plaid button up . brown leather shoes . John Varvatos cologne . calf hair flask . puffer vest . multi tool . camoflauge socks . gray coat . Tom Ford shave balm . Nike Free sneakers . Timex watch . striped knit tie . messenger bag .
Hey! I’m not sure why Mara thinks it’s so tough to shop for guys. They’re pretty easy in my opinion. Girls on the other hand, are way more difficult to shop for. I grew up with lots of women- my mom and 3 sisters. Even still, when it comes to birthdays, Christmases, anniversary gifts, etc. it’s pretty tough. But fingers crossed this post is a little helpful for you all when it comes to shopping for guys.
So, really, you can’t go wrong with the basics (see my picks for the jacket, shoes, tie, and vest). A plaid button up is always a good option, as I pretty much live in them. Us guys don’t have a lot of variety in our closets (no skirts or dresses over here), so a variety in button-ups can’t be beat. The Slim Fit styles at J.Crew are also the best if your guy is a little more lanky (think long arms, skinny neck). This watch is under $100 and pretty cool in this muted gray color. Maybe a good hint for your guy who’s often late. ha! Some camo socks, like these guys, would be the perfect stocking stuffer (or any socks, really). Men can always use more socks, because there is nothing worse than socks with holes in them, IMHO. I always have Mara go cologne shopping for me since I hate spending more than 5 minutes in a perfume/cologne store or department. John Varvatos Vintage cologne is my current go-to, because there is a big difference between smelling like a gentleman and smelling up an entire room when you walk in. That random contraption at the bottom is the best thing ever by the way. It’s a multi-tool that does a lot. I usually keep one with me at all times so I can do stuff. Cut open boxes, tighten a screw, etc. If your dude is semi-handy, or the outdoor type, he’s probably already got one, or two, or three multi-tools. But if he actually uses them, he’ll definitely appreciate it. If he doesn’t own one, he should. I know because I have one in the car, one in my laptop bag, and one in Mara’s car (that she doesn’t even know is there haha). Like I said, they come in handy!
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask! Happy to help!
Matthew
