Christmas is only a few weeks away and you have perhaps a week to order things online if you want them delivered on time. As such, we here at Put This On thought we’d put together a holiday gift guide, full of suggestions of things we’d like this year we think would make for wonderful gifts this Christmas. Hopefully you’ll find something you like or can use for inspiration.
Jesse’s picks:
- Gentlemen: A Timeless Guide to Fashion by B. Roetzel: Roetzel’s book is translated from German, so the prose is sometimes a little inelegant, but it’s a deep wealth of information on everything from how to dress to where styles originate to brands to everything else important to a PTO reader. And it’s a beautiful book, too.
- Beckel canvas duffle:This is what a canvas duffle should be: well-made, reasonably priced, simply and handsomely designed. Beckel makes all their stuff in Portland from genuinely heavy-duty materials. I bought one of these for my teenage brother-in-law last year, and he says it’s one of his favorite possessions.
- Kent Wang cufflinks: Cuff links were the start of Kent Wang’s clothing empire, and he still makes perfect, simple, affordable pieces. These knots will never be out of place, and will last a lifetime. And despite the run-up in metal costs, they’re only $45.
- Land’s End leather gloves: Gloves are the kind of basic that Lands’ End does well. These won’t match the quality of the $300 pair you buy from England, but they’re superb for their $45 price.
- Louise Irvine Shetland sweater: A thousand companies are making knock-offs of this sweater. These folks make them the old-fashioned way: old ladies with knitting needles. If I told you which fancy brands buy from them and re-tag, or what they charged, you’d be shocked. These are genuine heirloom knits.
- Drake’s cardigan: This is the sweater I want to be buried in.
- Creed Green Irish Tweed cologne: If you’re looking for a scent, look no further than this one. It’s laughably expensive, but that’s the point of giving a scent, right? Weirdly, it is much cheaper from Walgreens.com.
- Sam Hober navy grenadine tie: The navy grenadine is the most useful tie you can own. For $80, Sam Hober will make one to your specifications. Just be sure to let them know it’s a Christmas gift, so they get it to you in time.
- Fisher Space Pen: THEY’RE FROM SPACE! (Also wonderful pens.)
- Obenauf’s Heavy Duty Leather Preservative: When it comes to caring for boots and other shoes-you-don’t-polish, Obenauf’s LP is the gold standard. And it smells like honey, too.
- Abbeyhorn shoehorn: A real horn shoehorn is a pleasure the recipient can appreciate every day.
- Howard Yount umbrellas: If you live in a rainy part of the world, and the gift receiver is the kind of person who’s careful with their things, there’s no better gift than a beautiful umbrella. Like most things at Howard Yount, you can get a luxury-quality product for about half the price – these guys have solid wood shafts and beautifully colored canopies.
- Mocc socks: A five-pack of Mocc Sock & Co’s loafer socks will get your loved one prepped for springtime bare-ankled-ness.
- Wool knit hats: They cost $6. They go with anything. As long as it’s cold.
Derek’s picks:
- Shaving set: A handsome shaving set looks nice on the counter and is a pleasure to use.
- Geo F. Trumper’s sampler pack: Geo F. Trumper sells wonderful soaps, shaving creams, and colognes. Since different men prefer different scents, I suggest picking up the sampler pack as a stocking stuffer. I also really like Santa Maria Novella, but you’ll only be able to buy full sized items.
- Johnstons of Elgin blanket: I recently bought a Johnstons of Elgin shetland blanket and surprisingly liked it more than my Pendleton. Half the price too.
- Imperial Porcelain tea or coffee sets: The Imperial Porcelain Factory was set up in 1744 to produce handpainted ceramic products for the ruling family in Russia. I’ve had a chance to see these, and trust me – they’re incredible. If you know someone who likes to drink tea or coffee, I think these would make for great gifts.
- O’Mast DVD: Anyone who loves tailored clothing or classic men’s style is sure to appreciate this DVD.
- Shoe care kit: A high-quality shoe care kit would be the perfect gift for a shoe enthusiast. This one at A Suitable Wardrobe is my favorite, but for more affordable options, check my earlier guide here.
- Smartwool long underwear: If you live in a cold climate, you need good long johns. Smartwool makes some of the best. They’re well constructed and made of wool, which means they’ll keep you warm, but won’t leave you sweaty and damp.
- Smythson “Bright Ideas” notebook: I like to give my friends a good ribbing. This seems like it would be good for a laugh, but also be useful.
- Mother of Pearl pocket knife: A mother of pearl pocket knife is an artful knife of distinction. It’s not made for hard outdoor use, but it’s a beautifully elegant thing to have. Just remember to make the recipient pay you a penny, as gifting a knife brings bad luck and severes a relationship.
- Tiffany’s money clip: I actually find money clips to be a bit cumbersome to use, but I like the way they look. Tiffany has some very simple, classic models as well some more interesting, “organic” designs by Elsa Peretti.
- Draper of Glastonbury house slippers: Few men would buy a pair of nice house slippers, but few men wouldn’t enjoy them. I recommend Draper of Glastonbury. They’re available through their site or slightly cheaper at Pediwear.
- Handwritten letter: A the risk of sounding overly sentimental, I think one of the best gifts you can give someone is a heartfelt, handwritten letter. Tell them all the things you wanted to tell them throughout the year. Or collect stories from family and friends and have them share their favorite memories of that person. Include a few photos, either from the year or of you wishing them a Merry Christmas. These are the things I enjoy giving and receiving the most, not expensive, fancy objects. Though, that’s not to say I wouldn’t enjoy wearing that Drake’s cardigan while reading a multi-page, handwritten letter either … just sayin’.