be a winner and if he run’s hot, consider a pair of Unbound Merino joggers which are a blend of merino and tencel. I’d imagine these will feel cozy, but super light and airy.
Piglet Linen Pajamas – pajamas are also a great option for loungewear (and obviously sleeping). Chris has had his eye on these recently (noted). They’re another great option for those that run warm because they are 100% linen which is not only soft, but super breathable. Sleepy Jones also has some fun prints and if you want to go extra luxe, consider this silk set from Lunya.
St. Rose Discovery Set – help him find his signature scent with a cologne sampler. St. Rose is completely transparent (a rarity in the fragrance world) and is vegan, cruelty-free and free of harmful ingredients like BHT and phenoxyethanol. They also source their ingredients from co-ops and farmers that are close to the origin of the ingredient. I’ve found that their scents are a perfect blend of masculine and feminine and more unique. Le Labo is also a great option as well (Chris’ favorite is Tonka), they are popular for a reason!
Trova GO Portable Biometric Safe – this little safe is the perfect solution for keeping tracking of all of his droppings when he’s on the go. It’s also great for travel and protecting small or loose personal items regardless of the activity.
Native Union 3-in-1 charging station or a leather one – another way to consolidate his many pieces of technology. This charges both an iPhone, AirPods (also a great gift if he doesn’t already have them) and an AppleWatch all with one cord and a sleek catchall-esque tray.
Seiko SRPB41 Watch – I’ve enlisted my local watch enthusiast (aka my husband) to pick out a versatile everyday watch under $500 and he landed on this Seiko. Can’t go wrong with a clean bracelet watch. If he already has a few watches that he likes to wear, this personalized watch roll is a great way to store and/or travel with them.
Bushnell Rangefinder – if he’s big into golf, then you might want to consider this rangefinder. I crowd-sourced the best golf accessory from all the golf people I know (aka my husband and brother) and they unanimously agreed that a rangefinder is the way to go. Restocking their golf ball collection is also a great idea!
Outerknown Blanket Shirt – gifting men clothing can be tricky business, but I feel like you can’t go wrong with a good shacket or sweater. I love that this Blanket Shirt is 100% organic cotton and that in comes in loads of different colors. As I was perusing the Outerknown site, this blazer also caught my eye. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a different option to a full on wool coat.
Happy gifting!
xx
-S
