Life
The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide For Men: 50 Things Every Man In Your Life Will Absolutely Love—SLIDESHOW
It's the time of year for giving (and receiving, duh), but mostly giving (unless you're receiving). So it's probably time (OK, it's past time by now, but you're still good) to start getting on top of your shopping for the holiday season. Shopping, a normally fun activity, can get quite stressful around the holidays. There's SO much to do, and so little time to do it. And it's made all the more difficult because you have to make decisions on behalf of other people. If you're anything like me, you want to get everyone the best present they've ever received (because obviously the holidays are about being hyper-competitive), even better than what you got them last year. Shopping, like every other activity in your life, becomes an exercise in Being Ultimate.
If you're struggling to figure out what to get the men in your life—whether it's a dad, brother, uncle, cousin, grandpa, friend, husband, or boyfriend—I've got your back. This is the only guide you'll need for shopping for dudes this holiday season, because (I'm about to toot my own horn here so if you don't like gratuitous displays of self-confidence go straight to the gallery now instead) I have impeccable taste. And I'm a great gift giver. So get out your credit card and find something on this huge list of perfect presents for men I made for you.
Image: Etsy.com
Gingham Flannel Shirt, aka, Boy Basic
Cute plaid shirts are cute, duh.
The Winston Shaving Set
For a modern take on the male shaving kit, this sleek ensemble from Harry’s will look lovely in every bathroom and feel silken on every man face.
Block Dock
If your dude is always haphazardly propping his devices up in precarious positions, help him help himself with a stylish wood dock.
Block Dock , $33, amazon.com
Knit Socks
Give him the gift of toasty toes this polar vortex season.
Stripe Knit Socks, $12, amazon.com
Classic Watch
A stylish watch is timeless.
Diesel Double Down Round Silicone Strap Watch, $100, amazon.com
Shoe Shine Kit
Half of having nice shoes is keeping them nice. Give him the shoe shine gift that keeps on giving.
Essential Travel Washbag
The holidays are a time for travel, so give him something nice to carry his toothbrush and deodorant in.
Ben Minkoff Warren Zip Pouch
An especially great gift for the man who leaves a trail of coins everywhere he goes.
"The Big Lebowski" Soundtrack
The Big Lebowski soundtrack is being released exclusively on vinyl for the first time on Record Store Day, and is likely to make you look very cool should you gift it to the man in your life.
Nick Offerman's Book
I bought this book for my boyfriend last Christmas and it’s been a runaway hit. For any man that fancies himself a bit of a Ron Swanson, or at least a bit rugged around the edges, this is the perfect book.
Grown-Up Backpack
This is a very adult kind of backpack for the man who likes to carry a backpack but is now an adult and should have something a little bit more grown up than whatever they’ve been using since they were 14.
Herschel Supply Co. Little America Weather Backpack, $60, amazon.com
Vintage Backgammon Set
A vintage backgammon board is actually something I would want for myself (my grandfather played regularly when I was a kid), but would make an equally great present for dads, uncles, grandpas or any young fellow who grew up watching the older generation play.
Here's Waldo
For dudes who were kids in the ’90s or for dads that like dumb jokes, this Where’s Waldo mug is perfect.
We Got Him Mug, $12, amazon.com
Football Fabulous
It is possible to make sports stylish (even though sports are inherently not). Leather head sports has really beautiful hand-crafted leather sports equipment to that end.
Cocktail Kit
A stylish beginners drink mixing kit is a great way to let a man get festive. Holiday men gone wild.
Practical but necessary
If his iPhone battery is constantly running out, the best present in the world is a portable power source. This could potentially be the best present on this whole list.
Native Union iPhone 5/5s/6 Jump Lightening Cable + Battery , $50, amazon.com
All The Greatest Anti-Heroes
Every man fancies himself a bit of an anti-hero these days, so get him a copy of Difficult Men so he can read about all his television anti-heroes (and you can “borrow” it when he’s done).
Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution: From The Sopranos and The Wire to Mad Men and Breaking Bad, $14, a mazon.com
Portable Vinyl Record Player
If you know a man who loves records, get him a lovely new record player to play them on, because we all know there’s something magical about the sound of vinyl.
Crosley X UO Cruiser Briefcase Portable Vinyl Record Player, $100, amazon.com
The Wallet He'll Use Forever
A beautiful wallet is something he’ll have (to remind him of you) forever.
