Fashion
10 Perfect Gifts for Your Little Brother Who's Probably Cooler Than You
He used to play with Legos and plastic zoo animals; now he's a Big Dude on Campus. He's your little brother, and he's cool, hilarious, tech-savvy, annoying, well-meaning, and a little bit unwashed. (He's also eaten nothing but pizza for days.)
Shopping for brothers can be hard — I sent mine an email full of sweater links, which he promptly deemed "too hipster" — but when you get it right, you earn the greatest reward of them all: Coolest Big Sister in the World. At least for a day. Or an hour.
A secret safe
Fancy combination safes are so bourgeoisie. Besides, he doesn’t have any pearls. This kit comes with a cut-out saw, so he can install it in an innocuous corner of his dorm room/apartment and keep all his valuables inside. According to Think Geek, Chicago Police consider these units better than a locked safe!
Hidden Wall Safe, $8, Amazon
Some spy equipment
Boys will be boys will be spies, and none of his friends will ever guess that this normal-looking pen has a video camera inside. It records up to 72 hours of suspicious (or hilarious) activity.
Mixtape glasses
He’ll throw the best parties in town with these mix tape glasses. Tell him to let his guests write their favorite song on their glasses (there’s a wax pencil included with the set) for a playlist that’ll get everyone dancing.
The most portable boombox ever
It uses Bluetooth to play music wirelessly from his phone, and it’s tiny enough to take on any last minute jaunts to the park after midnight.
UE Mobile Boombox, $99, Amazon
A piece of vintage propaganda
Even if his dreams of being in the air force have come to naught, he’ll love this rah-rah propaganda print from World War II.
A clever iPhone case
It’ll also force him to reexamine his thoughts on art and culture. Does he, indeed, heart realism? Or is he more of a speculative fiction dude?
A really weird poster
In college, the best reaction a guy can hope for from his friends is a loud chorus of “WTF?” This poster guarantees it. (Put it in a fancy frame if you’re feeling extra hilarious.)
Sloth Art Print, $19, etsy.com
A Fairisle Sweater
Let’s be honest, he’s more likely to wear it if it comes from you than if it comes from Great Aunt Cassandra. And he’ll look so cute and grown-up in it!
A puffy vest
Seriously, all the guys are wearing them these days, and they’re extremely practical for treks across a college campus. Bonus: This one has a camouflage lining.