Polka Dot Pocket Square
Need something to go with that bow-tie? Give him a pocket square (again, no choice, he has to wear it when you say).
Velvet Bow Tie
Make him wear a dapper velvet bow-tie for New Year’s Eve (seriously if you buy him this as a gift he doesn’t have a choice).
Best Slippers Ever
Make his sweatpants/Ben & Jerry’s/Netflix weekends a little more good looking with these cute slippers.
Gentleman’s Hardware Bottle Opener
Dudes love things that do a lot of different things, and also things that open alcohol bottles, so you can’t really go wrong with a lovely, multi-functional bottle opener.
Stendig 2015 Calendar
Make sure he always knows what day it is (a real thing, guys sometimes forget!) with a good-looking, artsy wall calendar.
Framed Art
Art is a gift that everyone needs/loves/wants/rarely buys themselves. Society6 has an awesome range of framed prints to choose one, but I choose this drawing of a woman in profile.
Leather Gift Set
Asos’ leather wallet comes with a matching leather belt, which is a double way to upgrade your dad/brother/uncle/boyfriend’s pants.
Seasonal Boxers
Underpants are kind of a go-to gift, so take it to the next level and get some quality boxers.
Leather-Wrapped Cocktail Shaker
The perfect gift to adult-ify (or diversity, if he’s already got a grown-up bar) a man’s alcohol shelf. You can have this leather wrapped cocktail shaker monogrammed to make it more personal too.
Eco-Friendly Shaving Kit
Every man should have an old-fashioned shaving kit (it’s just so manly), especially if it’s got beer flavored shaving soap included.
Eco-Friendly Shaving Kit with Beer Shaving Soap, $48, Etsy.com
Vintage Sports Team Sweater
Mitchell and Ness have amazing vintage style sportswear (it’s stylish!) so you can be done with the man in your life’s ugly team gear.
A Mitchell & Ness Sweater of Their Favorite Team, $60, Mitchellandness.com
Wild Man Beard Wash
To get the taste of holiday food out of his facial hair.
Wild Man Beard Wash, $20, etsy.com
Heisenberg Cuff Links
Show me a man that doesn’t love Heisenberg and I’ll show you a man who hasn’t lived.
Heisenberg Cuff Links - Men’s Breaking Bad Walter White Cufflinks, $15, Etsy.com
Tracks Headphone
These headphones remind me of the early ’90s but in a good way. I think my dad used to have a very similar pair. Nostalgia!
American Flag Cutting Board
An all American twist for a kitchen staple. Patriotism! America! Cutting food things! Yeah!
Hemrich Stripe Camp Blanket
A cozy, stylish blanket is perfect for winter snuggles and summer camping and picnics (hint, hint).
Traditional Leather Watch
A less sporty, more traditional watch, this leather strapped classic style will go with everything.
JPT-PW36 Tsovet Watch, $250, tsovet.com
Vintage Radio Bluetooth Speaker
For a unique bluetooth speaker, consider one of these amazing reclaimed vintage radios.
Lambswool Sweatshirt Sweater
Another sweater that will look just divine with your jeans and boots, give your man a gift you can both enjoy with this cozy sweater.
J Crew Lambswool Sweatshirt Sweater, $25, factory.j crew.com
Wooden USB Drive
In the digital age everyone needs a USB key, it might as well be a stylish handmade one.
Wooden USB Drive, $19, Etsy.com
Knitted Fleece Gloves
Cosy things for the season when you need to be coziest will always be appreciated, especially when they’re from Uniqlo’s genius HeatTech range (no seriously though how is this stuff so warm?).
Fantastic Man Magazine
Subscriptions are always a good idea, because they’re like little mini-holiday gifts that come throughout the year.
A subscription to Fantastic Man Magazine, $35, fantasticman.com
A Sweater You'll Borrow
A cute sweater will suit every man and every wardrobe. Also very borrowable.
Penfield Sweater, $110, backcountry.com
Band of Outsiders Tie
This tie is covered in muscle cars, which is both cute and masculine, and likely to go with just about any James Bond-cut suit.
Grantland Quarterly
This is another one I can tell you from experience is incredible. I got this subscription for my boyfriend last year as well and every time an issue gets delivered, I can’t tear him away from it.
